The sound of piano keys and violin strings filled the air as residents of The Trousdale, a senior living center, smiled and hummed along. For one afternoon, the lobby became a concert hall for a group of Burlingame students.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m., members of the Music for Memory Club performed at The Trousdale. Ten musicians gathered in the building’s lobby and played a one-hour, fully instrumental set to an audience of building residents. After the performance, the students stayed to chat with the seniors about the concert.
The Music for Memory Club is made up of student musicians who volunteer to perform at hospitals and senior homes — entirely student-run and instrumental. While they play for senior citizens in general, their main audience is people with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory-related disorders.
Senior and club president Jaslene Lai said she believes performing for people with Alzheimer’s disease can have important benefits. Because music is linked to memories, hearing it performed live can help patients retrieve forgotten memories and feelings, even if the song isn’t directly connected to a memory.
“The goal is to help people who are at risk of things like dementia and other things that kind of slow down your mind and memory, hence the music for memory, and really just help those people, because there’s been a lot of studies that show that mental stimulation, even just through something as simple as live music, can really help with the elderly’s brains,” Lai said.
Lai said she began performing at senior centers when she was in eighth grade, where she started gathering a small group of student musicians. In her sophomore year, she officially founded the Music for Memory Club.
“I’d already been performing at senior centers before. It started out kind of just as a for-fun thing with my other musician friends. But then I thought we should organize this, so not only does this become an official effort, but also that way it gives other students at BHS an opportunity to join in,” Lai said.
According to Lai, the Music for Memory club is a great way to gain experience performing in front of a live audience while giving back to the community through something they enjoy.
“I feel like the performances, they’re just a really fun way… for all the musicians, to not only practice their own performance skills, but get to know their community members better,” Lai said.
Senior Elaine Tsai, who played piano at The Trousdale concert, echoed Lai’s sentiment.
“I really enjoy playing music, and I also like to do volunteer service, so I thought it was a great club to join… I think it’s important to use music in a way that can benefit others, especially for seniors,” Tsai said.
Junior Ethan Li, who played violin at the concert, said that in addition to boosting memory, hearing live music brings joy and entertainment to seniors, adding something special to their day.
“Senior homes and the people that live here can really benefit from our performances. Again, it’s helpful for brain diseases like Alzheimer’s. And just in general, hosting an event and having something new in their lives, I think they enjoy it a lot,” Li said.
Ultimately, the Music for Memory Club not only provides music but also builds connections. Students can earn volunteer hours and valuable performing experience while bringing engagement and entertainment to the seniors.
“It’s really important to remember that the elderly folks, including those who live in a senior living facility, are also still a part of our community, so it’s nice to give them a little of the spotlight and attention,” Lai said.
