10 April 3 - 16, 2010

Music from Page 1

at a Daytona Beach club the night before the famous racer lost his life.

“I was probably one of the last to talk to him,” Jackson recalls.

Organ teacher Dave Muth boasts an impressive résumé, as well, playing the organ on television and the radio, and sharing a stage with comedians Henny Youngman, Jackie Vernon and the Dick Van Dyke Show’s Morrie Amsterdam. Fletcher’s team member Robert Fisher toured with The Coasters, The Fortunes and Richie Havens, and played the organ for the California Angels, while co-worker Janice Geline began performing as a child as Janice Lee Davis and is known for contributing the first dime to the March of Dimes and opening for The Beatles with her group, The Rockets.

Mesa Community College music student Jessie Smith, who recently began working at Fletcher’s, was blown away by her co-workers’ accomplishments. “I couldn’t believe the talent I had at my fingertips,” she says. “I found it amazing that all of these people somehow ended up here together at Fletcher’s, helping seniors in Sun Lakes excel at their hobby.” And that’s just what Fletcher’s talented staff is about. As much as they value their musical accomplishments,

The Chandler/Gilbert Family YMCA has almost met its goal of $143,000 for this year’s Strong Kids and Families Campaign.

Aided by the efforts of 28 volunteer board members, more than 106 campaigners and 12 leadership staff, the YMCA is 97 percent of the way to its goal thus far, having raised more than $138,000 in just one month, according to Steve Hewitt, executive director for the Chandler/ Gilbert Family YMCA. But the YMCA continues to strive

Community

their enjoyment now comes from sharing their gifts with their clientele.

Friends, health musical side notes

Muth teaches a staggering 19 group lessons each week between Fletcher’s Sun Lakes and Superstition Springs organ studio locations, and describes the atmosphere at the studio as “one big family.” “Because that’s what every one of the people who come here feels like,” he says, explaining that clients share their lives and often their baked goods with the staff, and when lessons are over, usually stay to socialize.

“Sometimes I have to run them out of the store to close it,” Jackson concurs with a chuckle. He finds satisfaction in providing a meeting place for retirees who arrive in Sun Lakes from other locations and sometimes lack a social network.

“I really enjoy seeing them making friends,” he says. “It makes my day when someone walks up and says, ‘Thank you for getting me involved. I was lonely.’” Jackson believes that by bringing music to retirees, Fletcher’s is not only improving their social lives, but their physical well-being, and cites research showing that performing music lowers blood pressure.

Local YMCA approaches goal

toward its ultimate target.

“Our requests for financial aid are now rising to unprecedented levels,” says Hewitt. “We are continuing our outreach to meet our goal and make a difference to the kids who need it most.”

Contributions to the annual Strong Kids Campaign ensure no child or family is turned away from YMCA programs due to inability to pay. Each year, the YMCA provides more than $250,000 in financial assistance

to hundreds of local youth and families in need. One hundred percent of each dollar contributed to the campaign goes directly to making YMCA programs and membership available to those in need.

shewitt@vosymca.org, or visit www.valleyymca.org/chandlergilbert.

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“There are a lot of studies on how music not only keeps seniors from being lonely, but improves their lifestyle,” he says, adding that seniors are “the most attentive learners you could hope for,” and that many of them have waited a hard-working lifetime to find an opportunity to learn an instrument.

“They say, ‘Oh, my mom was going to get me piano lessons and she couldn’t afford to,’” says Jackson, “or ‘I quit because the nun was hitting me on the hands.’” “Or, ‘I’ve always wanted to play,’” adds Smith. “That’s every person.”

Every Saturday at 2 p.m., Fletcher’s hosts a Happy Hour jam session when both students and staff members perform. With such a gifted group of professional musicians in the mix, it was bound to become a popular event, and it has – with a twist. “We thought it would be popular for us playing for them,” Jackson laughs. “It’s more popular for them playing for us.”

Fletcher’s is planning an antique car show April 18 from noon to 5 p.m. To learn more about Fletcher Organ Studio, call 480-883-3677.

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