[D Hutchins]

The most difficult aspect of the Pandemic for me was the isolation and the inability to make music with others. Olympia, Washington, where I live, has a wonderful Music Mends Minds program. It attracts musicians of all types who share a love of music with each other. Instruments range from the human voice to clarinets, banjos, shakers, guitars, violins, lap harps, mandolins, ukelele, a piano, harmonicas, and others. All are welcome, and music titles include folk, rock, spirituals, show tunes, and others that are suggested by the participants. Best of all are the opportunities to make new friends and savor old memories that the music within us all can generate.

Carol Rosenstein, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Music Mends Minds, lost her husband to Parkinson’s Disease. She saw how transformative music was when her husband sat down and played the piano. That was the inspiration for Music Mends Minds. (https://www.musicmendsminds.org/carol-rosenstein) Thanks to an ever-growing number of partnerships, this program is spreading geographically, and includes live bands (https://www.musicmendsminds.org/musical-support-groups).

Find the music that fills you with joy and embrace it!