Tag Archives: Penny Brill
-
By musicians, for musicians to better serve the community
Posted on April 19, 2017 by Joyce DeFrancesco in How To.Symphony’s own Penny Brill, viola, has become well known for her work in the symphony’s music and wellness program. In fact, Penny was one of the first recipients of the Ford Musician Award for Excellence in Community Service last year. (Regular readers of this blog have seen her name quite often!) Brill, a member of […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
How to Get People Moving with The Toreador Song
Posted on May 29, 2015 by Jessica Ryan in How To.If you were a musician playing for a group at a healthcare facility and needed to get people moving, what song would you try playing? There are many great options to choose, and one of these is “The Toreador Song” from Bizet’s Carmen. Our musicians have included it in sessions at multiple facilities, including […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
How to Inspire Hope with Saturday Night Waltz
Posted on April 29, 2015 by Jessica Ryan in How To.Last Tuesday, PSO violist Penny Brill and cellist Adam Liu visited a group of students in the special education program at Baldwin High School. Throughout their time together, they encouraged students to sing, play percussion instruments, dance, or otherwise become active participants in the music-making. At one point, Penny asked students to softly hit […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
How to Stimulate Conversations with Veterans through Music
Posted on March 27, 2015 by Jessica Ryan in How To.During a visit to a therapy group at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System’s H.J. Heinz Campus two years ago, PSO violist Penny Brill played music to cognitively stimulate veterans and encourage them to interact with one another. After hearing the music, one of the veterans opened up and told the group how he survived […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
How to Reach Veterans with Dementia through Music
Posted on February 27, 2015 by Jessica Ryan in How To.Almost one year ago, PSO musicians Penny Brill and Lorna McGhee visited a St. Patrick’s Day-themed meeting of a cognitive therapy group at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System’s H.J. Heinz Campus. Through a carefully crafted musical program designed in consultation with therapists at the VA, they stimulated conversation and evoked memories for a group […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
How to Use Auld Lang Syne in a Music and Wellness Session
Posted on January 28, 2015 by Jessica Ryan in How To.What do you think of when you hear the song Auld Lang Syne? New Year’s? Most of us have probably only heard this piece while attending New Year’s celebrations or listening to holiday CDs, but PSO musicians have also used it effectively during music and wellness sessions at healthcare facilities. In the video below, […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
How to Choose Music That Meets Your Needs
Posted on December 17, 2014 by Jessica Ryan in How To.How do you go about finding the right music for exercising, relaxing, or sleeping? Many of us would probably say that we begin by combing through the music in our library or that we start with our favorite type of music, perhaps classical, and search for songs belonging to that particular category. Through years […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
Designing a Music Presentation for Adults with Special Needs
Posted on July 10, 2014 by Penny Brill in Accessibility, Guest Blogs, PSO Programs.PSO cellist Adam Liu and I were recently invited to do a 45-minute presentation for the first Woodlands Foundation Notes from the Heart Music Camp for adults over 21. Adam plays the erhu as well as the cello, and I play violin and viola, so between us we had the potential to provide a wide range of […]
1 Comment. Continue Reading... -
Music for Exercise and Beyond
Posted on June 26, 2014 by Penny Brill in Exercise and Sports, Guest Blogs, Relaxation.We often listen to music as we exercise, but why? Among other things, it distracts us from feeling tired or noticing small aches and pains. It provides a rhythm which our bodies try to match, thereby pushing us to go further, longer, or with greater intensity—enhancing our performance. It gives us the impetus to […]
2 Comments. Continue Reading... -
Resilience
Posted on June 10, 2014 by Penny Brill in Guest Blogs.A broken arm. A death in the family. Divorce. A car accident. A serious illness. How do we cope with stressors like these? At times we find that no matter what comes at us we are able to cope and recover quickly. On other occasions we feel helpless or powerless in the face of […]
No Comments. Continue Reading...
Disclaimer: The information on this website is meant for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for the advice of a medical professional. The PSO is not responsible for outcomes resulting from the use the information on this website or linked websites. Although the PSO makes every reasonable effort to provide accurate and thorough information on this website, it cannot guarantee the completeness or timeliness of this information.
