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May 20, 2010

Senior Focus: Music soothes, smartens

By KATHLEEN GEST Local Columnist

Music has a magical way of captivating, inspiring, energizing and soothing. Music can take away our blues, bring back memories from our past, lull children to sleep, march men and women to war, augment the stature of leaders and nations, revitalize the dispirited, calm the stressed, make us smarter and, surprisingly, help plants grow.

According to some experts, classical music filters out distractions, as well as encourages the listener to focus, which in turn increases intelligence. Music also enhances creativity. Listening to music or recognizing someone else's talent may free some of our own creative juices.

Music does wonders to alleviate stress. Although it may not completely stop us from worrying, it temporarily can help relieve some of the anxiety. And many of us have listened to music while exercising, giving us that motivating boost of energy we sometimes need. Last but not least, music is enjoyable. It can elevate our mood, even while we're involved in other activities.

With all of these benefits, there isn't any doubt why music is offered at the Traverse City Senior Center, including appearances by Treva Jaffe, who sings and plays the piano on Thursdays during lunch, and the Front Street Jazz Band and its practice sessions on Friday afternoons.

One study shows that seniors who play a musical instrument are more physically and emotionally fit as they age. A perfect example of this is Treva Jaffe. She started taking piano lessons when she was 6. She attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music to study classical music, singing coloratura soprano. She transferred to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where she graduated with a teaching degree.

However, Jaffe always wanted to play and sing jazz and loved the old-time singers like June Christie, Julie London, Jo Stafford and Billie Holliday. So, ignoring her teaching degree, she went on the road with another jazz pianist after graduation. Jaffe left the entertainment business to marry and have five children. She did not play professionally again for 25 years.

The love of music brought her back into the entertainment business. She began her comeback in the Pittsburgh area, once more appearing as a jazz singer, accompanying herself on the piano. Since the 1980s, she has appeared at several locations in the Traverse City area, including The Pinestead Reef, The Waterfront, The Grand Traverse Resort, The Park Place, Bowers Harbor and Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Now her voice is lower with a kind of husky, smoky timber.

"All the time I was working in town, I'd drive by the senior center," Jaffe said. "So, I thought that some day I'd like to play there because seniors remember all of the old songs and I do so many of those."

The power of music intensifies as we age. To seniors, music can be a path to reminiscence, when a long-forgotten song brings back the vivid memory of an incident in their past — a memory remarkable not only in fact, but also feelings.

"To have something this late in life that you continue to do — that you love to do — is fabulous," Jaffe said. "It keeps me going."

And then there is Bob Core, another senior, who was self taught in his musical endeavors, playing the ukulele in high school and continuing into college. A few years after college, he ran into a friend who talked him into taking up the banjo. Again without lessons, he began playing the banjo.

Core was an electrical engineer with Consumers Power. When he was transferred to Manistee, he played the banjo with several bands. Another transfer to Traverse City found him playing with the Gary Carden Dixieland Band for seven years. He took a hiatus from music for some 10 years, then started playing in Florida after he had retired.

"Florida was just crawling with frustrated musicians," Core said. "Music opened up new social interactions for my wife and me, in addition to being a great outlet for my energy."

For the last three years, he has played with a band he organized — the Front Street Jazz Band. The musicians, playing 12 instruments, range from 50 to 80 years of age. They are always looking for more musicians to join them.

"I'd like to buy into the concept that I'm aging well, playing the banjo," Cole said.

So, if you play an instrument or sing, you already have a good understanding of the power of music. However, as I'm fond of saying, it's never too late to learn. Incidentally, if you just want to listen to music, you're welcome at any music presentation at the senior center. For more information, call at 922-4911 or e-mail lwells@tcseniorcenter.com.

Kathleen Bellaw Gest is a local freelance writer. For more about the Traverse City Senior Center, go to www.tcseniorcenter.com.

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