Strike up the band

Residents of a senior community in Ortonville form musical group, perform to good crowds

By Scott Thoma

As we age, the talents we once possessed are used much less frequently, if at all.

That’s the way Dennis Carlson, a resident at Fairway View Senior Communities in Ortonville, viewed it. He didn’t want to see his or anyone else’s talents go to waste just because of their advanced ages. So, the Clinton native decided to do something about it.

“Just because you go into an assisted living facility doesn’t mean you have to sit around and waste a talent you might have,” he explained. “Everyone has some kind of talent and when they go into a senior living place, that talent isn’t used anymore. Having this music gives people here an opportunity and gives them a venue.”

As a result, “Jam Session,” a six-member musical group of residents at Fairway View, was  formed six months ago.

“We will take anyone who wants to play with us,” said Carlson, a self-taught guitarist. “If you want to sing, play guitar, spoons, harmonica, or even whistle, we want you to join us. You don’t have to be great. This is just for fun.”

In a recent performance for the other residents of Fairview, the Orpheum Theatre became standing room only. The audience was made up of residents, family members, and members of the Ortonville community.

Rita Hillman, who grew up in Latvia and admittedly came to the United States in search of a husband, learned to play the accordion as a young girl. When she saw Carlson playing the guitar, she asked if he wanted to practice with her.

“That’s how this all got started,” she said.

Carlson and Hillman then invited others to join. Helen Holker now plays the accordion with the group.

“I have a 12-key accordion and Rita has a 120-key accordion,” said Holker, who started playing when she was 10 years old and eventually played in several big bands.

David Schoberg plays the mandolin, and sisters Ruth Ann Gloege and Carole Gerber, are vocalists. Gloege also is the pianist for the group.

“We’ve been singing for many years,” said Gloege. “We sang at funerals and for weddings when we were young. We’ve always liked to sing and decided to join this group.”

The group first started practicing together this past February in a small secluded room. They picked a more private location for two reasons. First, they didn’t want to bother other residents and, and second, they were unsure how well their music would be.

Like a child going through a growth spurt, the group eventually outgrew that room.

“After a while, they invited residents to listen to them,” said Housing Manager Missy Sigler. “The other residents really enjoyed their music and so many others came to listen that we had to move them to our Orpheum Theatre room.”

Now the senior living facility has built-in entertainment.

Some of the songs the group plays are well-known and others are less familiar. They have no prepared list of songs they play during their one-hour performance on the first Wednesday of each month.

“We take turns and play whatever song we feel like,” said Carlson. “If the others don’t know the song, they listen for a few seconds and then join in, playing by ear.”

“A lot of the people that come to listen will join in singing or clapping hands,” said Activities Director Jackie Taffe. “We’ve had some young girls come in and sing with the group. Everyone has so much fun.”