{"id":47968,"date":"2017-07-19T14:33:08","date_gmt":"2017-07-19T21:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=47968"},"modified":"2017-08-14T11:03:59","modified_gmt":"2017-08-14T18:03:59","slug":"parkinsons-choir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/parkinsons-choir\/","title":{"rendered":"Tremors and tenors: NAU faculty, students help create a choir for people with Parkinson’s"},"content":{"rendered":"

Story by Heidi Toth\u00a0<\/strong>
\nNAU Communications<\/em><\/p>\n

Video reported by Corderro McMurry<\/strong> and produced by Erik Sather<\/strong>
\nNAU-TV<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

There are no spectators at a Mountain Tremors choir practice. There are only singers\u2014loud singers who\u00a0will call out the insecurely tone-deaf visitor who comes expecting to just sit and observe.<\/p>\n

Of course, the purpose of this choir is to sit up straight, control breathing, follow the director\u2019s instructions and sing with as much volume as the diaphragm will allow; singing on key is optional. Singing with gusto, you see, is literally keeping at bay the deleterious effects of Parkinson\u2019s disease, an incurable neurological disease that, over time, erodes a person\u2019s ability to move, speak, think and emote.<\/p>\n

The disease is what ties together this little choir, comprised half of Flagstaff residents with the disease and half faculty and students from Northern Arizona University\u2019s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders<\/a> (CSD) and School of Music<\/a>. Well, that and a love of singing.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince all skeletal muscles are affected, singing is a recommended exercise for people with Parkinson\u2019s,\u201d said Gordon Holt, who\u2019s been a member of the choir since it began two years ago. \u201cThe other reason I\u2019m involved is because I love music. This choir is so much fun. Every time it\u2019s always fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fe Murray<\/strong>, a professor of speech-language pathology, started the choir two years ago, when now-choir regular Linda Webb, a member of the Parkinson Support Group at The Peaks Senior Living Community, asked CSD clinic director Kim Farinella<\/strong> about creating a Parkinson\u2019s choirs in Flagstaff. Farinella asked Murray if she was interested in facilitating it.<\/p>\n

Murray, a bilingual speech-language pathologist who has spent years working with people to overcome speech and communication disorders and help people reduce their accents while speaking English, said yes. She has witnessed over and over how isolating not being able to communicate can be, and while Parkinson\u2019s isn\u2019t a communication disorder per se, sufferers are held back in their communication because participating in their community is a struggle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goals of the choir are to develop a community of people with neurological impairments, their families, caregivers and friends, around music,\u201d she said. \u201cFor those with Parkinson\u2019s in particular, I have seen an improvement in social engagement, as well as a maintenance of vocal ability. We have a small core group of loyal members who may not have much in common outside of their diagnosis, yet music provides a common ground, something they can all relate to, a shared joyful experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plus, who doesn\u2019t want to rock along to classic Eagles, groove to Elvis Presley and dance to Diana Ross?<\/p>\n