January 2023
We’re Changing Our Name!
Nursing Homes Swing is rebranding itself under its new moniker, We Bring The Music, and you will start seeing WBTM as our acronym instead of NHS. We are still dedicated to bringing area musicians into nursing homes and care facilities within our geographic reach. Our new website will be www.webringthemusic.org.
Nursing Homes Swing was started in 2008 by Bob and Jackie Hostage who selflessly devoted themselves to bringing live music performances to people who may have limited access, limited outreach, limited resources, or limited mobility. That mission has not and will not change under our rebranding. We continue to honor the vision of Bob and Jackie and we feel they would approve of our rebranding as a way to extend our reach and maintain relevance in today’s world. This past year, 2022, there were 130 performances in our area sponsored by NHS, and that activity will continue under the WBTM banner.
We are changing our name for a number of reasons. It was suggested that the term “nursing home” may subtly carry negative connotations of aging and infirmity. Our thanks go to Royce Campbell (long-time friend of this organization) for bringing our attention to the aching need for a name change. This is not to say we are abandoning nursing homes, but after 15 years our performers now play in a wider variety of venues including independent living, adult day care centers, memory care units, and long-term care facilities for individuals with disabilities who are not necessarily seniors. We have also expanded our range of music to include classical, acoustic, and folk as well as swing.
Our new website, which will have the same features as our original website, will become active on February 1, 2023, and the original www.NursingHomesSwing.org
website will contain a link to the new website, until we completely retire it (which will likely happen in October of 2023).
The above announcement was sent out earlier to many of you reading this, and since then we have received a number of positive comments about our re-branding from our many friends and musicians:
Stan Hamrick - Excellent decision in my view. Thanks!
Grace Cangialosi - This sounds like a great move! You do such great work...
Jaye Urgo - I am so glad to hear this. I really didn't like the name Nursing Homes Swing at all.
Jon Jensen - The new name is perfect! Let's look forward to more music and even more lives brightened.
Jan Hostage - This is brilliant! Thanks for letting me know.
Jim Howe - Thank you, and all the WBTM Directors for the work you do to make this happen. It's a great organization and I'm honored to be a part of it. Best wishes to everyone for 2023!
Musicians benefit for Ukraine: “We Play for Ukraine” update
Eight months ago we announced a musicians’ benefit for Ukraine, organized by Monica Worth and inspired by Royce Campbell, with the support of Global Giving. We now offer the following update on what this effort has brought to its beneficiaries, and would like to encourage further donations to help achieve final goal of $5000. We’re really close to it. The website shows the following as of 12/31/22:
Donations go to:
https://www.globalgiving.org/fundraisers/we-play-for-ukraine-1/
Recent experience of a participating musician
On Dec. 27, the Jazz Connection group, featuring David Weiss, Joe Tucker, Gary Rockwell, guest performer Bob Bowen, and myself, Victor Lee, performed for nineteen independent living residents of The Branchlands. After we had made introductions about ourselves and Nursing Homes Swing, I mentioned casually that a name change was in the works soon for NHS. A sweet British lady who appeared to be in her 80s expressed emphatically her approval of the name change, and that she had “hated” the old name. Wow, I thought, isn’t this perfect. She told me she had lived through the London blitzkrieg of WW2, kind of a reminder of what’s going on in Kyiv right now. We were still playing some Christmas selections that day, and I introduced "I'll Be Home for Christmas" as a WW2 period song that became a big hit for Judy Garland in the movie "Meet Me in St. Louis". This nice lady totally connected with it, especially when I explained that the original wartime lyric was "Someday soon we all will be together, if the fates allow. Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow..." and not "hang a shining star from the highest bough", which was a post-war Disneyfication of the original lyric. After all, this was a wartime song with lyrics reflecting hardship and separation, about enduring that hardship, and the Christmas season’s hope for peace in the world and re-uniting with loved ones. It was not about decorating trees with pretty stars. She totally got that. It was a good gig we played that afternoon. At that moment I realized why I love what we do.
Any musicians, friends, and supporters of NHS aka WeBringTheMusic.org are encouraged to share any thoughts, commentaries, or stories about what binds us together in this mission. You can submit your stories and words of encouragement to our website under “Contact” or directly to info@WeBringTheMusic.org after Feb. 1, 2023. Your remarks are welcomed.
And in conclusion:
Thank you for your continued interest and support for our efforts to bring music to audiences with limited access, mobility, resources, or outreach. The musical talent and resources in our community are our valued collective treasure, and we will continue to share that treasure with our audiences as our mission moving forward.
We would like to acknowledge the following list of organizational donors who have generously contributed to NHS over the past year:
Twice is Nice (resale boutique, Charlottesville)
Bama Works (Dave Matthews Band)
Church of Our Saviour
The Lodge at Old Trail
Additionally, private individuals including Bob Nunley, Lynn Pribus, Bob DuCharme, and many others have been financially generous as well.
The new WeBringTheMusic website will have a “Donate” button just as the old one does, as we continue to receive generous support from private individuals and other interested parties and organizations.
For those of you who prefer to mail in a check, you can also make future donations to:
WBTM, attn. Vivian Stein
1113 Cherry St.
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Thanks, and have a great New Year!
WeBringTheMusic.org (formerly Nursing Homes Swing) Board of Directors
Our new website www.webringthemusic.org is still under construction and will not achieve its final operational status until Feb.1, 2023, but it can be opened on your browser and it contains a link to our old website www.NursingHomesSwing.org which will remain active until it is phased out later this year. For the next few months, either address will work. WBTM
March 2020
Music and Memory
Music therapy is believed to have beneficial effects in a variety of care settings, including memory care. Accounts of otherwise non-interactive patients awakening from apathy to become “more engaged and happier” are being reported, and quoted by sources such as Alzheimers.net.
This alzheimers.net video clip shows patient Henry, ordinarily taciturn, who appears to become more joyful and verbally interactive after listening to music administered through headphones. A particularly touching moment is when, after being musically aroused from his withdrawn state, Henry starts to tell the interviewer about his favorite musician, Cab Calloway. In the words of the narrator, “[Henry] has rediscovered himself...he has re-acquired his identity...through the power of music.”
A recent review of research literature on the subject of music and Alzheimer’s disease published by Frontiers in Neuroscience concluded that “individualized music regimens provided the best outcomes for the patient. Furthermore, music listening may act as a relaxation technique and therefore provide a long-term impact for the patient, while active music therapy may act to engage participants through social interaction and provide acute benefits.”
The authors acknowledged that more research is needed.
The element of “individualization” and familiarity has been brought up by numerous sources, emphasizing that the music should be tailored to the preferences of, or at least recognizable by the patient in order to activate the relevant memory traces.
The Cochrane Library has published its own review of the subject, and while optimistic about music and improvement in depression, anxiety, overall well-being, and quality of life, it was more guarded in its assessment of improvements in behavioral problems and cognition, acknowledging that more high quality research is needed.
Quote of the Month
“Music is amazing because it helps heal both the performers AND the listeners. Everyone benefits from music. An equal opportunity healer!!”
- Author unknown, but quote shared by NHS musician Joe Tucker.
Overheard At a couple of recent NHS performances at the JABA Hillside Adult Care Center and at the Rosewood Village on Greenbrier, the following remarks were made by listeners:
“That’s my kind of music.”
“Hot stuff!”
Recent Developments in NHS Grant Support
Historically, generous grant support for NHS has been received from the Bama Works Fund, the Church of Our Saviour, the Better Living Foundation, the Tarrant Fund, and Bob and Jackie Hostage themselves. More recently, NHS Secretary and Board Member, Lynn Pribus began resubmitting grant applications and as reported in the December NHS Newsletter, NHS has received grants from Twice as Nice and from The Bama Works Fund again.
As of this year, two generous donations were received from John Nunley personally and from his retail operation, Better Living, Inc., and forwarded to NHS via the Church of Our Savior.
Your purchases at Kroger can also help Nursing Homes Swing bring more live music to more nursing homes! See: www.nursinghomesswing.com/kroger for more details.
We continue to receive donations from private individuals who support bringing entertainment, involvement, veneration, and celebration to those of advanced age and with special care needs. Thanks!
Instructions to NHS Performers Concerning Coronavirus Issues
One by one our client NHS facilities have been closing their doors to outside visitors and performance events. As announced in the Richmond Times, two key national agencies, the American Health Care Association and the Centers for Disease Control, have urged such measures due to the extreme vulnerability of nursing homes to the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia has joined the states who have declared emergency measures, including restrictions on public gatherings. Nursing Homes Swing has decided to cancel all of its current and upcoming scheduled performances through the month of April until further notice. We encourage all NHS performers and interested parties to maintain good health and safe practices including social distancing and copious hand-washing, and we hope to be able to start booking performances and sharing your music and artistry again once it appears safe to do so.
Thanks for your continued interest in Nursing Homes Swing, and we look forward to updating you with hopefully happier news.
Donations Accepted
Please visit our website’s homepage, which provides a link for donation: www.nursinghomesswing.com. The link is appropriate for individual contributors and organizational donations as well, but we encourage organizations to get in touch with the NHS Secretary, Lynn Pribus: lynnpribus@hotmail.com
Newsletter Contributions, Comments, and Feedback Welcomed
Please contact Victor Lee for any ideas you may have, and thanks for your interest: vlee55@comcast.net
December 2019
Jackie Hostage Honored at Arts Fund Presentation
On Nov. 7, 2019, Jackie Hostage was posthumously honored as a runner-up in the Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund Award presentation, held at the Charlottesville City Space. The 2019 winner of the Arts Award was photographer Norm Carter, whose photography has promoted visibility and recognition of special needs individuals participating in a variety of special needs and adaptive recreation events. The award presentation opened with a musical performance by Mary Beth Revak and Pete Vigour, embracing the legacy of swing music that Jackie and her husband Bob had brought with such passion to the local area nursing homes. Jackie Hostage was honored along with several other runners up, with a brief summary talk about her work given by Mary Beth Revak and Victor Lee. The Mildred W. Spicer Arts Fund, based in Charlottesville, promotes recognition and opportunities for inclusive art in a variety of media for community people with disabilities.
Victor Lee and Mary Beth Revak supported Jackie’s nomination with the following application statement: “Nursing Home Swing (NHS) is an effort started by Bob and Jackie Hostage in 2008 to bring live music performance to local assisted living / nursing homes for the elderly and disabled. Bob passed away in 2013 and Jackie has continued tirelessly, writing grants, organizing fund-raisers, scheduling musical appearances in 14 facilities each month in the Charlottesville, Albemarle and Louisa counties, recently turning the originally church-sponsored program into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. She has arranged entertainment for an estimated 40,000 folks over the past decade, drawing from a pool of about 100 local musicians. Jackie just turned 90 years old this year, and NHS is thriving under her guidance.”
Jackie passed away on Oct. 13 and was honored at a well-attended memorial service at the Church of Our Savior on October 9, 2019. NHS musicians participated in a lively jazz jam after eulogies were exchanged. Mary Beth Revak commented the next day:
“Jackie was important, she was loved and would have been thrilled with the memorial service and party yesterday! A beautiful ceremony in a beautiful church with so many friends and musicians. Every heart was broken with grief when Stephanie sang Amazing Grace but hopefully mended, if just a bit, with companionship, food and music…
We have every reason to think that Jackie's wish to keep our elders engaged through NHS will be honored. NHS is programmed through the end of the year and will continue in the foreseeable future.
Special thanks to Lynn Pribus and Vivian Stein, who have taken over big chunks of NHS—Lynn wrote and submitted more grant requests than ever before, and Vivian has taken over the accounting. Bob DuCharme continues to do NHS website updates and postings, and I'll continue programming.”
Recent Developments in NHS Grant Support
Historically, generous grant support for NHS has been received from the Bama Works Fund, the Church of Our Savior, the Better Living Foundation, and the Tarrant Fund.
This season, thanks mainly to Lynn Pribus, grant applications were resubmitted, and so far, NHS has received 2 grants! One, a new grantor to NHS is Twice as Nice, an entirely donation-based upscale resale boutique which features men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, collectibles, home décor, and furnishings generously donated by our community.
Like NHS, Twice as Nice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Their proceeds go directly to programs in the greater Charlottesville area that benefit seniors in need. This is a new and wonderful partnership for NHS! When you shop at their wonderful store, please thank them for their support of our NHS mission.
We are also lucky enough to be receiving another grant this year from The Bama Works Fund. BAMA Works was one of our first grantors, and we couldn't do what we do without their support.
Additionally, purchases at Kroger can now help Nursing Homes Swing bring more live music to more nursing homes! See: http://www.nursinghomesswing.com/kroger for more details.
We continue to receive donations from private individuals who support bringing entertainment, involvement, veneration, and celebration to those of advanced age and with special care needs. Thanks!
NHS Volunteers Needed for Site Visits During Performances
For years, Bob and Jackie Hostage attended every NHS performance to ensure staff brought residents, the music was well received and to just be friendly! We've been hoping (and asking) for someone to continue that important part of NHS. Thankfully, Bob DuCharme and Brandon Rose have been volunteering to go to performances whenever they can! They count attendees (important at grant-writing time) and let us know how things go. Plus, they get to meet other musicians and the wonderful folks who live at the residences. They cover some performances each month, but we could use more volunteers. Each volunteer would determine or invent his or her role, committing as much or as little time to the activity as desired. For example, a minimal commitment would involve confirming the appearance of the performers and a head count of audience. A more expanded role might include introducing the band with a brief promotion of NHS, taking photos for the newsletter or website, and possibly even sound bite interviews from staff and audience about their experience.
Donations Accepted
Please visit the NHS website which provides a link for donation: http://www.nursinghomesswing.com/
The link is appropriate for individual contributors and organizational donations as well, but organizations are encouraged to be in touch with the NHS funding manager, Lynn Pribus: lynnpribus (at) hotmail.com
Newsletter Contributions, Comments, and Feedback Welcomed
Please contact Victor Lee for any ideas you may have, and thanks for your interest: vlee55 (at) comcast.net
December 2018
News
Welcome to this sample of our new NHS Quarterly Newsletter. Here you will be able to get information on our programs, links to items in our on-line Yard Sale, and updates on events. You can also submit information about your NHS experiences, stories about your musical ventures, and questions and advice on how NHS can keep improving.
For now, we want to tell you about the big step that Nursing Homes Swing has taken to ensure future progress: we have finally acquired our own nonprofit status. Some of you may know that for the last ten years we have had our non-profit status through the generosity of Church of our Saviour in Charlottesville. We felt that now was the time to branch out on our own.
This comes with more responsibilities and with more expenses. We have always been able to say that "all donations go to pay the musicians" but now we will have to budget for accounting, software, checks, and more. But, as always, those of us who manage the program will continue to work pro bono.
The initial costs of applying for federal and state status have made a dent in our budget, so we are asking for donations in any amount. They can be made online at our website simply by clicking on the "Donate" button which will lead you to a secure site.
We would be immensely grateful!
Notes
Victor Lee, long-time NHS performer, sent along the Cochran report—a study with hard scientific evidence of the healing power of music. Those of us who visit with the elderly understand this information intuitively.
Another organization, Music & Memory, has done extensive neuroscience research that demonstrates how familiar music can facilitate attention and reduce behavioral problems in the elderly and Alzheimer's victims.
We are often rewarded by small signs of this impact: the otherwise unresponsive person tapping his toes to the music, the gentleman who can't speak but will sing, the tears in a resident's eyes at happy memories being invoked.
Our appreciation goes out to the musicians who really understand this and treat the residents with patience, understanding, and a willingness to perform their musical requests.