THE CAMBRIDGE HOMES |
Coordinator:
|
Sandra
|
Type of site:
|
assisted living residence
|
Address:
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360 Mount Auburn Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
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Phone:
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876-0369 -- contact: Mary Petrino
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Getting there:
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Bus 71 or 73 to the stop after Mount Auburn Hospital.
It will be on your left, and will take about 5 minutes. Or
walking, just keep on Mount Auburn Street and it'll take about 20
minutes or so.
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Space:
|
Performances take place in the activities room of the
basement, but it's still quite airy and bright. Nice, open
performance space that is usually filled to capacity with 10-15
residents. "Green Room" usually provided in a
room with a snack machine or a gym area adjacent to the activities room.
Performers usually cheer each other on in the activities room and in the hallway from the rehearsal space to
the activities room.
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Piano:
|
Pretty decent white upright piano.
|
Population:
|
Residents are friendly and still lead pretty active
lifestyles.
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CAMBRIDGE SENIOR CENTER |
Coordinator:
|
Sandra
|
Type of site:
|
senior center
|
Address:
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806 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
|
Phone:
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349-6060 -- contact: Arlene McGrady (weekdays), Emma Watkins (weekends)
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Getting there:
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Take the Red Line to Central, then walk along Mass Ave towards the post office, and the senior
center comes up very soon after. Total travel time is 10-15 minutes.
|
Space:
|
We perform in a very large ballroom area with a tiled floor.
|
Piano:
|
There is an upright piano that is slightly out-of-tune.
|
Population:
|
The people here are lively and energetic and generally not in need of medical care. They
generally have very full schedules of art shows, yoga, etc., and are very friendly and totally with it,
fairly young for the elderly. It's a fairly large crowd, maybe 15-20.
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PHOTO COMING SOON! |
COOLIDGE
HOUSE |
Coordinator:
|
Sandra
|
Type of site:
|
nursing home
|
| Address: |
30 Webster Street
Brookline, MA 02446
|
| Phone: |
734-2300 -- contact: Jeff Lewis |
| Getting there: |
Take the Red Line to Park Street, then the Green Line 'C' to
Coolidge Corner. Then walk down Beacon Street about 1-2 blocks
west to Webster Street, then make a left (onto Webster). Here
is a useful map.
Total transportation time is about 45 minutes. |
| Space: |
We perform in a large dining/living room on the 8th floor.
It can hold a lot of people, but there are usually about 25-30 patients
in the audience. All instruments are welcome, as the space is
big enough to handle loud sounds. "Green Room" is a smaller dining room adjacent to the large dining room.
|
Piano:
|
There is an upright piano at Coolidge House
(4.3/6.0). It is great for accompaniment and very good for
solo performance.
|
Population:
|
The residents of Coolidge House are elderly, and most
use wheelchairs. They are verbally responsive to our
performances, and they often ask cute questions when you introduce
yourself. All kinds of music are welcome, especially standards
(e.g., "Misty").
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HALE
HOUSE |
Coordinator:
|
Julie
|
Type of site:
|
assisted living residence
|
Address:
|
273 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116
|
Phone:
|
536-3726 -- contact: Jane Pothier
|
Getting there:
|
Take the Red Line to Park Street, then the Green Line to Copley.
Take the Dartmouth St exit from the T station, and then walk down
Boylston St. You will eventually come to Clarendon St, where you
should take a left. It is about an 8-minute walk down
Clarendon St to Hale House, which will be on your right. It is
not very well marked, so just look for the address. Total trip
time is about 30 minutes.
|
Space:
|
We perform in a living room, which is connected to
the dining area on the first floor. Hale House itself is
physically a very beautiful site, and this room is no exception. The room has a
high ceiling, it is elaborately decorated, and it has a black
Steinway piano. It is well suited for all types of music. "Green Room" is an open living room area
adjacent to the performance room.
|
Piano:
|
A Steinway baby grand, and it is in good
condition (4.6 / 6.0). It is great for solos and for
accompaniment as well.
|
Population:
|
The residents at Hale House are elderly residents who
generally have decreased mobility. However, most patients are
very responsive to music, and have no problem interacting with us.
One man was a very talented musician (with a master's in music from
Yale) when he was younger, so he is very knowledgeable about music.
He may correct you if you deliver incorrect information in your
spiel. On the whole, the residents seem to really appreciate
MIHNUET's efforts and they are verbally responsive to our
performances. All kinds of music are welcome, but it seems the
preference is for classical music or standards.
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JEANNE JUGAN RESIDENCE / LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR |
Coordinator:
|
Mak
|
Type of site:
|
multi-level care (independent living, assisted living, nursing care)
|
| Address: |
186 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
|
| Phone: |
776-4420 -- contact: Joanna Coneeny
|
| Getting there: |
Take the Red Line to Davis, and then Bus 88 to Benton Road or walk. Total travel time is 30-35 minutes.
|
Space:
|
There are two possible performance spaces. We usually perform in the large auditorium (which has
a stage) on the first floor. Here we'll usually be provided with a microphone to introduce ourselves since
the 15-20 residents are spread all around. No separate "Green Room", so performers just sit at one of the tables
off to the side. The second space is a dining room on the 5th floor.
|
Piano:
|
There is a fairly good upright piano with a very high bench.
|
Population:
|
The residents are all elderly, and since the facility is multi-level care, they vary in terms of
mobility and alertness. But they are very sweet and appreciative in general.
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PHOTO COMING SOON! |
NEVILLE
PLACE |
Coordinator:
|
Parin
|
Type of site:
|
assisted living residence
|
| Address: |
650 Concord Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
|
| Phone: |
497-8700 -- contact: Sue Bowdridge (x112, or e-mail her)
|
| Getting there: |
Take Bus #74 or #78 leaving from inside the T station (#74 bus schedule and #78 bus schedule) and arriving directly at the end of the
driveway of Neville Place. The bus stop comes after the
second, larger rotary (I don’t think you have to request it).
Total travel time is 12-15 minutes.
|
Space:
|
The residents all gather in the living room and the
performers stand on one end of the room while the performers sit on
couches. They also serve cookies and soda.
|
Piano:
|
There is no piano but apparently they are getting one soon!
|
Population:
|
There are no particularly favored instruments; they
appreciate anything. They have an Irish group of residents
right now (2002) so that genre is always appreciated, but really
anything goes. The residents are all elderly residents who
grew up mostly in Cambridge or around here. They love to talk
to “us kids” about the history of Boston and Cambridge and are
very appreciative of everything, in general.
|
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NORTH
END COMMUNITY NURSING HOME |
Coordinator:
|
Julie
|
Type of site:
|
nursing home
|
| Address: |
70 Fulton Street
Boston, MA 02109 |
Phone:
|
726-9700 -- contact: Linda Veliz (x9708), or Tina Leoni
|
| Getting there: |
Red Line to Park Street, Green Line (Lechmere train) to Haymarket.
Cross underneath freeway and turn right on Endicott. Endicott
becomes Cross, continue along Cross. Turn left on Hanover. Turn
right on Richmond. Turn right on Fulton. Nursing home is right at
corner of Fulton and Richmond. Total time traveling from Harvard is
about 30 minutes. |
| Space: |
Performances typically take place in a fairly large activities room,
and for audiences of about 15-20 residents. Decent acoustics. Given
the tightness of the facility, louder brass instruments are probably
not desirable. Performers gather in the back of the room as there is no separate "Green Room". |
| Piano: |
For the most part in tune, if a bit twangy; the D below middle C
doesn't register, and the top and bottom octaves are pretty out of
tune.
|
Population:
|
Filled with friendly and familiar patients, the North
End nursing home has always been a favorite site for MIHNUETers.
Patients are generally very receptive; occasionally some will need
to get up and leave during performances. Italian tunes as well as
oldies appreciated!
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SANCTA MARIA NURSING FACILITY |
Coordinator:
|
Francisco
|
Type of site:
|
nursing home
|
Address:
|
799 Concord Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
|
Phone:
|
868-2200 -- contact: Kathleen King (x2625)
|
Getting there:
|
Bus 74 or 78 to a few stops before where Concord
meets Blanchard. It will be on the right. This takes
about 15-20 minutes. On a nice day it may be walkable as well, at
about 35-40 minutes.
|
Space:
|
Performances take place in the activities room on the
second floor, and it is quite a big performance space that lends
itself to people strolling in constantly. There are usually
15-20 residents, although some may require nurses or assistance.
Performers usually gather in one side of the room, as there is
no separate "Green Room".
|
Piano:
|
The upright piano is not quite fitting for a solo
pianist, but is fine for accompaniment.
|
Population:
|
Residents are less healthy than those at some other
sites, and there are quite a few who may be incapacitated.
Residents are very appreciative, although there are some who may
singing or talking sporadically during performances.
|
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THE
SOMERVILLE HOME |
Coordinator:
|
Francisco
|
Type of site:
|
assisted living residence
|
Address:
|
117 Summer Street
Somerville, MA 02143
|
Phone:
|
776-0260 -- contact: Emma Deese-Owens (ask for
her extension; she’s hard to get so her home phone is
296-0211, but it’s probably just better to leave a message and
wait for her call)
|
Getting there:
|
The easiest way to get there is the T to Porter, then
a 20-25 minute walk. Travel southeast on Somerville Avenue
immediately after leaving the Porter T station (exit to your right,
then right after coming up the escalator). Walk down
Somerville Avenue past lots of traffic lights, past a Dunkin' Donuts,
and turn left on Central Street. Walk on Central until it
intersects with Summer Street; turn left onto Summer Street and
Somerville Home is less than a block on your left. For fun, a
map for walking. To cut down on the walking for people with large instruments, on weekdays you can
also take Bus 85 from Kendall (which stops right in front of Somerville Home), or on weekends you can take Bus 87
or 88 from Davis and then walk 4-5 minutes to Somerville Home. Total travel time for any of these routes is
about 30-35 minutes.
|
Space:
|
There are two rooms: the chapel and the
living room. The residents all gather in the chapel
(expect from 8-15 people in the audience) and the performers stand
in front of the stage. It is big enough to accommodate even
the Crooners! No separate "Green Room".
|
Piano:
|
Both rooms have pianos. The chapel piano is pretty much OK, and the living room piano is also OK,
although quite flat. Try to untrain your inclination towards perfect pitch.
|
Population:
|
There are no particularly favored instruments; they
appreciate anything. Joanne and Ethylyn are our biggest fans!
They’re always there and they always tell us how great we are.
Yay!
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SPAULDING
REHABILITATION HOSPITAL |
Coordinator:
|
Mak
|
Type of site:
|
hospital
|
| Address: |
125 Nashua Street
Boston, MA 02114
|
Phone:
|
573-2906 -- contact: Gail Cronin
|
| Getting there: |
Take the Red Line to Park Street, then the Green line to Science
Park. There will be signs in the Science Park T station
pointing toward Spaulding, and you should be able to see it when you reach
the street. It is about a 3-4 minute walk from here. Total
transportation time is about 40 minutes. |
| Space: |
There are two main performance spaces. The first is the
Transitional Care Unit on the 5th floor; we perform in the dining
room, which can hold about 15 patients. There happens to be an
ice machine in this dining room, so don't be surprised if a nurse
comes in every few minutes to get ice. The second performance
space is a larger recreational room on the 8th floor, which can
comfortably hold about 30-35 patients. The acoustics in both
rooms are fine for all types of music, from violin solos to
saxophone duets. No separate "Green Room". |
Piano:
|
There are several upright pianos, each with a rating
of about 4.0/6.0. They are usually fine for accompaniment and
for solo performance. The action is not bad at all and the
sound is rather bright.
|
Population:
|
This site has a different feel every time we perform,
mainly because it is a transitional care unit, meaning there are
always patients entering and leaving the facility. Usually,
the audience is very lively and responsive. The patients are
usually in good health as compared with residents in most nursing
homes. With such audiences, all genres of music are generally
welcome.
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YOUVILLE
HOSPITAL |
Coordinator:
|
Julie
|
Type of site:
|
hospital
|
| Address: |
1575 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 |
| Phone: |
876-4344 -- contact: Joan Benjamin-Farren (x3786, beeper 560-5375) |
Getting there:
|
Bus 69 to Youville Hospital, which is right after
Cambridge Hospital. This takes about 5 minutes. Walking
along Cambridge Street, it's reachable within 15 minutes from the
Science Center.
|
Space:
|
Two possible performance areas (4 South or 4 West) on opposite sides of
the fourth floor. Both areas are open areas and residents and
staff alike are free to stroll in and out as they wish.
Audience can vary quite a bit between 10-25 people. Joanne
does a great job of informing people about the upcoming performances
and wheels many of them in herself. Space is very sunny and
airy, and is open to most types of music. "Green Room" is in the rehab room in between the two units.
|
| Piano: |
Upright piano in both areas are decent for accompaniment, not as
much for a soloist. The piano in 4 South is slightly better. |
| Population: |
One man in 4 West loves to sing. :) He asked if it were ok to sing
and went on to perform three or four songs...oldies, opera...!
Pretty good, too! So if you don't have enough performers,
he'll gladly oblige. :) |
 |
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YOUVILLE
HOUSE |
Coordinator:
|
Mak
|
Type of site:
|
assisted living residence
|
| Address: |
1573 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
|
Phone:
|
491-1234 -- contact: Amy Roberts
|
| Getting there: |
Bus 69 to Youville Hospital, which is right after Cambridge
Hospital. This takes about 5 minutes. Walking along
Cambridge Street, it's reachable within 15 minutes from the Science
Center.
|
| Space: |
Performance space is the alcove out in the front, kind of like a
living room. It's an open space and easily accessible from the
hallways and dining area, and is usually filled to capacity (20-25
people). Performance area is probably not as well-suited for
woodwinds and brasses, as it is a pretty small area. "Green Room" is in the adjacent dining room. |
Piano:
|
Great piano! Baby grand Steinway and is one of
the best pianos of all the MIHNUET sites.
|
Population:
|
Residents are pretty healthy and well-functioning,
and can lead some pretty interesting conversations. One
resident favorite is "My Wild Irish Rose," which has been
requested. :)
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