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.
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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