When Mark was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Pat and Mark ignored it – until they couldn’t. One of the challenges with Parkinson’s is losing the ability to speak clearly. Try speaking without using tongue and lips and you’ll get an idea of the problem. For Mark, the meds took care of the big symptoms, but communication was a constant irritation for them both.
Then Pat found SongShine. “When there was a notice via the Parkinson’s Support Group about a course in Palm Springs in November 2017 called SongShine that taught leadership of a program that helped people continue to exercise their speaking voices, I jumped at the chance. Since I had been in choirs for years, but had never taught any kind of vocal training, I asked choir director Sarona Mynhardt if she would like to come with me. Having just moved to the Coast, and being between choirs, she was excited by the course and what she could bring to it.”
The SongShine program was initially developed for people with Parkinson’s, to combat loss of air causing a faint voice and loss of muscle movement in tongue and lips leading to decreased enunciation. It expanded to people with other neurological problems such as stroke, and people with aging vocal cords, who, without training and exercise, lose their range and power as well. Singing, diction and articulation exercises are combined with body movement to help rewire the brain and bring physical strength back to the muscles used for speaking.
Pat says, “It helps Mark in that, if I am having some difficulty understanding him, I can say ‘Okay time to do Broadway counting,’ and it does make things clearer. Because I do it along with him, it also makes it easier for him to understand me. And it also helps with Mark’s swallowing, which also becomes compromised with Parkinson’s.
“When I retired from massage therapy, I wondered what I was going to do with my time. I decided that I would be happy if I could make a difference to one person. SongShine not only helps to fulfill that goal, but also increases my sense of community on the Sunshine Coast.”
Pat and Sarona teach SongShine Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m., ongoing through to Nov. 27 at Calvary Baptist Church in Gibsons. Registration fee includes all materials. Newcomers are welcome to join any time. For registration or more information, email [email protected]
– Submitted
