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...and countless more memories. Becoming Chief Intern at Heritage Village and Arbor Terrace has helped me grow as a leader and a musician. I’ve not only gained leadership, communication, and organizational skills but also have become more patient and empathetic. One of the most rewarding parts, though, was watching the breadth of Tacy Foundation grow. Many of my friends, who I started volunteering with and have helped me gain confidence in being Chief Intern, have started their own sites. I’m honored to know that more and more youth are taking the initiative to reach out to their communities and bring them joy through music.
One of the most distinctive things I’ve learned from these live music events, however, is the value of sharing music. Many of the seniors we perform for suffer from dementia or other illnesses. Yet despite their condition, I’ve witnessed music work its magic. I’ve seen the seniors want to dance and tap their feet to catchy tunes. Other times I can hear them softly sing the lyrics to pieces they know or join in in our christmas carols. One particular moment that truly made an impression on me was when our live music event ended and one senior got up. She walked towards one of the volunteers who played the gu zheng and asked if she could touch it. Her caregiver explained that she had played the gu zheng when she was young. As she performed a short cheerful melody a smile formed upon her face and I found myself smiling from ear to ear too. Their love and appreciation for music clearly echoes in the words they always say at the end of each live music performance: “When will you all be back?” It is because of moments like these that I truly believe in the words that Debasish Mridha once said: “Music can heal the wounds that medicine cannot touch.”
I’d like to thank Mrs. Holliday for her dedication and for inspiring so many youth including me to empower people with music. I also want to thank the Activities Director at Heritage Village Assisted Living and Memory Care Ms. Edmund, the former Engagement Director Mr. Robbins and the current Engagement Director of the Arbor Terrace Senior Living facility for all their encouragement and enthusiasm.
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