Learning Music as a Boomer/Senior

We were deep in conversation, about this and that. I was asked how my son and his band were doing, and then the questions became focused on the skills involved in creating music, one of the questions asked was “how do people who create music do it”? Great question, my son can create music and then put lyrics to the music he created. His band and songs are doing quite well on the Net. (The Band is called “The Ghost of Blood Alley”) However, this skill was not passed down from either his mother or I. I cannot carry a tune, let alone play any musical instruments. I think that there is some genetics involved because my daughter, as well as all of my Nieces and Nephews, have the ability to play and write music.

So, when the question was asked none of the group had the answer although we all knee that learning music as a senior had some health benefits. Music has been found to stimulate parts of the brain, and studies have demonstrated that music enhances the memory of Alzheimer's and dementia patients, including a study conducted at UC Irvine, which showed that scores on memory tests of Alzheimer's patients improved when they listened to classical music.

Adults age 60 to 85 without previous musical experience exhibited improved processing speed and memory after just three months of weekly 30-minute piano lessons and three hours a week of practice, whereas the control group showed no changes in these abilities.

Playing an instrument as a kid leads to a sharper mind in old age, according to a new study conducted by Brenda Hanna-Pladdy, a clinical neuropsychologist in Emory’s Department of Neurology, and her colleagues. The researchers gave 70 people between the ages of 60 and 83 a battery of tests to measure memory and other cognitive abilities. The researchers found that those who had played an instrument for a decade or longer scored significantly higher on the tests than those with no musical background

Cognitive and neural benefits of musical experience continue throughout the lifespan, and counteract some of the negative effects of ageing, such as memory and hearing difficulties in older adults.

Involvement in participatory arts programs has been shown to have a positive effect on mental health, physical health, and social functioning in older adults, regardless of their ability. The arts also contribute to communicating, building the sense of identity, preserving or restoring social capital, and strengthening social networks in communities.

Research shows that music activities (both music listening and music making) can influence older adults’ perceptions about the quality of their lives. Some research has examined the effects of music listening on biological markers of health and subjective perceptions of well-being. Other studies on the psychological and social benefits associated with music making activities have demonstrated that participants often place considerable value on these “nonmusical” benefits of music activity.

Playing music "significantly" lowered the heart rates and calmed and regulated the blood pressures and respiration rates of patients who had undergone surgery.

Anger Management Music therapy can help people identify the emotions that underlie anger and increase the patient's awareness of these feelings and situations that can trigger them. If a situation or emotion is presented in a song the healthy options for expressing that feeling can be discussed and conflict resolution and problem-solving can be practiced in a positive manner.

Playing a musical instrument can reverse stress at the molecular level, according to studies conducted by Loma Linda University School of Medicine and Applied Biosystems.

Playing music increases human growth hormone (HgH) production among active older Americans. The findings revealed that the test group who took group keyboard lessons showed significantly higher levels of HgH than the control group of people who did not make music

Alzheimer's patients who drum can connect better with loved ones. The predictability of rhythm may provide the framework for repetitive responses that make few cognitive demands on people with dementia

Empowered Age

In a previous post, I talked about people continue to want to work after they retire. Well since we live in an entrepreneurial society, where there is a need/want there will be those eager and willing to fill that need.

I came across the website Empowered Age on a blog I read called Retirement-Only the Beginning in a guest post.  The Guest Post was by Joseph Byrne, Founder and CEO of EmpoweredAge.com, a service that connects highly-skilled retirees to part-time or short-term consulting projects in various industries.

The concept is not a new one, but I think his approach is unique, his focus is clear and he has a good understanding of the concerns of Boomers. I know that there are many websites that cater to Boomers looking to work. These services offer part-time manual labour jobs and not many services that require a more consultative approach.

Empowered Age has a focus Boomers with highly skilled experience who can provide value to a growing firm. Many growing firms have projects or would love to start projects to help launch a new product, oversee a new office opening, or advise on a new sales strategy but they cannot afford the time or people to do these important tasks Empowered Age, can provide the skills and people needed who can help. In the final paragraph of his post, Mr Byrne says, “Whatever your idea of retirement may be, planning will be an important part. Whether that be financially, geographically, professionally, or socially, be aware to engage in activities that provide value to you. Look for opportunities that benefit your intellectual as well as your physical health. Wherever your journey takes you, we wish you health and success. If part-time consulting work is in that journey, Empowered Age will help you along the way. Visit us at Empowered Age for more information.”

So, I did, I like what how his site is set up and the simplicity of providing your information and some of the resources offered (there could be more, but what they have are interesting). Empowered Age is a service that appears to be only offered to those living in the United States, but I am sure there will be similar offerings in other countries where Boomers are retiring in large numbers. I look forward to the time someone in Canada offers this service.

Changes

Today I am responding to another challenge from Eugenia at BrewNSpew Her challenge was to write a five-line poem with the word changes in it. Here is my effort.

Heartache

Changes what I have

Changes what I want

Changes my beliefs, dreams and reality

My heart becomes a hazy shade of winter 

Bringing in New Blood

One of the realities of being our age, is that we lose life partners or our partners decide that they want to go on a different path then we do, and there is a parting of the ways. We are social creatures and so we, will after some time after a loss, seek out a new partner.

When we find a new romantic companion late in life, it’s a wonderful moment.  Romances late in life can provide a much-needed source of companionship and love that may be missing if the senior has lost a spouse or is going through their golden years alone.  But it’s common for children to go through some anxiety when they see dad or mom enjoying the company of another romance in their lives.  And getting the kids to accept your new girlfriend or boyfriend, especially if that romance is going to result in a wedding.

Part of your children’s resistance to you dating comes from anxiety about losing their parent which may be just as deep and lasting a grief as you had in losing your wife or husband.  It may seem strange but often it is the children of the marriage who go through the longest grief when a parent passes on.  You may have already moved along in your processing of that loss much more than they.  To children, the parents are a permanent institution and the idea that one of them would go away seems inconceivable.  And this feeling often survives well into adulthood.

So that is the first big adjustment your family has to make when they see you beginning to enjoy the company of the opposite sex.  They must be assured you are not going to replace mom or dad in their hearts and that this romance will never remove the love you cherish for that departed spouse.  To the children, that love must endure forever because it is the foundation of their concept of family which is a big part of their own identity as well, even though one parent may have passed away.

This is the next step in life that calls for you, the senior citizen and the wise old Grandma or Grandpa in the family mix to use some of that sensitivity and wisdom of your years to help your children and even grandchildren accept your new romance and evolve with you to a new phase of life.  If you have the chance as you begin a new relationship, the time to begin the acceptance process is before that friendship becomes a romance.

By sitting down with your children and discussing that this will happen, even before it happens, you begin the acceptance process.  In their minds and emotional systems, they begin to understand your need for companionship and for love and for romance.  You need that as much as they do.  So, you explain it to them.

Then as you begin to see a romantic interest, be open to the family about what you are doing.  Adult children can even get to the point that they will be your advisor and your cheerleaders as you enjoy a new era of dating and romance.  Once that area of life is open, then when you do “bring home the date to meet the family” it won’t be such a difficult thing. 

But by keeping the adult children always in the loop, they can talk with one another, agree that this is the best possible thing for you and even work to help the grandkids accept your new romance.  Before long, he or she will be able to come for dinner, join in the holidays and really become part of the family.  Just as you opened your heart when your kids were dating and finding new loves, you will teach your kids to open their hearts to so