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19 Apr 06 - 02:42 PM (#1722019) Subject: Threshold Choirs: inspiring volunteers From: Elmer Fudd These very inspiring Threshold Choirs are active in various communities in the United States. One just sang at a musician friend's bedside in a hospital during the early hours of the morning as she died. The Threshold Choirs' founder, Kate Munger, is available to help people get one started. What they do: "We sing at bedsides. We have sung for people who are dying, people who are recovering, people in comas, and those recovering from comas. We have also sung for newborns in hospital intensive care units. We sing in pairs or small groups in hospices, hospitals, nursing homes, and private homes when we are invited by family or caregivers. Sometimes the family is present when we sing, and we sing as much for them as for the person who is in bed. Each regional Choir rehearses approximately twice a month. The more experienced Choir members mentor the less experienced. We each decide individually when we are ready to sing at a bedside." http://www.thresholdchoir.org/ |
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19 Apr 06 - 07:16 PM (#1722332) Subject: RE: Threshold Choirs: inspiring volunteers From: katlaughing Thank you, very much, for the info and link. It is an area in which I have great interest and would like to do more of; this is inspiring! |
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20 Apr 06 - 10:22 AM (#1722765) Subject: RE: Threshold Choirs: inspiring volunteers From: Jerry Rasmussen Thanks so much for posting this, Elmer: It sounds like a wonderful idea. Too bad it's just for women. I'd try to sneak by, wearing a dress, but my moustache would probably give me away. The thing that's different about this organization is that they sing at bedsides. I'll have to ask at nursing homes where we sing, if they allow that. I've always sung in a room where many patients are gathered together, and in a way that makes more sense as we can bring some pleasure to many people at a time, instead of just one. But, I can see situations where someone is bed-ridden who can't come to a common room, where it would be good to sing to them, one on one. I commented on this in a little more detail in the Sitting At The Kitchen Table thread, so I won't repeat myself. Music is one of the greatest of gifts to bring to someone who is sick, or depressed. Flowers don't compare.. Jerry |
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20 Apr 06 - 10:32 AM (#1722773) Subject: RE: Threshold Choirs: inspiring volunteers From: Elmer Fudd I too was disappointed that these are for women only, but I see no reason why we couldn't organize some co-ed or even men's choirs along these lines. The Threshold Choirs are one woman's vision, but variations on a theme are nothing new in music! Elmer |
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20 Apr 06 - 10:36 AM (#1722781) Subject: RE: Threshold Choirs: inspiring volunteers From: Stilly River Sage I heard a piece on National Public Radio a couple of years ago about this kind of activity in Hospice settings. Not all of the musicians interviewed were singers, not all women, and I think there were instruments also. It might not hurt to so a search on music, hospice, etc. and see if you can find the story. SRS |
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20 Apr 06 - 11:19 AM (#1722831) Subject: RE: Threshold Choirs: inspiring volunteers From: Jerry Rasmussen From my experience, nursing homes, hospices and hospitals all welcome visitors who bring music (or just themselves.) It's usually a matter of just volunteering whatever you have to offer. I know churches that have organized informal groups to go into nursing homes to sing. Unfortunately, they seem imagination-handicapped, as they only think to do it at Christmas. Any time is welcome. Jerry |
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20 Apr 06 - 01:04 PM (#1722943) Subject: RE: Threshold Choirs: inspiring volunteers From: Kaleea There is certainly no reason why the Musicians should be female only or singers only! It is the Music which speaks to the listener. Perhaps some might not desire to hear a Tuba at their bedside whilst convalescing, but I might rather enjoy a brass ensemble, a pipe band, a steel drum band, a ceili band complete with Bodhran, Whistle & (gasp) Banjo. Maybe not all at the same time, though. |
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20 Apr 06 - 01:53 PM (#1722980) Subject: RE: Threshold Choirs: inspiring volunteers From: Jerry Rasmussen If I heard all at the same time, Kaleea, I'd be out of bed in a jiffy.. Jerry |
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20 Apr 06 - 02:33 PM (#1723025) Subject: RE: Threshold Choirs: inspiring volunteers From: katlaughing The impression I got was it is a bit different than singing to a group because they are focussing on people are in a coma, dying, etc. That is the aspect I am interested in...helping people across the "threshold" aka music thanatology. There is a formal degree in it which graduates use a harp. My dulcimer has been welcomed in such situations and no one cares about a degree or if you are male or female.:-) kat |