Finding a Balance

Saturday, March 22nd 2025

By: Charlotte Hendrey

Recently I have been learning a new song on the piano for an upcoming competition. I have been worried that I won't be able to learn it in time, and so it has been difficult balancing a large amount of piano practice with my volunteer work. But today, I found a way that I can do them both at once.

I brought my sheet music down to Windchimes Memory Care, and started off by playing some songs on the piano that I already had memorized for the residents. After that, I told everybody that I would be practicing my new song. Lisa, the events coordinator, told me that it was a great idea, since the residents (who all have dementia) love music and cannot tell if I make a mistake anyways.

So the guests did crafts and ate cookies while I provided some extra entertainment. There was one page in my song that I could not bare to practice at home because of how difficult it was. But being with the supporting residents helped me get through it; every time I got a part right, they would clap!

Being at the facility made my practicing so much more productive, because I have more incentive to keep going rather than take a break. The care takers and the residents were so encouraging that before I knew it, I had practiced for an entire hour. By the end, I had taken a huge step forward with that page in my song, and felt so relieved. Now, I confidently show my piano teacher how much I've practiced, and I have turned piano practice into meaningful engagement with the residents. I have found a perfect way to balance piano with volunteer work, two things that mean so much to me.