Prof. VonDras interviewed in ‘The rhythm of life’

“During COVID [-19] when I was upset, I would get up in the middle of the night and play [my piano],” Jeannie Udas, a lifelong music lover and piano student in the Community Music School of Springfield’s Creative Aging program, told Prime about her early-pandemic coping mechanism. “I would close the door so I wouldn’t disturb my husband.“At this time in life, my doctor said you should be doing what you love, what makes you happy,” Udas added. Such is the power of music – to comfort, to inspire, to bring joy. Music connects us across generations, cultures, political affiliations, even geography. From the lullaby that you sing to your grandchild – because your mother sang it to you – to the songs that defined your youth, first love, special life events, even final goodbyes, music seems intertwined with so much of our lives.

…What we discovered may just have you dusting off that long-abandoned instrument, re-joining the church choir or fully embracing that singing you do in the shower.

Music and aging

“What we hoped to do [was] provide an all-involved overview, a book that would look at old age, aging and later life in a very optimistic way,” (UW-Green Bay Prof. Dean VonDras told Prime of “Music, Wellness and Aging,” the book he co-authored with fellow psychology professor Scott F. Madey.

The fact that Madey had recently retired from his professorship – and in the process rediscovered his passion for playing in a band – was a major factor in the decision to examine aging through the lens of music, VonDras added.

“In his new life – [Madey] was a college professor as I am – he now has 50 gigs a year,” VonDras quipped.  “Music involvement can be defining.”

Source: The rhythm of life