Choir: Singing You’ll Never Forget!
“My daughter played the piano, and my father sang at the top of his lungs, belting out songs from The Sound of Music. For a moment, there was no fear, anger, or confusion. We just sang!”
In Blixems, I’ve started a choir for people with dementia or memory problems, where they can come every Tuesday morning to sing songs from all eras with a family member, friend, neighbor, or loved one.
Schedule:
- 10:00 AM: Arrival with coffee and tea
- 10:30 – 11:30 AM: Singing session
- Cost: €4.00 per person
(2 free trial sessions)
I think we’ve all heard about how important music is for people with memory problems. Music is often the last thing to remain in your brain. In short, when we sing together, a sense of community develops, influenced by oxytocin (the “hug hormone”). The feeling is simple: we are together, we sing together, and we have strength together. We lift each other up and become a unit.
That’s why I started a choir for people with memory problems and their caregivers! Since September 2024, I’ve been singing in care homes. I perform for and with the residents, singing songs that they recognize. Most people join in, from old folk songs to the Rolling Stones, from the 1930s to today (Claudia de Breij, Gerard van Maasakkers).
For more information about me, visit:
www.tannekevanderheyden.nl
— Tanneke van der Heyden