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true true true true true

Amid Lockdown, Groups Figure Out Ways To Keep Bringing Music To Care Facilities

By Sara Wittmeyer

Posted April 24, 2020

singers practicing outside

Pianist Mark Wiedenmayer plays with members of the Music Ministry group at his home in Bloomington. (Zach Herndon)

Folks living in nursing homes and care facilities are at higher risk of the coronavirus. The state has reported nearly 15 percent of cases are in these facilities.

One way nursing homes are working to keep people safe is by prohibiting visitors. That applies to not only family, friends, and other loved ones, but also groups who regularly visit for various outreach programs.

The weather was perfect Wednesday afternoon for Mark Wiedenmayer to host a group of his musician friends on his front lawn for a makeshift concert. Widenmayer played keyboard while about ten others played other instruments and sang.

The Music Ministry volunteer outreach group visits care facilities and retirement communities to perform and have informal sing along time. They've been doing it since 2009.

"We go about 34 hours a month to different places so they’re really locked in because they really love Mark and watch him play the music and see his hands and they love to sing with us," says singer Blue Butterfly Woman.

Since mid-March the group has been trying to figure out a good, safe way to gather and do music.

"We just love each other and we want to get together to sing and we feel horrible and it couldn’t be truly more perfect outdoors. It’s Mark’s yard. He can bring his keyboard and be right there."

They videotaped the session so they can put it up on Youtube and folks in nursing homes and care facilities can still have some music during the pandemic.

"Music is the universal language of love," says Butterfly Woman. "It is therapeutic and it brings people together and when we sing in care centers to watch them come alive and to see their faces just wake up and they sing."

For the latest news and resources about COVID-19, bookmark our Coronavirus In Indiana page here. 

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