How it works
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.
Is Melodies in Mind a good fit for you? Read on, see what our members say, and also check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Barb and Scrib K - Chorus members
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Person with Dementia
Music-making is one of the most enduring abilities — even for those living with dementia. You don't need to read music or memorize lyrics. We provide customized music sheets to make it easy to follow along. You do 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, the person living with dementia, during the rehearsals. Therefore, he/she must remain in the rehearsal room throughout the session.
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Volunteer Singer
Our volunteer singers come from local vocal groups and church choirs throughout The Villages area. You'll sing alongside and support the people living with dementia in your trio — helping with page turns, finding the place in the song, or just sharing a smile. This role requires a commitment to attending all rehearsals and performances. We provide simple training to help you connect confidently 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 ’40s 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.