FIND OUT HOW IT WORKS AND REGISTER
Is Melodies in Mind a good fit for you? Read on, and also check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The person living with dementia, who we call our key singer, and their caregiver enroll as a duo. The caregiver remains in the room throughout the rehearsals and is most welcome to sing, too. It is important to understand that Melodies in Mind may be "therapeutic", but is not a music therapy program nor a respite program.
Our chorus is comprised of trios who work together to make of Melodies in Mind a fun and rewarding experience:
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Person with Dementia
We call the person living with dementia a Key Singer. Music making is not only possible for people with dementia, it’s among the most long-lasting abilities. While Melodies in Mind is ideal for those with prior music group experience, vocal or instrumental, if you can simply carry a tune, and would enjoy singing with others, you’ll fit right in! We provide customized music sheets that make it easier to follow. There is no need to read music or memorize lyrics. You need to be ambulatory and able to tend to personal needs with care partner support.
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Caregiver
The care partner is an integral part of the chorus experience. We hope that the care partner will also be a singer and the only requirement is that you carry a tune. In any case, the care partner remains fully responsible for the care, safety and other non-musical needs of their Key Singer during the rehearsals. Therefore, he/she must remain in the rehearsal room throughout the session.
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Volunteer Singer
Our Chorus Partners (volunteer singers) come from other vocal groups in the area (church choirs, The Villages choral groups, etc.). Besides lending their voices and musical experience to the chorus, they assist the Key Singers with musical issues like page turning, finding the place in the song, or just exchanging smiles.
This role requires a commitment to attending all rehearsals and performances to ensure a consistent, supportive presence for your partner.
And while you don’t need specialized skills or knowledge for this, we’ll provide simple training to help you connect confidently and compassionately with people living with dementia.
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How our rehearsals work
Every year we have a spring season and a fall season. Each season lasts 10 weeks. During that period we rehearse every Wednesday from 9:30 am to 11:00 am in the Spanish Springs area of The Villages, FL, including social break and refreshments. During the rehearsal itself, we’ll also take some ‘stretch’ breaks. (The bathrooms are always available.)
Led by our music director Kim Bishop, we sing
a variety of songs—favorites from the ’50s through the ’80s (and beyond!), well-loved show tunes, familiar hymns, and more. You can see some examples on this video. From time to time, we’ll revisit songs to try something new—adding harmony, changing tempo, or just enjoying them again. We don’t just want to merely sing through songs once and move on—we want to rehearse, reflect, and give our best rendition of the music we sing. If on any given day you feel that you need to leave, that's okay! If all you can do one day is hum along or listen, that's okay, too. Please check our Frequently Asked Questions section for more information.