Tony Gifford explains how singing helps sufferers from Parkinson’s Disease.
ParkinSongsters’ spring concert on Monday 28th
The ParkinSongsters, an informal choir of Parkinson’s sufferers – a disease which is sadly on the rise – wish to invite you to their spring concert on Monday 28 April at St John’s Church Hall in Brittany Road. Tony Gifford, one of the participants, provides a snapshot of singing with the group. Also appearing will be the women’s a cappella folk group Rattlebag.
If you happen to walk past St John’s Church Hall, Brittany Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea on a Monday afternoon, you may hear voices singing a familiar tune. It could be a number from The Mikado, or a Beatles song, or a Wild West call for freedom, Don’t Fence Me In, or a cockney ballad which you hadn’t heard for years, like My Old Man Said Follow the Van.
The singers are clearly not professionals, or a school choir rehearsing. There are too many false notes and mistakes. What you are hearing is a weekly practice session of the ParkinSongsters, a group of people who suffer from Parkinson’s Disease. We come together every week because singing can help reduce symptoms by relaxing our muscles and stretching our lungs, but most of all because it is friendly and fun.
Occasionally a burst of loud notes fly out from the group. That is Jane our leader, a former opera singer, encouraging us to sing out. She takes us through the words of each song with patience and good humour, urging us to express its meaning, getting us to sing with an Italian or a Cockney or a posh accent, pushing us to follow her beat and get our tongues around the consonants. Duncan, our pianist, accompanies discreetly on his keyboard.
If you are a Parkinson’s sufferer, whether a mover or a shaker, relative, carer or friend, you will be made very welcome at our practice sessions. Members pay £5 for each session, which lasts from 2.45-4pm.
ParkinSongsters’ Spring Concert Monday 28 April, 3-4.30pm, St John’s Church Hall, Brittany Road, St Leonards-on-Sea TN38 0RD. With guests Rattlebag. Entrance free but donations welcome. Table sale and refreshments.
To join ParkinSongsters, or make an inquiry, contact info@parkinsongsters.co.uk or telephone Jane Metcalfe on 0776366367. For more details visit the website.
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