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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (July 24, 2015)
JULY 24, 2015, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5 KeizerCommunity KEIZERTIMES.COM A lifeline with four strings Uke-De-Dos fi nd kinship, relief in ‘happy, little instrument’ By ERIC A. HOWALD sources have found that Of the Keizertimes music can improve the mood When Keizerite Gloria of people suffering from Jones’ younger brother started neurological diseases, boost to show signs of dementia, cognitive skills and even reduce she took it upon herself to do the need for anti-psychotic something about it. medicines as people age. “He’d always loved to sing, However, Norma Wilkerson, so I went out and bought a the Uke-De-Dos co-founder pair of ukuleles and hoped and leader, is seeing things we could learn to play them from the opposite end of the together,” Jones said. spectrum. For her brother, the exercise “The ukulele and music proved too taxing. Jones ended are fun and they take care of up returning his instrument, you when you are feeling beat but she kept up. During hers and, not the hour that long after, we practice, enrolled in a our members ukulele class at can forget Salem’s Center the things 50+. That was that hurt. It’s more than amazing and two years ago so powerful. and Jones is You can do — Norma Wilkerson hundreds still attending of classes each songs with week. She also two chords, performs at local events with a thousands with three chords,” group from the Center 50+ and Wilkerson said. area retirement facilities with a The Uke-De-Dos are group known as the Uke-De- actually an offshoot of the Dos based in Woodburn. classes held at the 50+ Center. “Music is so rewarding and Wilkerson started the group so good for seniors’ brains,” with a friend about fi ve years said the 83-year-old. “When ago and its ranks have exploded we go to the retirement homes from fi ve members to more and play we do a bunch of old than 40 including a beginners songs and invite them to sing and advanced class. with us. Afterward, we’ll go Wilkerson’s beginner classes up to them and tell them how are held at 11 a.m. every well they sang and their faces Thursday at Senior Estates in just light up.” Woodburn. Advanced class Studies from numerous follows at 1 p.m. Each lasts “The people who listen to us play bless us back.” LET’S HUSTLE TO PREVENT HEART DISEASE! Saturday, August 15 about 90 minutes. Students chip in a dollar each week to cover the cost of copying music and any donations the group receives from performances are put toward equipment to help them sound better. On July 16, the advanced class drew 21 students, 13 women and eight men. The lesson began with a group warm-up that wasn’t announced so much as spread around the room like a slow- moving wave until everyone had joined in and tuned up. Wilkerson passed out sheet music for more than a half- dozen songs and the group was making its way through Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue within minutes. Wilkerson encourages the group to go faster with each verse and chorus. Next up was Don’t Fence Me In, an oldie and goodie, then Bruno Mars’ Count on Me. Some breaks in the tempo were audible, but the smiles and camaraderie carried the group over the rough edges. “It will come eventually,” KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald Top: Norma Wilkerson leads the Uke-De-Dos in rehearsals. Above: Keizerite Gloria Jones strums along and sings a favorite tune. Wilkerson encouraged them. It was the fi rst time the group tackled the song, but the casual listener would likely never have known. Other selections include Edelweiss, When I’m 84 by The Beatles, and John Denver’s Country Road. Within 50 minutes, the group had run through the entire set of sheet music passed out at the beginning of class and Wilkerson began taking requests from around the room. “It goes by so quick because we have so much fun. Our only rules are be kind and have fun,” Wilkerson said, after the class. Since starting the group, Wilkerson has become something of a story collector. Nearly every member of the group has a story about how a “happy, little instrument” has changed their life. “One woman had been put down by her family for much of her life and she went to one of the family birthday parties without a gift, but brought her ukulele. She decided to play music for the baby in its crib. One-by-one the family members came in and started listening and singing,” Wilkerson said. “The people who listen to us play bless us back.” Jones, of course, has a heart- tugger of her own. “I have great-grand kids and I’m teaching them,” Jones said. “They like to strum and we go marching around the house when we’re all together. We’re the Caterpillars and Butterfl ies, apparently,” Jones said. “After my husband died, I had to fi nd a way to go on and I have. This is a special time for me as much as I miss Jerry.” For more information on the Uke-De-Dos, contact Wilkerson at normawilkerson@msn.com or 503-981-9234. Ukulele classes at Center 50+ are expected to resume in the fall, call 503-588-6303 for more information. Blueberries • Triple Crown Blackberries Apricots • Peaches • Green Beans • Sweet Corn FRESH FRUIT MON TO SAT 7:30 AM TO 6:00 PM • SUN 9:00 AM TO 5:00 PM 8K Run, 5K Run/Walk, Kids 1K Register at activesalem.com/high-street-hustle Break out your bellbottoms, leisure suits, and platform shoes — costumes are encouraged! 10% SENIOR DISCOUNT LIKE US ON FACEBOOK 5682 Silverton Rd NE, Salem • NannemanFarms.com • 503-362-6070 WorshipDirectory These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051 John Knox Presbyterian Church JOIN US FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP 8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm PEOPLESCHURCH 4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM 503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com Celebration Services Saturday Evening 6:00 pm Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries 1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer 503-390-3900 www.dayspringfellowship.com Sunday Morning 9:00 am and 10:45 am 452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404 Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m. Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m. Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor Worship - 10:30 a.m. Education Hour - 10:00 a.m. Nursery Care Available www.keizerjkpres.org Jason Lee UMC 820 Jeff erson St. NE Salem OR 97301 Dr. Jon F. Langenwalter, Pastor The church with the purple doors 503-364-2844 Worship at 9:30 am • Child Care Available Faith Lutheran Church 4505 River Rd N • 393-4507 Sunday Schedule: 9:00 a.m. Children’s Church 9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Children’s Activities Pastor Virginia Eggert 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion
