What Links Parkinsons and Alzheimers

Yes they;re both conditions of neurological decline, Alzheimers does affect more people.. But this weekend is Parkinsons Awareness day..

And Andy from The Wirral, who has Parkinson’s is releasing a single via youtube on sunday, to help raise money for Parkinsons research.

References : Music As Medicine, Particularly in Parkinsons By Dr Daphne Bryan

And : The End of Alzheimers, Dr Dale Bredesen

As well as playing a short clip from Andy’s first ever original song, to be released this sunday on youtube,

to help raise money for research into Parkinsons, on Parkinsons Awareness day – coinciding with the birthday of James Parkinson ho first wrote about the Shaking Palsy in 1812.

Andre

PS ** PREMIERE UPDATE** Andy’s complete original song, ” Can’t Control My Soul” premieres on Youtube just after midnight Saturday, from 00:01 Sunday 11th April, for Parkinson’s Awareness day.. whch coincides with James Parkinson’s birthday.

Here’s a link to his Youtube

Andy Fazakerley is fundraising for University of Sheffield (justgiving.com)

My Recent Interview on BBC Friday Later, covering Music

Huge thanks to Presenter Dave Marshall Barratt, and BBC Producers Liz and Mollie, and also Clive for helping to make this happen, back end of January –

it was a lot of fun – Dave managed to get out of me how I was at one time the worst student and the least likely to Succeed..

A lot of fun, a little neuroscience, a bit about Alzheimers, Navy Seals, the Beatles with fellow guest Shirley – and Dave and his Unicycle Guitar…

Meaningfull Music Making In the 21st Century

As Alzheimer levels are set to triple worldwide by 2050, the first Internet/ Gaming addiction clinics are set up by the NHS in the UK, AND as we reach Human Level Artificial Intelligence I believe Meaningfull Music Making will become known for the Brain what we all know Diet and Exercise is for The Body – Not the Mozart Effect – but Rather the meaningfull Music Making Effect.

The Music Take On TimesTables

Yesterday BBC News added a story about TimesTable Testing, with some 7250 pupils in 290 primary schools due to take part in the trials of new multiplication – supporters arguing it will help ensure all children know their timestables by heart – while those against fear the focus again is on rote learning. Here’s the link to that story : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-43046142.

While both sides have valid points, I believe theyare both missing something much more basic.

Back in october 2017 (tuesday october 3rd, page 35 in education section) – the guardian newspaper talked about a Bradford primary that radically transformed their Sats results by introducing Music, and lots of it, into their education curicculum.

In The USA, Ron Clarke has been pioneering the use of music in education, music making as a means to deepen the understanding of all subjects.

This is very different to the current education system – where the hierarchy of subjects taught is typicaly Science, Engineering, Maths at the top – with the arts at the bottom of the hierarchy – these were the research findings of Sir Ken Robinson – who talks about this in his book In Your Element.

Going way back to the time of ancient Greek Philosopher Socrates – he did not believe even in writing anything down.

If you think about it many countries, cultures and traditions were maintained using the oral tradition – indigenous peoples – pre-literate people who learned about themselves and their traiditons through songs.

So what has this got to do with the timestables ?

Well let me ask you a question – How did You learn the timestables – was it using the singy songy rhythm of 1 x 2 = 2 ,  2 x 2 = 4…

And if you answered Yes – then You are actually saying yes to is using one of the last remaining throwbacks to how we all used to learn, by engaging our minds through music.

Because it was only in 1450 that Johannes Gutenberg invented the worlds first prining press – at that time to print up and publish copies of the bible and books from other religious traditions.

So although it is likely there are concerns on both sides of the argument, for and against timestables learning that need to be addressed – and I don;t have time or space to go through what that might be here – what’s more important is a reminder that in a sense we are all pre-disposed to Music.

Using Music making, whether that’s singing the timestables as a way of deeply internalising information – or using drums and percussion as the Bradford Primary School Teacher did to totally transform their students SATS results,

or even the pioneering work of Ron Clarke In the USA, should be encouraged.

I believe that at some point in the 21st Century, Music Making will become a central part of education – in teaching and discovering all subjects, so that students can reach their full potential.

The challenge ofcourse is those that believe that technology is the answer – I disagree, not to say technology doesn’t have a place, but that place should be at the periphery, on the edges and not central – because I believe that it is Music that must become once again a central part of our education.

This time it won’t be cavemen around campfires telling stories and singing songs (though that depends on the kinds of school trips I guess 🙂

This time it will be a combination of 21st century technology, but… at the heart…. it will be … Music.

And this won’t be The Mozart Effect, which has since been disproved, but rather what I call the MeaningFull Music Making Effect (unles ofcourse the music that happens to resonate with you happens to be Mozart).

Technology on its own promotes a shallow understanding, whereas music absolutely can deepen understanding , and even improve SATs results – this is what a Bradford Primary School found, this is what Ron Clarke is discovering in the USA – though it takes time for ideas to catch on – something called the diffusion of innovation – or rather this time, I believe an old idea whose time has come again.

It was Elon Musk,  I believe who said Technology Degrades – and the two examples he gave were 1) How the Egyptians forgot how to build pyramids and 2) How the Romans who developed advanced AquaDucts had forgotten how to do that.

I believe Elon is right – and to counter this potential “degradinf effect” of technology – as well as potentially improving education levels across the board means making Music Making a central part of education – and actually making Music Making a lifestyle choice as well – and not something that is done by only a few.

 

 

The Strangest Secret About Meaningfull Music Making

What’s the one thing that US Navy Seals, Alert, Intensely Alive, Vibrant, focussed fighting force – and advanced alzheimer sufferers, sadly slowly shutting down and getting closer to death (there is still no cure) have in common ?

Intoducing The Level 1 Aliveness Continuum

Thoughts Comments – please share coventryguitartuition@hotmail.co.uk.

And also the presentation by Admiral McRaven, head of the Navy Seals… in the above video I disagree with his assessment of the Helliest Day of Hell Week – although I don;t want to arm wrestle with the guy.

MCraven on Hell Week his words starts at 15 minutes in…

 

A little Sunny Ska off the Mixing Desk – Two Classics from The Specials

Hi There – On this sunny muggy Tuesday…

This time off the mixing desk… The Specials famous encore song, originally by Toots and The Mayalls

Celebrating when Coventry Ruled the Music world, in the early 1980s

And their big hit that started it all Gangsters…

Gangsters was a cover of Al Capnoe By Prince Buster – part of the late 1960s Blue Beat… here’s the original You may not have heard of…

And MOnkey Man.. which was originally by Toots and The Mayalls…

which was more recently covered by Amy WineHouse – closer to the Toots original in key though with energy that is closer to the Specials version..

 

The Classic Rock Mash Up

Hi There – Whether it’s back to school, back to college … or just another Monday…

A bit of Classic Rock Mash Up For Monday…

Andre

Ps That’s Smoke On the Water.. and can You get the other 3 ?

And Even though Schools Back… Here’s a Little Schools Out from a really early show  – with studets Ben, David and Andreas on Guitars for Alice Cooper’s Schools Out…

And also with the Show Opener of that Year : Knights Of Cydonia Instrumenta from Ben and David again…