As I look back on the latter years of my grandfather’s life, I know he felt out of touch and lonely and I didn’t really know how to reach him. Visits were sometimes difficult and there didn’t seem to be a lot of community programs available to him at the home he was in, much less something I might have been able to participate in with him. Or perhaps it was more that he just wasn’t interested in what was available. I loved him very much but he was 96 and set in his ways! Not only that, but his home was not in close proximity to me which meant visitations were not as frequent as I would have liked.

As technology moves forward and fewer families have grandparents living in their homes, more and more of today’s seniors feel out of touch and lonely, especially those in a retirement community. Young families are very busy, often with 2 parents working, and aren’t always able to visit their elderly relations enough to nurture the senior’s sense of worth and value. That’s why it’s so important to provide more opportunities to bring the generations together.

Seniors really enjoy the company of young children, especially babies. Children offer seniors a valued glimpse into the future and revive fond memories of the past while gaining a positive influence on their own outlook of the elderly. Today there are fewer and fewer opportunities to bring these generations together.

Music is the universal language - so doesn’t it make sense to provide a music program that includes both babies and elderly? Whether you’re 2 months old, 22 years old or 102! It doesn’t matter what language you can speak or how well you can sing. Music is a way we can bring everyone together - through generations and through language barriers. This is why Kindermusik® has taken their Village program and created Village With Seniors - a multi-generational music and movement class that bridges the gap between generations. Involving babies, their parents and grand-friends in a unique atmosphere where they can sing, play instruments, dance and nurture community togetherness.

As a local musician, private voice and piano teacher and Kindermusik educator, I am so ecstatic to be able to provide this wonderful program right here in Mississauga at Sheridan Villa, and be able to reach out to all generations with my passion for music! For more details on the Kindermusik programs, including Village With Seniors, provided by Sing, please visit www.singonline.ca.

Written by Mandi Galer AKA Miss Mandi

Musician/Music Educator