BIFOCALS CONCERT SUNDAY 2 P.M. PROVEN WAY OF REWARDING YOUR BRAIN

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — Seniors wanting a rewarding brain experience should attend the Bifocals concert Sunday afternoon here at Trinity United Church, 2 p.m.

That’s because a Canadian study finds the brains of older adults feel a sense reward when listening to music — even if it’s a song they don’t particularly like.

Yet.

Sarah Faber, a music therapist at Simon Fraser University, studied 80 Canadians aged 20 to 90. And learned that while the reward section of the brain is stimulated in younger men and women to music they knew and liked — it was the same activation for seniors even if it was music they didn’t know or like.

So conductor Kim Barlow’s program for the Gravenhurst Bifocals will not only bring a smile to your face, but make your brain feel better.

Many of the 14 pieces are familiar once you hear them. Like Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” and Song Offering,” and Bizet’s “Le Carillon.”

Then of course there’s “The Genius of Paul Simon” and “Groovy Kind of Love” by a saxophone sectional.

Add in Luigini’s “Ballet Egyptien” and the twittering tongues of the flute section in “Dance of the Little Swans” and you’ve got what you know and like.

Your brain dancing along.

Regardless of your tastes for Freddy Mercury and “Queen” an “Eighties Flashback” or Quincy Jones’ bouncy “Soul Bossa Nova” (an “Austin Powers movie favourite”), the Bifocals have a bit of everything.

Even the percussion section gets its own time in the limelight with “Two Left Feat and Charge!” A cross between African, Calypso and Caribbean beats.

The program as usual opens with “O Canada” and includes “Our Director March,” “Instant Concert” — and if you cheer loudly enough want “More!” there’s “A Closer Walk With Thee” as an encore.

Tickets at the door are suggested $20.

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