Whenever I perform or give a public talk I try to connect with my audience. I see how they are reacting and accordingly get inspiration or adjust my approach to make better rapport.

For the past few years I have been giving monthly concerts at two retirement homes and at one school for severely disabled children. Most of the people in the retirement homes that I visit are suffering from various stages of dementia and it is a challenge to make contact with them. Similarly the children and the adolescents at the school for the disabled are suffering from congenital problems which have affected them physically and mentally and I am not sure if I am getting through to them with my songs.

At the retirement homes I sing old time American folk and gospel songs and encourage my audience to sing along with me. Some of them are able to sing along and it is very touching watching them sing songs from their youth. Recently at one of the retirement homes I noticed one woman who I have seen for the past few years. When I first met her she seemed quite normal (though even at that time she had begun to lose her hold on reality). On this last visit she was very withdrawn and sad and it was clear that her condition had deteriorated greatly since our first meeting. However, at the end of the session she was smiling so I believe that I did make contact with her. No doubt my monthly visits are not enough to win the battle against the aging process but I was happy to have made even a small difference.

The audience at the school for children and adolescents with severe disabilities is even more challenging. A few of the children react to the rhythms of my songs and move their bodies in time with the music, but others do not show much outward emotion. The caregivers at this school sing along with me and encourage the children to shake small hand-held rhythm instruments. I am not able to detect much change in most of the audience but the caregivers who are with the children throughout the day tell me that my visits are an important contribution to their efforts and they even play my YouTube videos for the students when I am not there.

If you are able to sing and play an instrument, don’t sit around in your living room waiting for a phone call inviting you to perform at a huge festival or some classy venue, why not volunteer your time and play for those really need a bit of joy in their lives?