OC Clefs: therapeutic singing for people with Parkinson’s disease

by Katya Lukina

katyal@lwsb.com

On April 18, LWers enjoyed singing with the OC Tremble Clefs, a therapeutic singing group, as part of the monthly Parkinson’s Support group. The BrightStar representative Lisa Elder was also present and provided bottled water.

The OC Tremble Clefs is a community of people with Parkinson’s disease and a desire to sing and explore the therapeutic value of music. Its goal is to enhance and maintain people’s physical skills through vocal and movement exercises, and promote communication within the Parkinson’s community and a better understanding of this disease. Residents sang along to the tunes of Billy Joel, Neil Diamond and Johnny Mandel (Mash) with the lyrics based on struggles living with Parkinson’s.

The group leader and music therapist Karen Skipper also shared exercises for reducing rigidity in facial muscles for Parkinson’s people:

• Roll the shoulders back and open up the chest.

• Do a big yawn, big enough to fit three fingers.

• Inhale and make an “ahhhh” sound on exhale.

• Stickthetongueoutandholditstill;touchthenosewithatongue, then reach down and touch the chin; with a tongue, push out left and right cheeks alternatively.

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“Right after being diagnosed with parkinson’s in 2014, I was driving and heard the OC Tremble Clefs’ rehearsal. I was blown away. It’s a real music! The next day I went to the meeting and been singing ever since. It gave me hope. Parkinson’s is hard, and it was a blessing to discover the Tremble Clefs.”

—Lynn Holland, member of the OC Tremble Clefs

The OC Tremble Clefs' leader Karen Skipper (far right) leads the group in singing about Parkinson's disease. Aside from trembling and a masked face, people with Parkinson’s lose their rhythm when walking and talking. Skipper added that people could practice polyrhythms by tactile tapping to the music or by following a metronome app. Breathing exercises, in addition to singing, can also help loosen the diaphragm.

Skipper added that it all depends on how everyone’s body manifests Parkinson’s disease. Based on that, the movement disorder specialist could develop a plan and help ease the symptoms.

The OC Tremble Clefs is funded by grants and donations, and meets four times a week on Mondays in person in Laguna Woods Village and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays via Zoom. The attendance is free.

For more information, go to www.octrembleclefs.org.