Alzheimer Awareness Practice-A-Thon

 September is World's Alzheimer's Awareness Month.  It is considered a time to shine a purple light for millions of individuals world-wide and all the family members and caregivers locally affected by Alzheimer's disease.  In reflecting upon the positive effect that music has on individuals with Alzheimer's, how fitting it would be to include our piano studies and skills in an Alzheimer's awareness challenge this month.  Please read the informative article, "How Music 'Awakens' Alzheimer's Patients"

In honor of those struggling with Alzheimer's disease, The Augusta Music Teachers Association (AMTA) is sponsoring a Piano Practice-A-Thon benefitting the Jud C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer Care over the next couple of weeks.  Some of our piano teachers are issuing a challenge with scales and chord progression or with theory.  I'm asking my students to get sponsors for daily sight-reading if you are reading, and for pre-readers......30 minutes of practice time each day.  Not only with this benefit the Alzheimer Center, but it will help students to establish daily practice time that will in turn spur them on as they see the results of the time they have put in.

Students are asked to get family members, friends, and neighbors to sponsor them for this event.  At the end of our fundraising, we will have a studio group gathering with yummy refreshements to celebrate our hard work.  While together, we will also work on our Suzuki lapbooks. I have all kinds of scrapbooking gadgets that you may enjoy using in putting your lapbooks together.

 








Our Music Association is planning a Community Outreach Recital for Monday, October 14^th at the Elmcroft Senior Living Community where each piano studio will be asking a couple of students to perform.  Please mark your calendars for this day. (See Studio Calendar)

COMMUNITY OUTREACH RECITAL

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14^TH at 11:00 am
ELMCROFT SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY
515 THE PASS, MARTINEZ, GA 30907

 During the month of November (National Alzheimer's Awareness month) we will be performing at the Jud C. Hickey Center.  The AMTA will be presenting the Center with a check of collected pledges from piano students all over the CSRA area whose teachers are part of the Augusta Music Teachers’ Association in memory of Mildred B. Gilliard, mother of Mrs. Anita Houser of Grovetown.  Mrs. Houser is a voice and piano instructor in Grovetown, GA and a member of AMTA.

The lovely Mildred B. Gilliard receiving her certificate!

 Mrs. Houser wrote this about the Jud C. Hickey Center:

 

Anita Houser Sharing photos of her mom

 “The Jud C. Hickey Center was a tremendous ‘life raft’ for me during the time my mother, Mildred, (who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease) lived with me and my family for 1 ½ years. For over a year, she visited the center regularly throughout the week.  It gave me the relief I needed, as I was often up during the night with my mother to keep her safe as she began to wander as the disease progressed.  The center provided my mother with a safe, loving environment that stimulated her mind and spirit, while also respecting her dignity.  I will be eternally grateful for the wonderful people at Jud C. Hickey Center.”

(To learn more about the Center you can visit their website: www.judchickeycenter.org/)
 
Students have received packets that include a fact sheet and activities that they can do that will explain a little about Alzheimer’s Disease to understand what they are raising funds for. At their lesson the next two weeks, we will fill in the practice chart with stickers to indicate the blocks of practice time they have completed and the total amount needed to ask of sponsors.  Make sure that all practice time is recorded on the assignment sheet for credit to be given. All monies will need to be turned in to me no later than Thursday, October 17^th.  Please have sponsors make checks out to the:  Augusta Music Teachers’ Association. (This is a tax deductible donation.)