• Home
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Police & Fire
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Advertise
  • Town
    • Westborough
    • Shrewsbury
    • Northborough
    • Marlborough
    • Hudson
    • Southborough
    • Grafton
  • Print Edition
Sign in
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Password recovery
Recover your password
Search
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
  • Events
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Community Advocate news and events Community Advocate
  • Shrewsbury
  • Westborough
  • Northborough
  • Southborough
  • Grafton
  • Marlborough/Hudson Edition
  • Home
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Police & Fire
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Advertise
  • Town
    • Westborough
    • Shrewsbury
    • Northborough
    • Marlborough
    • Hudson
    • Southborough
    • Grafton
  • Print Edition
How can the Community Advocate help you promote your business?
Advertising Info
Suggest a Story
Free Subscription
Home Byline Stories - News Music strikes a chord while bonding three generations
  • Byline Stories - News
  • Northborough
  • Southborough

Music strikes a chord while bonding three generations

By
Community Advocate
-
March 3, 2015
57
Facebook
Twitter
Email

    By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer

    Brad Smith, a junior at Algonquin Regional High School, dances with Pat Robertson, a resident at the Coleman House. Photo/Ed Karvoski Jr.
    Brad Smith, a junior at Algonquin Regional High School, dances with Pat Robertson, a resident at the Coleman House.
    Photo/Ed Karvoski Jr.

    Northborough/Southborough – The power of music therapy is experienced by three generations when students and teachers from Algonquin Regional High School (ARHS) meet weekly with residents of the Coleman House, an assisted living facility in Northborough.

    The intergenerational project was the idea of Cheryl Pini, a special education aide at Trottier Middle School in Southborough. She had volunteered at the facility several years ago, and would sing with residents. More recently, a Facebook posting about the benefits of music therapy caught her attention.

    “Singing isn’t just fun for me, but it’s also beneficial for the residents,” she said.

    She shared her idea with Eileen Palmer, an ARHS teacher and faculty advisor of the Community Action Program (CAP). They secured grants from Central One Federal Credit Union and St. Rose of Lima Parish in Northborough, where each is a parishioner.

    “We purchased five iPods and other items such as speakers, headphones and splitters,” Pini explained. “The splitter enables the student and the resident to both listen to the same iPod at the same time, which is part of the bonding that I want to happen.”

    Pini met with each resident with an iPod and noted their favorite musical styles.

    “I try to find music that the residents can relate to and get them singing,” she said.

    Brad Smith of Northborough, a junior and National Honor Society member, was looking for a service project and felt this was an ideal match.

    “I’ve been a part of the Algonquin music programs with the band and the chorus for a while, so I thought this would be a great way to bring some of my interests and also help someone else,” he said.

    Using the findings that Pini compiled, Smith created custom playlists assigned to specific residents. The musical styles include Broadway show tunes, classic jazz and country western. Some residents preferred vocalists’ songs of yesteryear that Smith already had on his own iPod such as Bobby Darin, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.

    During the sessions, five sets of residents and students are paired with iPods. Meanwhile, a larger group of residents listen to music from speakers with students, who are available as dance and conversation partners. Smith participates with the dance group.

    “I really like how they’re not only hearing music, they’re also getting the social aspect,” he said. “And by getting up and dancing, they’re getting some physical exercise. It’s a really good vibe.”

    Smith believes that this project offers a valuable lesson for the students.

    “Small things matter,” he said. “It’s only one hour out of an entire week, but for them that one hour seems to really make their week. It’s something for them to look forward to and it shows them that someone cares.”

    The music therapy sessions have been running weekly since Feb. 5. Twelve students are regularly involved with more expected to join them. ARHS teacher Maggie Perreault is also participating.

    This CAP activity is already evolving in its early stage, Palmer noted.

    “The students and residents are enjoying themselves so much that we’d like to expand this,” she said. “We’re in the process of getting additional funds from Central One and we’re getting five more iPods.”

    Also, for the third year, CAP students have been visiting the Northborough Senior Center to offer technology assistance.

    “Like the technology assistance program, these kids and senior citizens are sitting side by side, working with technology,” Palmer said. “But here, they’re not trying to figure out technology; they’re enjoying technology’s benefits. It’s bridging a gap between generations and tools as the students show the residents how to enjoy an iPod.”

     

     

    • TAGS
    • central one federal credit union
    • Coleman House
    • Community Action Program
    • Eileen Palmer
    • music therapy
    • St. Rose of Lima Parish
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Email
      Previous articleHudson Senior Center group invites veterans of all ages
      Next articleBabysitting available at Westborough Town Meeting
      Community Advocate

      RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

      Featured News

      State Rep. Donaghue plans office hours

      Featured News

      Northborough residents gather to weigh in on vision for downtown

      Featured News

      Committee recommends housing proposal for White Cliffs

      Education

      Scholarship applications open for Northborough seniors

      Education

      ARHS’ unified program receives national recognition

      Featured News

      With public art campaign efforts underway, Northborough Cultural Council seeks new members

      Follow Us

      Sign Up For Our Newsletter

      [mc4wp_form id=”241018″]

      RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

      Police & Fire

      Westborough police log, Feb. 3 edition

      Community Advocate - February 1, 2023
      0
      Marlborough

      ‘State of the City’ is strong, says Marlborough mayor

      Maureen Sullivan - February 1, 2023
      0
      Police & Fire

      Shrewsbury police log, Feb. 3 edition

      Community Advocate - February 1, 2023
      0
      Police & Fire

      Marlborough police log, Feb. 3 edition

      Community Advocate - February 1, 2023
      0

      POPULAR

      Westborough police log, Feb. 3 edition

      February 1, 2023

      ‘State of the City’ is strong, says Marlborough mayor

      February 1, 2023

      Shrewsbury police log, Feb. 3 edition

      February 1, 2023

      Marlborough police log, Feb. 3 edition

      February 1, 2023

      Shrewsbury begins tax title foreclosure of Empire Dry Cleaning site

      February 1, 2023
      community advocate logo
      ABOUT US

      The Community Advocate is an independently owned newspaper with a legacy of over 40 years serving the communities of Westborough, Hudson, Marlborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough and Grafton. It is also the number-one circulated paper in those communities. We cover a wide variety of breaking news, municipal issues, human interest features and sports stories.

      For Advertising Inquiries:
      [email protected]

      For editorial inquiries:
      [email protected]

      Contact us: [email protected]
      FOLLOW US
      • Events
      • Contact us
      • Advertise
      © Community Advocate. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy