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Music Making and Health-It's Never Too Late!

"My instrument is my friend. We enjoy one another's company; it gives me joy, peace, serenity, a sense of accomplishment, and wonderful music to boot." Winnie Athalde is a student in a wellness-enhanced, keyboard class for active adults. She's part of a growing movement of older Americans who are taking up music making for the first time in their lives.

Learning to make music appeals to people of all ages. However, it's especially appealing to older adults who value wellness and prevention of disease because making music tends to promote physical and psychological well-being.

Many healthy older adults have the time and energy to pursue a host of interests, including music making. All humans have innate musical skills, and many adults feel they have waited long enough to develop those skills. Regardless of the age at which people begin, music making provides great potential for enhanced quality of life and subsequent wellness.

Locally, Fletcher Organ Studios offers wellness-enhanced adult keyboard classes aimed specifically at people who'd love to make their own music but have no musical experience or idea how to start. Michael Cooney, Wellness Coordinator at Fletcher Organ Studios comments, "Many people are under the mistaken belief that they are too old to learn to make music if they didn't start in elementary school. Our wellnessenhanced, adult keyboard classes introduce beginners to the joy of making music; and, believe me, they have a great time discovering music."

A breakthrough study of older adults enrolled in group wellness-enhanced keyboard classes shows significantly reduced anxiety, depression and loneliness scores three factors that are critical for coping with stress, stimulating the immune system, and improving health.

Dr. Fredrick Tims, Chair of Music Therapy at Michigan State University and Principal Investigator of the Music Making & Wellness Research Project says, "We feel strongly that abundant health benefits can be achieved by adults who learn to make music in a supportive, socially enjoyable setting."

Active adults interested in finding out more about music making and wellness and how it has changed the lives of thousands of students nationwide can contact:

Fletcher Organ Studios
Henderson (702) 871-4418
Summerlin (702) 363-1780