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June 13, 2008
Music series is popular
Local seniors learn to appreciate Jewish jazz at the JCC.
ALLEGRA LEVY
Music theory mystifies some of the most innate musicians, but it doesn't take a bachelor of fine arts to know what you like. The Vancouver Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver's Music for all Ages tries to bring together music lovers of all ages and to illuminate melodic mysteries in an ongoing series.
Music for all Ages, which is now in full swing, has already featured a history of western music and will include a classical event in late June. Dr. Edward Lewis' lectures have been designed to reach the senior audience, although they are open to everyone.
Although the notes in jazz often seem thrown together at random, Lewis makes the case that jazz has a role in musical history alongside the more "noble" musical genres.
"I am going to develop a history of western music and of world music in a way that is going to be enjoyable and which will give an understanding of why music does what it does – why a collection of sounds can move you," Lewis told the Independent.
In addition to exploring the developments of western music using lectures, Lewis will be incorporating recorded pieces and live performances into his presentations. Performers from Vancouver, Toronto and Winnipeg will join him for these live shows. The lectures will be technical, "but only to the extent that the non-musician will understand," Lewis said.
According to Lewis, Jewish jazz is a concept that some say does not even exist – but he believes in it wholeheartedly. He cites the banning of Jewish-made records in Second World War Europe as a key argument for the acknowledged existence of Jewish jazz, examining the need for pseudonyms to sell it. "When I get done, you'll be able to hear Jewish jazz," said Lewis.
The music series was made possible by a provincial New Horizons grant, a provincial program that seeks to improve the quality of life for British Columbian seniors. Leah Deslauriers, the Vancouver JCC Seniors' program coordinator, believes strongly in the ability of the series to do just that.
"Music for All Ages aims to encourage the senior community to share their skills with the youth of the community, as a tool to reach out to seniors who may be socially isolated and try to bridge the generation gap," she said.
Deslauriers cited the program's existence as a product of Lewis' excellent credentials and the funding from the New Horizons program. "Any event is successful if it makes seniors happy. Our music programs have been highly successful," Deslauriers said.
A large lecture event may draw about 180 senior citizens. However, there are more than 2,000
Jewish seniors living in the Greater Vancouver area. Common turnouts of fewer than 200 leave a large percentage of seniors uninvolved in the community. Although many seniors over 75 live in facilities like the Louis Brier Home and Hospital, and many under 60 still work and travel, there are many who cannot do either of these things.
Deslauriers said that the JCC Seniors' program needs to grow. "One goal is for an increase in seniors' membership at the JCC, as well as increased participation in events and programs," she said.
Deslauriers sees the music series as an excellent starting point, due to the high popularity of these types of programs. She said that, although there are a few active and educational programs offered, the bulk of events are orientated towards the arts and social gatherings. The lack of active programming represents a common deficit in the care of seniors by the community, she continued.
The music series, however, is what the volunteer group who applied for the New Horizon grant decided they wanted – and attendance has been strong. The remaining lectures will run from late June through September and will all cost $10 or less.
Allegra Levy is a Vancouver freelance writer.
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