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By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
They say people don’t change. Whether that’s true or not, there is ample evidence to suggest that at least passions don’t wither. Every Tuesday, a group of 25 to 30 seniors gather at the Center at the Heights to sing. No experience or musical background is required, simply a love for singing. Tom Gallant runs the program, and took over after the last leader left.
“I took over after the last guy left. One of our piano players, Tom, he has a musical background, and he asked me: ‘Hey, Tom, what is yours?’ I told him that back in the third grade at Newton Upper Falls, I played a mean triangle,” he laughed. “But actually, I don’t have a musical background, I just love to sing!”
The group has two pianists who volunteer their time. One, Nancy, suffers from dementia, however, she plays the piano as if she were fifty years younger. “Nancy can only play if she has the music, but she can play almost anything if she’s given the sheet music,” Tom said. “Our other pianist, Jack, plays without any music, he plays from ear, so we can ask him to do almost anything.” Often, their music selection depends on who is playing the piano that week. “We have a huge bunch of music from the Center, so we have a lot of options,” Tom explained. These include many old time favorites, to which the words are copied and distributed.
This past Tuesday, however, Nancy sat at the piano with a book of Christmas carols. “Most of us know the words to these, so it’ll be easier to sing along,” Tom said. Starting off with only a few people in attendance, lunch ended at 12:30 and more and more shuffled in as time passed. “We technically go until 1:30, but we usually stretch it.” Last year, the group held a concert, and Tom played Santa.
Will they perform again this year?
“I hope not,” joked Tom. “I have been trying to keep it on the down low and hope that no one brings it up.”
