Burbank Senior Artists Colony residents enjoy mentoring students at the neighboring Burbank Community Day School. Learning how to play and practicing the guitar are favorite activities for everyone — and they fit right in with yesterday’s post about the value of playing a musical instrument!
Teddi (center), a BSAC resident, works on her technique.
BSAC resident Millie (striped shirt) works with a student.
Dolly (center, back), a BSAC mentor, practices with the group.
A post entitled “Aging Musicians Have Sharp Brains” on Futurity.org explains that playing a musical instrument may help fight cognitive decline in our later years. Starting to study music while young and continuing for many years seems to have the greatest positive effect. Click here to read more.
But there also can be positive cognitive effects if we start playing when we’re older. We now know that we can help maintain and enhance “brain plasticity” (the brain’s ability to change itself with learning) by giving the brain mental challenges. Learning a musical instrument would certainly do that — and it’s fun!
The EngAGE Blog is now a part of the new ChangingAging Blogstream! Dr. Bill Thomas and his team at ChangingAging.org have created a site that will gather together blog posts from many different organizations and individuals who are interested in changing the way we think about aging. This will allow blog participants and blog readers to discover interesting posts about positive aging from multiple sources of information, all in one 
convenient blogstream. Click here to jump in and check back often to read what other bloggers have to say. We’re delighted to be a part of the conversation!
EngAGE Regional Program Director Elizabeth Sampson is also an accomplished writer, director, and actor. See her latest performance on television tonight on NBC’s “Law & Order: Los Angeles.”
Congratulations, Elizabeth!
The artist poses by her large watercolor painting of calla lilies.
On Saturday afternoon, BSAC resident Charlene McDonald enjoyed a well-attended opening reception for her art show at Geo Gallery in Glendale. The two-person exhibit featured her work in watercolors, colored pencil and serigraph. From her artist’s statement:
“I paint. I write. I drive across the country alone. I smile at strangers when I pass them on the street and my soul is filled with joy.”
Congratulations, Charlene!
Piedmont Programs Manager Sidni Myles is celebrating the book publication/CD release of her latest work, Jesus’ Niece, with a party at Piedmont Senior Apartments tomorrow, May 7th, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Stop by to get a signed copy of each or CLICK HERE to order the book without the CD.
This is Sidni’s second book. The first was ESS-EYE-DEE-IN-EYE and it’s also available from Sidni or at the link above.
Congratulations, Sidni!
Experience Talks will be pre-empted tomorrow for a pledge drive. You can use this opportunity to contribute to KPFK-FM, your listener-sponsored public radio station. Just CLICK HERE to go to the KPFK website for more information.
