We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
My son Jason, 12, is volunteering at a local senior citizens facility. A project called COME ALIVE through music revives residents in its acute care and Alzheimer wings to make contact with themselves through the music they loved in their younger years. Residents who are otherwise inert and non-communicative are sparked to move and verbalize their memories and feelings. If you think this isn't possible, please watch the entire video below.
Jason's project is to rip 20s and 30s Swing and Big Band, 40s-50s Show Music, and even some of the best 60s rock (there are some disabled younger residents) music and songs from CDs onto individualized mixes that can be played for the residents on their iPods and earphones. College students who are majoring in therapy track the results and tweak the mixes. The benefit to the residents is astounding and heart warming.
For legal copyright reasons, the music can't be simply ripped from Youtube. It must come from CDs.
Many of you have CDs at home that you no linger listen to of these types of music. PLEASE donate the CDs to this project. Just Comment below and I will directly email you, or email me directly at BNKSD1@aol.com and I will quickly get back to you with the address to mail the CDs.
A BIG Thank you in advance.
P.S.: The Post Office has good rates for mailing packages using their boxes.
What an incredibly touching piece. After watching my father in a nursing home before his death, I feel so sorry that we didn't know we could give him this fabulous gift. He would have been unbelievably blessed!! How I wish I had some some of the old music to pass on. I will ask around and see if I can find any. A very worthy project, Jason. My hat's off to you.
What a wonderful project!!!! I am listening to a Rod Stewart CD that features songs from the 40s and 50s...so appropriate. I'll look for earlier songs. This is such an easy way to help.
I have an iTunes library downloaded from about 400 CDs featuring music (big band and swing) from 1930s and 40s.
The CDs are very heavy. Is there a way to transmit about 4000 tunes in mp3 to where ever they are needed?
we have so many CD's in storage. Many are from this man's era. I will try to get them out, but it will take awhile.
God Bless Both you and your beautiful son--I know we don't always agree on the subject of Israel, but on most other things I think we could be friends!
A heart warming video. Kudos for your volunteering efforts, Jason. We could all be in such a situation as we complete our life cycles. I've got a box set of Glenn Miller CD's which are great. I'll see about the mp3 transfer that Tom Moeller suggested.
I'm going to speak to my GP, today, about possibly starting this in our small town. I'll be showing him the video. We have an aging population of which I will certainly eventually be a part of. My doctor is a wonderful person and provides medical services to at least 2 of the 3 senior residences we have here.
Please let me know where I can send some CDs. Besides my own collection, I am also a regular customer of a local used CD store that has an extensive collection. If there is anything in particular that they would like, please let me know and I'll check to see if I can find it. I am now looking forward to my next trip there this weekend.
Headphones simply send some lite musical entertainment straight into the central nervous system, and it don't know from being old. If you can get to it with something of choice, by golly, you've got something exciting in your life.
