SOHL Music is a Dementia Friendly Business. The presenter, Mary Shapiro, has over 20 years of professional experience including training in Music & Memory®, Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care®, and as a volunteer facilitator for The Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers™ presented by George Mason University. Mary has toured as a performing songwriter, is a licensed teacher, and is a proud graduate of the Music for Healing and Transition Program as a Certified Music Practitioner (CMP).
SOHL Music is a part of Stillwaters Foundation, located on 12 acres on Lake Athalon near Marshall, Virginia. It includes Stillwaters-Studios, a residential recording studio and professional sound support service for local theaters, community venues, and outdoor special events (public concerts and private weddings). Stillwaters Supper and Songs (and Snacks and Songs) is a live outdoor house concert series that brings in both local and touring musicians to create connections and peace through music.
ABOUT the power of music...
…Music is a language understood in every land…when you listen to the feelings in the tones.
It can fill a room with magic - changing strangers into friends!
Where there's music I will never be alone: I feel at home!
from HOME by Mary K. Shapiro
Mary K. Shapiro is a Certified Music Practitioner and the founder of Sounds of Hope Live (SOHL Music). She's traveled to 30 countries (usually carrying a guitar). Her favorite part of playing music is creating connections.
"My Mom's dad was the leader of a big band." Mary says, “so she insisted that all the kids take lessons through elementary school.” Mary played piano (of course), flute in the band, sang in the adult church choir (even though she was in junior high), and started writing songs when she was 15.
I had always (all ways) liked music. But in the end, Mom taught me the power of live music. She's why I do what I do today.” In 2011 it became obvious that her mom had dementia (in addition to Parkinson's and neuropathy). Hospice had a Board Certified Music Therapist on staff and she went to visit every week. "Even though Mom couldn’t remember what she had for breakfast - she barely ever spoke - she would SING! Every word, every note, and even the timing was right on! MUSIC brought her alive again…MUSIC was how we connected."
Although Dad was healthy, he died 1 year and 1 day short of 1 month to the day after Mom. He stopped playing tennis, going to Denny's and the Great Wall China Buffet (and eventually stopped eating). He grew up listening to opera and his dad playing the harmonica…so sweet wit the classical tunes, and some of his own. Late in life, Dad taught himself how to play harmonica, “but only in the car, and at stop lights and signs because your mother couldn't tolerate it.”
I took my guitar when I flew out to San Diego County. I played some by his bedside when he let me (always asked). We even wrote a song together. He'd give the cashiers a choice: “What will it be: You are My Sunshine or Happy Birthday?” Because, as he'd say “EVERYONE can sing!"
Music helps us learn new things and recall the old, like a child learning the alphabet through the ABC song for the first time.
I love it when I’m playing and singing an “oldie” and everyone starts singing along! Singing is great brain training; it benefits our hearts and lowers our blood pressure. Listening to our favorite songs can inspire us to workout longer, slow down, and eat less.
“I don’t do the work, the music does.
It's a total joy for me to bring you healing and peace through music."
- Mary K. Shapiro
Certified Music Practitioner, SOHL Music founder