Ken: Live in the Moment, Eternal Passion for Music

How can someone continue to do the same thing for 10 years?

Ken, the volunteer teaching Rock, Blues, Folk, and Jazz Music at our Virtual Senior Center (VSC) can answer this question. He has been with VSC for 10 years.

My Life Passion is Music

Ken's connection with the VSC began through his involvement with Musicians On Call, a non-profit music organization he joined in 2012 to perform in hospitals. Two years later, he extended his musical outreach to the VSC. Even as the world experienced the pandemic, Ken continued to share his love for music, returning to live performances in hospitals and nursing facilities.

Ken's method of engaging members is both personal and dynamic. In preparing for classes, he will take requests from the members, inquiring about their favorite artists and musical genres. This interactive approach not only enhances the relevance of his classes but also broadens his own musical repertoire. He also plans surprises - a brand new song to play for our members. “I want to stay fresh. The members are the ones that keep me fresh, play responses to my asks for requests, and things like that.” Ken shared.

Heartwarming Memories and Supportive Community

Although the VSC is an online community, it never lacks heartwarming moments like what happens in in-person relationships. In addition to music, Ken also feels warmth and love from the community and connections.

Besides the greeting card, members also give support in the class. “I did a program Friday, and then I did one about two or three weeks before that. But prior to that one, it had been a month or so. So I had quite a bit of a gap in seeing my regulars and my usual folks. And so they were all very pleasantly surprised to see, I was back and they said, ‘We want more of you, we need more of you on this.’ How do we do that? I said, well, that's the nicest compliment I could get, is to wanna hear more of what I do.” 

Ken's involvement with the VSC has not only allowed him to share his passion for music but has also deepened his understanding of the communities. Members’ diverse interests have enriched his knowledge of different musical styles and reinforced the idea that music is a powerful medium for connections.

Dive into Ken's musical journey and catch the full episode on YouTube!

We also invite you to join our Virtual Senior Center as a volunteer. Discover how you can make a difference. Click here.

Bonus: The background music for this episode features original songs Slideways and Lightning by Ken. Don’t miss out on the beautiful content. 🎶