SENIORS IN REMAKE OF CLASSIC MOVIE SCENES

Two more months to go, and it'll be time to retire this 2014 calendar. Pity. I am referring to the calendar produced by the Contilia Retirement Group (CRG) in Essen, Germany, featuring some of the residents of the nursing home re-creating famous scenes from movie classics. The oldest 'actor' is 98 years old, and he has the coolest role of all!

What an absolutely fabulous idea for a calendar. CRG printed 5000 of these calendars and gave them away to the residents of the homes and their families, as well as to staff members.

Here are the twelve scenes for the twelve months of the year. Can you name the movies and lead actors and actresses? Scroll down for the answers.

1. Wilhelm Buiting, 89

2. Marianne Brunsbach, 86

3. Erna Rütt, 86, and Alfred Kelbch, 81

4. Erwin J. von der Heiden, 80

5. Erna Schenk, 78

6. Ingeborg Giolbass, 84, and Erich Endlein, 88

7. Lothar Wischnewski (left), 76, and Margarete Schmidt, 77

8. Martha Bajohr, 77

9. Joanna Trachenberg, 81, and Horst Krischat, 78

10. Irmgard Alt, 79, and Siegfried Gallasch, 87

11. Johann Liedtke, 92 and Marianne Pape, 79

12. Walter Loeser (left), 98, and Kurt Neuhaus, 90

Check your answers below for the movie titles and the lead actors and actresses. What was your score?

1. James Bond "For Your Eyes Only" - Sean Connery
2. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" - Audrey Hepburn
3. "Titanic" - Kate Winslet and Leonardo de Caprio
4. "Rocky" - Sylvestor Stallone
5. "Mary Poppins" - Julie Andrews
6. "The Seven-Year Itch" - Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell
7. "Blues Brothers" - John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd
8. "Cabaret" - Liza Minelli
9. "Giant" - Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean
10. "Saturday Night Fever" - John Travolta and Karen Lynn Gorney
11. "Dirty Dancing" - Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze
12. "Easy Rider" - Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper

Now that you have seen all the recreations, who says the Germans don't have a sense of fun and humour? For the story behind the calendar, read the original article that was first published in Der Spiegel.

The calendar inspired another senior centre to come up with an 18-month calendar of vintage movies scenes re-enacted by members of the seniors living communities. Below are two of them. No prizes for the correct answers. To view the rest, go to Seniors Living Communities. All proceeds go to local charities.

Wonder if any company here would be interested in sponsoring a calendar based on a similar concept? We know plenty of seniors who fit the bill for models and who would be thrilled to be featured in the calendar. Proceeds to go to charity, of course.

WANNA LEARN TO PLAY THE UKULELE?

If you are a senior, and have never taken music lessons before or learned to play a musical instrument, and would like to start now, a good choice would be the ukulele. It is a humble little instrument that can provide hours of entertainment and joy for those playing it and those listening to it.

Here's how learning to play a musical instrument can benefit older folks like us:

• It stimulates brain activity, and helps in reducing the risks of depression and dementia. 
• It is a great stress-reliever. Playing the ukulele and singing along makes you feel happy.
• It improves coordination of your finger movement, and helps with exercising the muscles of your fingers and wrists.

A popular ukulele class for seniors at the University of the Third Age (U3A), Malaysia with instructor Kelly Teh.

And here's why the ukulele is our preferred choice:

• The ukulele is simple to learn. Only four strings, and a small number of chords to learn.
• It is versatile. After a few lessons and constant practice,  you can play hundreds of tunes from Old MacDonald's Farm (to sing along with your grandchildren) to evergreens like Somewhere Over The Rainbow (to sing along with your friends), and all the genres in between (e.g. hymns, classics and chart-toppers).
• It is light and small, and therefore portable. You can travel with it anywhere you want.
• Finally, and what is music to our ears - the price. It is easily affordable.

If you enjoyed this simple tune played by Adam Sandler on the ukulele, click here for a tutorial on how to play it.

SeniorsAloud was at The Cathay Ukulele Party yesterday evening (Sat 8 Nov, 2014). The highlight of the evening's program was when well-known ukulele virtuoso from Hawaii, Kalei Gamiao, took the stage. He was totally awesome, and his playing was literally electrifying. Check out his many videos on Youtube, and you will see why the crowd loved him.

Kalei Gamiao mesmerized the crowd with his incredible jaw-dropping ukulele skills. With his eyes closed and a smile on his face, he truly seemed to be in bliss while playing. No wonder he says the ukulele is an instrument to spread peace and joy. He was also in Kuala Lumpur in June to give some concerts.

Tom Low, 75, and his group Uke Jammers had fun playing a cover of Cliff Richard's 'The Young Ones'. Note his special ukulele. "Only 100 such ukuleles in the world," he tells SeniorsAloud. (Below) The crowd at the event jamming and singing along.

There is a huge revival of the ukulele as more and more people from 8-year olds to 80-year olds take to the instrument. Ukulele sales have soared, and music studios are now offering ukulele classes aside from the usual piano and guitar classes. Did you know that Warren Buffett plays the ukulele too? He started playing it during his college days. 

For the beginner, there are plenty of ukulele tutorials you can view on Youtube. Here's one that we have subscribed to. You can search for others that suit your particular music taste.

 

If you prefer to learn from an experienced and certified instructor, you can check out the following:

For Singapore, contact The Ukulele Movement at 178 Race Course Road, Singapore 218608 (nearest MRT Farrer Park, Exit F).

For Malaysia, contact Persatuan Pencinta Muzik Ukulele Malaysia.

Or just email us and we will put you in touch with the right folks. Our email: seniorsaloud@gmail.com

Here are some articles that might interest you:

• Those Four Irresistible Strings 
• Your Aging Brain Will Be in Better Shape If You've Taken Music Lessons 
• Playing a musical instrument can sharpen your thoughts - and help ward off depression and dementia 

(Updated on 13 March 2021)