ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Music has the power to move and transform people. A new choir at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester is using music to also heal people.
At Eastman's Kilbourn Hall, Debbie Parker is joined on stage by her mom Angie Sinacore. They're rehearsing in the Encore at Eastman program.
The program is an approach found only in a handful of music therapy programs. No singing experience is required.
The chorus is guided by the Giving Voice Initiative, which fosters the creation and operation of independent choruses that bring joy, well-being, purpose and community understanding to people with Alzheimer’s Disease and their care partners.
“A lot of memories that are deep within the brain that are attached to music, seeing a lot of memories that come to play," said Erica Porter Smith, the program's music director.
The choir sings songs picked from different decades. Porter Smith wanted the music to connect with all ages in the choir.
The songs brought out many emotions, both from choir singers and in Porter Smith.
"I get to see an incredible amount of joy pass over their faces and a sense of security”, said Porter Smith.
The Encore program will continue with a summer session. Participants were able to select which songs they wanted to perform.
