When it comes to having her hands in the dirt while gardening, waking up early to listen to the birds, or whipping up some healthy cooking while entertaining friends, those hobbies come as daily routines for Pattie Levine.
However, if I told you that in the past year, she has added ukulele practice and playing to her daily routine, that even surprises Pattie herself. “Hum and strum. It is quiet when you are strumming. It is time to check out from the craziness of life and sit with a ukulele and enjoy taking time out of your day.”
Pattie first heard about Music for Seniors’ Ukulele Learning Labs when our partnering sponsor of the series, AARP Tennessee, announced it at a volunteer meeting that Pattie was attending.
Shortly after Pattie’s husband passed away, she had checked out an ukulele at her local Brentwood Library. She tried tuning it, stared at it and tried to play it, but became overwhelmed and returned it to the library a few days later. With some low expectations, Pattie came to our Beginner Ukulele Learning Lab at FiftyForward Madison in August of last year. During each of the 6 sessions, Pattie was amazed at how she and her classmates were learning so many chords and strums.
“It gave me the confidence to believe that I could play the ukulele. We would get through songs week by week, and the class would clap! We were all pleased with our progress with a feeling of accomplishment!”
Following the 6-week beginner ukulele course, she then took a Music for Seniors intermediate ukulele course, but Pattie didn’t stop there. She enrolled in another Music for Seniors Ukulele Learning Lab with her good friend, Sue, near their homes in Brentwood at the Martin Center this past May.
And Pattie and Sue didn’t stop after that 6-week course either. “Now, several of us meet weekly at the Martin Center every Tuesday afternoon to practice. Having a group of people with similar interests and camaraderie, not being alone. The cognitive aspect, it is dopamine.”
Research has shown that reducing isolation, socializing, and learning new activities are key factors in promoting brain health as we age. Pattie cites chord learning, finger placement, and the concentration to learn songs as ways she is helping her brain work in a different way.
As a lover of every genre of music, Pattie truly enjoys it all. When I asked her favorite color, she answered with turquoise. It is fitting that the symbols for the color turquoise are tranquility, healing, and protection. Pattie has used her ukulele and music for all three of these things. Whether it is the quiet time of strumming, healing with the help of a new hobby after her husband’s passing, or protecting her brain health, it is evident that Pattie is taking care of herself and enjoying it.
And, yes, don’t worry, Pattie and Sue have already signed up for our next Ukulele Learning Lab at CenterWell in Hermitage beginning August 7 and you can too! Pattie will be there to help you feel welcome and so will we. Click the link below for more info and to reserve your spot! We look forward to seeing you there.
Music for Seniors – CenterWell Hermitage Beginner Ukulele Learning Lab