Regarding songs about aging: I've found that older people like to hear "When You and I Were Young, Maggie". I don't understand what you mean though, Pavane, about avoiding songs about death. I would have thought that seniors are more in touch with death than the general population; have you gotten bad feedback about this? (Not that I would want to play American Pie, it's a little too young a song, but I don't intend to avoid death as a subject.)

Genie: I've told you about my mother's hymnsings; often I go with her to fill in for her singing partner, and she plays the piano. Part of my job as the singer is to keep an eye on what's going on with the songbooks, and if someone's having trouble finding the page I go closer to them to tell them the page number, or trade books with them so they have it already open to the right page. Now, I gather from what you've said that you work alone. Do you accompany yourself, and if so, how do you handle helping people with the songbooks? It seems like it would be impossible to do if you're a lone pianist, and quite awkward if you're a guitarist.

On a related note, if the facility you go to does have songbooks, do you use them or your own? And thanks for your offer of faxing materials, but we have access to a word processor and can make our own.

One more little thing; the last time I went fiddling at a nursing home, I noticed that the singing-along in one particular lobby was of exceptionally high quality. I mentioned this to a staffworker who said, "Don't you know, that was Maureen Forrester..." who I've since learned is a world-renowned classical/opera singer. Now I'm shy about going back to that part of the building!

Marion