Yesterday I watched the film "Young at Heart". I found it almost unbearably moving. These choristers, with an average age of 80, live to sing, quite literally: singing may actually keeping them alive. Recent research tells us that the onset of Alzheimer's can be delayed with mental activity, especially through learning new skills. There is something deeply touching about seeing this chorus convey the lyrics to rock-and-roll songs with such joy, such sincerity, such lack of artifice. Watching them perform to a jail-house audience who were enthralled, enthusiastic and at times, deeply moved, was really something. I wept a lot watching this film. I was so often reminded of my father, who had a deep and abiding love for music. He was listening to violin music on the walkman I bought him until the day before he died. For him, his research and his lab (he was a scientist) kept him fighting against lung cancer. He was absolutely determined to beat it so that he could go on w...
Issues of interest to singers and lovers of singing