In this visit, participants will explore music, voice, favorite songs, favorite musicians, and discuss how these things make them feel.  Playing music from your partner’s generation and singing together or in a in call & response style are wonderful ways to connect, be present, and spark joy!

These are some guidelines for Music and Voice. The most important thing to stay connected and be present. Be flexible, see where the conversation takes you: anything you do will add so much joy to your partner’s day!!

Step 1: Warm up and welcome.

Introduce yourself to your adult partner. Ask your partner a few questions about themselves, and tell them a bit about yourself. Tell your partner him/her what you are going to do together today.

• Speak CLEARLY and SLOWLY (but not too slowly that your adult loses interest!)
• For example, say: “Hi! I am Kate. I am so happy to meet you! Today we are going to talk about music and sing songs!”

Step 2: Engage your partner in a conversation about music, song, and voice.

Option 1

Ask questions like this to spark a conversation

• What’s your favorite song, how does that song make you feel?
• What does the voice of someone you love sound like, and how does that voice make you feel?
• If your partner is not responsive, offer your own answers to spark conversation, something like ‘I love the sound of my baby sister laughing’ –or say that you love a well-known song you think your partner will know of, like “You are My Sunshine”, and say why this song makes you feel good.

Option 2

Play a song from their past, like music from the 1950s or 1960s

• You can play this song on a device, or sing it on your own, perhaps play an instrument. Ask your partner if they like the song, how does it makes them feel. Suggestions: chose an Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, or a Beatles song. Ask if they recognize the song, and how it makes them feel, perhaps they will share stories from their youth.

Option 3

Ask what their favorite song or artist, and do a sing-a-long

• Play the song from the internet, or sing/play it yourself. You can sing together, or do a call and response.

Option 4

Ask your partner if they want to sing you a song.

• Often the adult partners love to sing and perform, or offer to sing to them.

Step 3: Saying goodbye

At the end of the session, tell your partner what a lovely time you had speaking with them, you wish them well, and that you would like to connect again soon.