There is a lot of talk about what to play – I feel that’s going in backwards. Anyone remember when nine out of ten songs were instrumentals. Now we have nine out of ten vocals. Reason? They can relate to vocals.

Keep in mind that we are communicating an emotion; so it is not which song you play as much as it is which emotion they are reacting to that is important.

My system:
1-I have a list of 120 in 5 categories. They are my laptop on one page. Each song is set up in my keyboard.
2-Start - Play the songs I normally play.
3-Now the important part of the job – see what type of music they respond to.
4-Now go home and research that type of music.

At one NH the caretakers loved anything that was upbeat; mostly disco and 50”s and 60’s. The caretakers started dancing all over the place – the seniors saw them and became excited. It takes sensitivity – who would have thought I needed that type of music in a NH. We started with 20 people in a small room and after six weeks we had to move into the main auditorium with 125 seniors present.

Your first job is to have THEM TEACH YOU what they want. I have given out a questionnaire before a job asking what they would like to hear both songs and types of music. I also ask the caretakers what kind of music the seniors respond to.

Why I read all Donny’s post. He is a character and adds flavor to our forum. AND the man knows what he is talking about. (Most of the time, smile)

It is the musician/performer that is number ONE. If you are just a musician and play good music you will get only part of the room. If you are just a performer they will get tired of you after a while. If you are both you have them where you want them. I am both musician and performer and I am always open to learn. After watching Eddie at a NH job I went home and added more fun stuff to my song list.

Ex. Song: If you’re happy clap your hands. They have a part in the music you are playing. They clap their hands, stomp their feet, they wiggle their nose – they are right in the center of what you are doing.

I play the same song for the effected children in my church.

IT IS THE MUSICIAN THEN EVRYTHING ELSE FOLLOWS.
John C.