Lifelong Learning Highlights

Please consult your CareMerge calendars and weekly announcements for specific dates and times. All programming subject to change based on COVID-related recommendations to maintain health and safety of residents, staff, and visitors.

FLUTE MEDITATION AND JOURNALING WITH RUTHIE NEILAN

Ruthie Neilan was born and raised on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana. Neilan graduated from the University of San Francisco with a B.S. in Nursing, and received a Masters in Expressive Arts Therapy. Neilan has been using the Native American Flute as a tool in her hospice work for over a decade. She is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN), holds active membership in the Holistic Nurses Association, International Native American Flute Association, and International Expressive Arts Therapy Association.

SOUND BOWL MEDITATION WITH CARL PRATT, ED

Don’t miss this special presentation with Executive Director, Carl Pratt. Poor mood and elevated anxiety are linked to increased incidence of disease. Research supports the positive effects of sound meditation, specifically Tibetan singing bowl meditation, on mood, anxiety, pain, and spiritual wellbeing. Following the sound meditation, participants experience significantly less tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood. This meditation type may be especially useful in decreasing tension in residents who have not previously practiced this form of meditation.

ART TALK WITH THE DOCENTS OF THE TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART

Upcoming presentations include deep dives into the art of Edward Hopper and Andrew Wyeth: “Opening Windows - Reflecting the Secrets and Private Lives of 20th Century Art” with docent Susie Heinz. The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block connects art to life through meaningful and engaging experiences that inspire discovery, spark creativity and promote Southern Arizona’s rich and diverse culture.

MEMOIR WRITING

The trend of memoir writing is healthy, enriching, and productive. Facilitators engage the group intellectually by encouraging self-reflection on the meaning and common humanity of life. This fun, communal activity enables each of us to relive youth while staying engaged in the present moment. This no-pressure session, for novices and seasoned writers, works whether you love deep contemplation, want to express your comedic shenanigans, or wish to leave a legacy. Most importantly, you will tell your story.

“OPERA 101: OPERA HISTORY” – AN ONLINE COURSE FROM THE METROPOLITAN OPERA GUILD

There is something for everybody in opera, but it can be daunting to figure out where to start. In this Opera 101 course, lecturer Dr. Naomi Barrettara provides an introduction to opera history and musical terms, designed to be friendly for both newcomers and veteran opera goers. In addition to the video lectures, selected readings and handouts are provided for further exploration. All Metropolitan Opera Guild online courses include a variety of lecture video footage to help bring our inperson programming to our online learners. Lessons include audio and video examples, and links to additional media resources to enrich the exploration of concepts discussed in the lectures and readings.

WEEKLY TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOPS

Led by the Life Enrichment Team, these hands-on workshops are geared to meet residents’ every-changing technology needs, ranging from smartphone and tablet use to photography tutorials.

TRIVIA WITH FRANK VIDAL, DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING

Trivia with Frank is an informal, fun competition where everyone battles to see who has the greatest knowledge of facts from all around the world. Frank will ask questions and show compelling photography from different categories and genres, and you'll have to try and guess as many correct answers as possible. Will you be the smartest person in the room? Let's find out!

WHAT THEY DIDN’T TEACH YOU IN SCHOOL: IMMERSIVE PRESENTATIONS ON MUSIC AND LIT WITH LINDA GRIFFIN

With a Bachelors, Masters, and PhD in Literature, as well as over 40 years of college teaching experience, Linda Griffin exemplifies what an exciting educational lecture is all about. Her topics range from Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Shakepeare’s women, Hemingway, and more. Her upcoming presentations will illuminate Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales,” Dorothy Fields (1905-1974), the prolific American songwriter who collaborated with Broadway's top composers during the heyday of American musical theater and produced the lyrics for many classic shows, and “Famous Wives of Famous Writers,” including profiles on Zelda Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

GETTING TO KNOW THE ARIZONA FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC

Don’t miss this All Seasons-exclusive musical presentation from the Tucson Woodwind Trio and the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music! Board members from this prestigious and community-oriented organization will share a bit about their history, vision, and the upcoming season. Arizona Friends of Chamber Music (AFCM) presents world-class chamber musicians, live in concert, at an affordable ticket price. AFCM exists to ensure that the adults, students, and children of Tucson can experience the chamber music genre in its highest professional form.

AZTEC HISTORY, PART 2 – A CONTINUATION ON SPANISH CONTACT WITH WILLIAM “BILL” JANSEN

Join resident William “Bill” Jansen as he walks us through Part Two of this Aztec History series. Previously, he has given talks on the illustrious Hopi, cocinas, the Apache, and mountain men spirits. Born and raised in Louisville, Bill Jansen attended the Coast Guard Academy, served as Lieutenant Commander, and attended Graduate school at the University of Illinois in Civil Engineering. Following active duty, he served on the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, spearheading the Public Boating Access Program, and as Chief Engineer for the Illinois Department of Conservation. Upon relocation to Oro Valley, he acted as Town Engineer and Public Works Director, overseeing major road and bridge construction, and designing public works projects. Jansen traveled extensively; to Greece, China, Japan, Morocco, Portugal, Belize, Columbia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand, just to name a few. A voracious reader, his love for history developed very young. Jansen has even traced his ancestry back to 600s C.E. England!

PET THERAPY WITH SHERI HUDSON AND OPIE

Each Wednesday, don’t forget to spend time with Sheri Hudson and her four-and-a-half old Maltese, Opie. This Pet Therapy program, volunteerrun and certified through the Humane Society, is perfect for any age, providing physiological therapy. Sheri Hudson grew up outside of Chicago and has lived in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, California, Seattle, and Canada. She received a Bachelors in Foreign Language, spent time as an educator, and built a career as a Director of Human Resources. She loves Oro Valley for its mountains, climate, and culture, and both she and Opie look forward to All Seasons: “These people are so welcoming, they make it fun to come back every week. Opie is so excited, he pulls me through the door!”

Lincoln Center Moments is a free performance-based program specially designed for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Join us as we bring Lincoln Center's unparalleled artistry to an intimate and supported setting. Each program includes a performance, followed by activities, facilitated by educators and music therapists, that explore the work through discussion, movement, music, and art-making.

THE LINCOLN CENTER SPRING SEASON INCLUDES:

Tuesday, April 19 at 1:00 pm ET on Zoom Juilliard Gluck Community Service Fellowship Presents: Time Travelers!

Join Time Travelers!, a virtuoso soprano and classical guitar duo, as they explore favorite songs from around the world and creativity in this workshopperformance. Presented in partnership with the Juilliard School.

Tuesday, May 3 at 1:00 pm ET on Zoom Exploring the Rite of Spring with the New York Public Library f or the Performing Arts

When the ballet “Rite of Spring” by Vaslav Nijinsky premiered at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in 1913, it caused a riot among the crowd... literally! Paired with the score by the modernist composer, Igor Stravinsky, the ballet ushered in new styles in music, dance, fashion, and art, and it upended the status quo. Join Jerome Robbins Dance Division education coordinator Kathleen Leary in discussion of the history around the premiere and the springtime season of renewal. Presented in partnership with the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Tuesday, May 24th at 1:00 pm ET on Zoom Kaoru Watanabe

Acclaimed composer and instrumentalist Kaoru Watanabe’s melodic, authentic and engaging music focuses on points of connection: the joints between Western jazz and Eastern traditional, Japanese theater and political action, the ancient and the all-too-contemporary. Presented by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Tuesday, June 7th at 1:00 pm ET on Zoom Rusalka with the Met Opera Guild

Before Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid caught Walt Disney’s eye, it inspired a number of operatic adaptations, including Antonin Dvořák’s Rusalka. Join the Met Opera Guild as we explore this magical opera’s themes, music, and characters with exclusive video content, activities, and a special performance. In partnership with the Metropolitan Opera Guild. 14