Tremble Clefs Helps with Parkinson’s

Walter Stern has been singing for more than 40 years with prestigious choral groups in Boston. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he missed singing with others. Then he learned about Tremble Clefs, a therapeutic singing group for people with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners. He said, “I’m very happy to be back with a choral group.”

Tremble Clefs is a nationwide singing program that addresses voice and communication problems through breathing, stretching and posture activities, vocal exercise, rhythm and movement, and a strong social support system.

JF&CS launched Tremble Clefs in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Speech, Language, and Swallowing Disorders therapist, Catherine O’Connor and the MGH Partners Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorders Center.

Nancy Mazonson, program coordinator of JF&CS Parkinson's Family Support, said, “It’s quite extraordinary. People find it moving and exciting even if they haven’t sung before. And it reinforces many gains that people have made in therapy.”

Every Monday, Walter joins 21 other people with Parkinson’s and their spouses and care partners at the Brookline Senior Center for an hour and a half of rehearsal. Walter finds the warm-ups at the outset of each rehearsal very helpful. He said, “It’s a lot of breathing exercises, waking up the lungs, stretching, and annunciation.”

These are vital to any singer, but are particularly important for someone with Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s often causes voice volume and voice clarity to become diminished, which can result in social isolation.

Walter said, “With Parkinson’s you have to concentrate more on what your task is all about. If you’re singing to someone it’s a good way of keeping up concentration. I pick someone in the audience and sing to them.”

Under the direction of volunteer conductor, Marilyn Okonow, and pianist Joseph Reid, participants sing a variety of familiar classics.

Walter, who was also a member of the JF&CS Parkinson’s dance group, said, “I enjoy singing and I’ve met some lovely people. You see new possibilities.”

Priscilla Elliot has been singing in her church choir for many years. She comes every Monday with her husband Clark, who has Parkinson’s.

Priscilla said, “I thought this was a real opportunity for Clark. He’s benefitting from the exercise, he likes participating, and he has a nice singing voice.”

She added, “The songs are very upbeat. I like that attitude. It fits the outlook of the group -- capability rather than disability.”

This program is made possible through generous funding from long time JF&CS supporters Marilyn and Dale Okonow and Massachusetts General Hospital.