Wow! What a class we had with instructor Lauren Caso on February 2nd!
All of us played identical instruments at the same time…first the gankogui (double bell), then the axatse (gourd rattle) and finally the kagan (baby drum, although they’re not so small!) so that we are becoming more in unison as we play the various rhythms used for each instrument. We’re working on connecting all of them into an interlocking, cohesive sound.
And then it was up on our feet and learning initial African circle dance motions! Trying those steps to authentic music recorded “in the field” was an excellent balance exercise…we’re not saying it was easy, but there was a great combination of concentration and laughter! We can hardly wait to try putting it together again next week!
That old saying that good things come in small packages fits our new friend Lauren. She may be small in size, but her instructing talent and patience level is as big as her heart!
The first in our six-week therapeutic drumming series began on January 26th and the room provided for us at CareOne at Peabody vibrated with rhythm!
Instructor Lauren Caso was full of enthusiasm and a fun and patient leader as a combination of 11 men and women tried three very different kinds of African instruments from Lauren’s diverse percussion collection.
We frequently read that as we age, we should constantly try something new to keep all of our brain and body cells firing. We CERTAINLY had the serotonin and dopamine levels in our brains reaching new heights on Tuesday!
Marilyn demonstrated one particular rhythm to the Friday exercise class members in Danvers, and further explained that when you allow yourself to think over what we learned during drumming, the rhythm actually “comes back”…now whether it’s 100% correct is another whole question! But we’ll try it again at our next class on February 2nd!
We have two more exercise and movement opportunities to announce!
In addition to our weekly classes currently offered in Marblehead, Danvers and Gloucester, beginning on January 8th, a second Danvers class will be available on Friday afternoons at the Danvers Senior Center. And starting on Tuesday, January 12th, a new class will open in Hamilton at their senior center. Participants challenge themselves and other members to increase endurance, strength, coordination, balance, self-confidence, and cognitive awareness using seated and standing exercises, aided by a variety of manual equipment items. Incorporating music during sessions enhances rhythmic body movement, while singing and practicing different kinds of speech patterns aids voice projection and breathing and helps lessen the expressionless facial appearance (referred to as “masking”) often associated with Parkinson’s.
In the words of 20th century inspirational self-help author Robert Collier: “Success is the result of small efforts repeated day in and day out.” We are pleased to provide North Shore locations where training against a tough opponent like Parkinson’s motivates so many North Shore residents to stay in the fight!
Class locations and times
Hamilton: Tuesdays – 10:00 to 11:00 AM
Hamilton Council on Aging, 299 Bay Road, South Hamilton
Danvers: Wednesdays – 10:30 to 11:30 AM and Fridays – 1:00 to 2:00 PM
Danvers Senior Center, 25 Stone Street, Danvers
Marblehead: Wednesdays – 1:00 to 2:00 PM
Marblehead Council on Aging, 10 Pleasant Street
Gloucester: Thursdays – 2:00 to 3:00 PM
Rose Baker Senior Center, 6 Manuel F. Lewis Street
Parkinson’s Fitness co-founders Keith and Linda Hall are excited to announce a pioneering six-week drumming class for people on the North Shore living with Parkinson’s disease, beginning Tuesday, January 26th, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. This pilot program is part of the ongoing ability-based Parkinson’s Fitness exercise, arts and movement programs available weekly in Danvers, Gloucester, Hamilton and Marblehead.
Why choose drumming? A recent Parkinson’s forum included an article titled “Drum Therapy Program Helping Parkinson’s Patients.” One music therapist working at a rehab center in Washington State offered this explanation for the success of drumming therapy for patients with Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases: “Playing music actually increases serotonin and dopamine production in the brain, which decreases through the progression of Parkinson’s. Clients have found that drumming therapy can tone muscles, decrease anxiety and depression, increase energy, stimulate the brain, and even reduce fatigue.” Drumming is also a great way to have fun and socialize!
Instructor Lauren Caso is a board certified music therapist and music educator from the Boston area, who graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Music degree from Berklee College of Music in 2002. She has been teaching music professionally for over 13 years in public schools, community settings and privately. Lauren has traveled to Ghana, Senegal and India to study music and dance. During her stay in Ghana, West Africa, she was able to study drumming and dancing in depth with master teachers. Currently, Lauren is on the faculty at The Community Music Center of Boston (Tufts University) as an African drumming teacher. She teaches private guitar, piano, violin, and theory lessons, and also plays violin in the Melrose Symphony Orchestra. Her high energy and ability to adapt to other’s needs make her an effective and invaluable teacher. Lauren is thrilled to collaborate locally with Parkinson’s Fitness to introduce and lead this newest innovative arts and movement program.
Drumming space will be generously provided by CareOne at Peabody (formerly Peabody Glen) at 199 Andover Street (Route 114) in Peabody, directly opposite the North Shore shopping mall. Class size will be limited to 12 participants who actually have Parkinson’s for the initial six-week session.
Register now to join as a pioneering member! Various types of drums will be provided.
There is a nominal charge of $30 for the six-week class to reimburse the instructor for teaching, travel, and the use of her equipment. Payment should be made to Parkinson’s Fitness, 46 Brittania Circle, Salem, MA 01970 prior to the first class session in order to hold space.
Contact: Linda or Keith Hall
Email: parkinsonsfitness@gmail.com or Lindajhall53@gmail.com
Phone: 781-572-5918
We held our first fundraiser on November 3rd at the lovely Hotel Hawthorne in Salem, MA. Surrounded by family, as well as long-time and new friends, who came in support of our programs, we found ourselves incredibly happy and deeply humbled.
Popular local artist Anthony Padula, who created and donated an original painting for the event that he titled “First Light”, made a personal appearance and was introduced to an appreciative audience. We were grateful to another renown artist for his donated painting…Charlie Allen. We’re sorry he wasn’t able to attend, as many people familiar with his work would have loved to meet him.
Linda’s brother, Bob, and sister-in-law, Joanne, and Linda’s mother traveled north to attend. Bob was one energetic auctioneer! Linda’s friends – Mary, Lori, Sandy and Allison – have unofficially earned the unsung heroine awards for all their help! Three of our exercise instructors, Dianna Daly, Linda Greenwald, and Sue Riordan, attended and had opportunities to answer questions about their classes. Cathi Thomas, coordinator of the American Parkinson’s Association Mass Chapter Information & Referral Center, attended with her husband. Cathi is an important source of encouragement and resource information for not only us, but for people with Parkinson’s throughout the entire state. She is tireless in her support efforts and we’re grateful to be able to call her our friend!
This posting runs the obvious risk of unintentionally omitting people, but it cannot be finished without thanking Danvers exercise class members Gayle Fletcher and Laurie Grieves for attending with their husbands, Tom and Bob. You’re just the best!
We’re grateful for all the support and friendship that combined to make our fundraiser a success! We look forward to starting another new class in Hamilton in early January. To everyone who attended, who participated in the silent and live auctions, who made donations, who wrote such lovely notes of support…thank you!
We are proud to announce that the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, Massachusetts Chapter, has awarded Parkinson’s Fitness a recent financial grant in support of our efforts to expand our exercise classes, activities and resources in North Shore communities. We currently welcome class members on a weekly basis in Marblehead, Danvers, and Gloucester, and schedules are being arranged with the goal of starting programs in Hamilton and Peabody in the very near future.
Openings in the two new locations will be announced as plans are finalized. A grateful thank you to the APDA grant committee for helping us build programming, community and camaraderie in our local areas.
We’re excited to share that our very first fundraiser will be held on Tuesday, November 3rd, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the lovely Hawthorne Hotel in Salem!
A really nice evening is planned that includes wine, appetizers, and special silent auctions featuring paintings created by sought-after local artists Anthony Padula and Charlie Allen. The proceeds from the suggested $65 ticket price will help us expand the programs, activities and resources we provide in our ability-based exercise classes in Marblehead, Danvers, Gloucester and soon, as schedules allow, in Hamilton and Peabody.
Our fundraising evening promises to become another example of the welcoming community and camaraderie our class members enjoy. To offer your support, whether in person or in spirit, please contact Linda and Keith Hall at either parkinsonsfitness@gmail.com or lindajhall53@gmail.com, or by phone at 781-572-5918. We hope you can join us!
Keith, Linda and Marilyn were welcomed this week by Beverly support group facilitator Ray James, curious and motivated members of the group, and Beverly COA activities coordinator Annie Wright.
To their credit, many group members entered into the spirit of the exercise demonstration and ended the session by harmonizing their voices in song! Thank you, all! Your interest in exercise is an important step in continuing to find ways to create the best quality of life possible. We hope our program will become one of your building blocks!
Just this week, we welcomed more new members into our exercise class at the Danvers Council on Aging location at 25 Stone Street! We’ve just about outgrown our room!
The Danvers staff and program volunteers are so warm and welcoming! No wonder it’s such a busy place…and we’re happy to be part of the energy there!
If you’re from the Danvers or surrounding areas and are wondering what kinds of interesting activities are available, we encourage you to contact the Danvers COA program coordinator, Paula Corcoran. You’ll be glad you did! Paula’s email at the office is PCORCORAN@mail.danvers-ma.org.
Despite the rain and wind this morning that the weather people warned would cause flash flooding, instructors Linda and Marilyn were joined by new friends Diane, Gayle, Bobbie, Mike, Jack, and Linda C.
The Danvers Senior Center is a lovely facility and we’re pleased to be able to share our program there with such a friendly, enthusiastic, committed group of people. All that swinging, swaying, stepping, and singing made the time go by quickly!
Thanks for all the effort you put in today! We hope you make one of your goals repeated visits in the upcoming weeks…together and individually you can face Parkinson’s challenges with an “I can”, rather than an “I can’t” attitude!
