When you or a loved one moves into Westview Acres at Good Samaritan Society in Waconia, you’ll have everything needed to maintain a healthy, active, and fulfilling lifestyle. From senior living through rehabilitation therapy to long-term care, their community supports residents through every level of care. But there’s more to care than nutritious meals and on-site therapists. It’s about joy, connection, and engagement, and that’s exactly what the music programming offered there, in partnership with MacPhail Center for Music, provides.
Director of Life Enrichment, Wellness, and Volunteer Services, Denise Leonhardt, explains that this partnership began three years ago when Westview Acres applied for and received a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. “The grant offers opportunities that support accessible and inclusive arts across Minnesota, including initiatives focused on accessibility improvements, arts education, community arts experiences, cultural expression, and general operating support for arts organizations.” Programs like these also help expand access to the arts, strengthen learning, and support meaningful cultural engagement. The sessions create a meaningful impact for everyone involved, whether residents are participating or simply watching.
Depending on the class, sessions may be held weekly or monthly, with programs varying in format and duration, and all are held in the facility’s community areas.
Sing for Life
Sing for Life is a group singing series that focuses on healthy vocal techniques through themed weekly sessions. “Each class includes background information about selected songs along with guided instruction in vocal skills,” Denise explains. Along with guidance on developing healthy singing practices, this interactive singing experience creates an engaging opportunity that combines music education with personal enrichment.
MacPhail Hour
This monthly session is a hands-on performance series that features one-hour presentations by MacPhail teaching artists. During this guided hour, residents experience a dynamic, educational session that highlights music within its social, historical, and cultural contexts. A variety of classical, popular, jazz, and folk music is explored with an emphasis on dialogue and engagement between performers and audience.
Play for Life - Ukulele Class
Small-group instruction with individualized support is provided during this introductory ukulele class. “Participants build skills through a sequential learning approach, learning to play in unison and, when possible, in harmony.” Benefits include posture, coordination, listening skills, teamwork, and self-esteem. It all comes together at the end of the series, when they present a final performance highlighting the participants’ learning and achievements.
Unwrapping Music
The music appreciation class explores topics in music history and appreciation through lectures, audio and video, and live performances. Each session highlights a different composer, performer, musical style, or genre, and their impact on music history.
It’s widely known that music benefits people of all ages, but in a retirement community setting, they become even more meaningful. “Music can have a powerful positive impact on residents by improving mood, reducing stress and anxiety, and creating feelings of comfort and joy,” she shares. “Socially, music encourages connection through singing, dancing, shared memories, and group activities, helping reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.” Familiar songs can stimulate memory recall, increase alertness, and support communication, especially for residents living with dementia or memory loss, and, Denise says, it’s just fun to hear the music, learn, and sing along to the songs.
And the benefits go both ways. Denise adds that this partnership provides musicians and students from the MacPhail Center for Music with meaningful opportunities to share their talents while gaining valuable experience performing for diverse audiences. It also helps them develop empathy and community engagement skills by building relationships with residents and seeing firsthand how music can impact others’ lives. “I believe that the performers genuinely enjoy bringing joy to our seniors.”
Because these offerings are so highly attended at Westview Acres, they’ve already applied for the 2027 grant, and if there’s no additional grant money available, they’ll explore community donations and other support opportunities to help sustain the programming, as "we have received such positive feedback from residents, families, staff, and the broader community."
Learn more at good-sam.com/locations/waconia
"These activities were made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund."
The grant offers opportunities that support accessible and inclusive arts across Minnesota, including initiatives focused on accessibility improvements, arts education, community arts experiences, cultural expression, and general operating support for arts organizations.
Music can have a powerful positive impact on residents by improving mood, reducing stress and anxiety, and creating feelings of comfort and joy. Socially, music encourages connection through singing, dancing, shared memories, and group activities, helping reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.