Musicians at Baltimore County senior center receive gift of guitar strings
The sounds of guitars and singing fill the halls at Seven Oaks Senior Center in Perry Hall during its weekly jam sessions.
The senior center offers an abundance of activities, including exercise classes, ping pong, lectures, travel opportunities, and more. "This is kind of a newer program for a senior center," said Seven Oaks Senior Center Director Karen McDonough.
This week the guitarists got a welcome donation of guitar strings from Maryland-based manufacturer W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
"Guitar strings, and especially if you have to change them all the time, can get expensive, and so we wanted to bring some strings that we make really close by in Elkton, Maryland, to this team and to the jam sessions to help them make music," said W. L. Gore & Associates Business Leader for Specialty Maegan Wilkinson.
The company brought three different types of Elixir Strings, made for acoustic, electric and bass guitars. The players were each gifted strings and backups.
The players
"We have to change strings really quite often, and so a donation like this really helps out in a million different ways," said Jam Session Co-leader Nick Palmeri.
Palmeri got involved in the jam sessions a couple of years ago but has been playing guitar on and off since he was 16 years old.
"[We] get to play the songs that we grew up with; that's the most fun," said Palmeri.
Palmeri is a co-leader for the advanced guitar group, but the center also has a class for beginners led by Ronald Kraft.
"They do this on a volunteer basis," said McDonough. "They are not paid instructors. Ron came to us one time and said, "I'm willing to teach guitar lessons if you have some people. [We] put it out there, and we had a crowd come in."
Guitar lessons
Kraft, who has been playing guitar professionally for nearly 50 years, has watched the musicians he instructs grow over time. Some had never picked up a guitar in their life, but he said they gradually learn.
"After a while they evolve, and we're playing songs just like the other group," said Kraft.
The group even draws in non-musicians to watch them play. At this week's jam session, a few people sat and watched at tables in the back of the room as they played. They're so popular, in fact, the center hosts quarterly concerts which draw crowds of 60 to 80 people, according to Kraft.
The role of senior centers
"Senior centers really give a lot to people," said Kraft. "A lot of people, especially when they retire, they don't know what they're going to do with their life."
Palmeri said, "This gives us an opportunity to come in every week, and we all look forward to doing what we're doing."
Anyone can join, but the classes and jam sessions are in high demand and at capacity.
"I mean, we have a great time, and I'd like to say welcome, join us, but we're full up right now," Palmeri laughed.