The piano at IMC
"The piano has been one of the ways I've regained my emotional balance," she says. "If I'm angry I'll play Chopin; if I need uplifting I'll play something inspiring. It truly centers me. Most importantly, it seems to help others in the building. I've had couples and children dance and sing to many of their requested songs."
Gloria says playing the piano has helped improve her physical balance, memory, and vision following the strokes — and while in quarantine she continues to play a few hours a day. She says, "I've realized I have to practice every day to keep my skills up."
When she was first approached to play at IMC by Dana Barrutia, volunteer manager, Gloria says she could only play for a short time, but her neurologist insisted she keep at it.
"I taught piano on the side for decades and played six hours a day for concert work, but playing after the strokes challenged me like never before," Gloria says. "The first half hour I'd fight throwing up and then the nausea would calm down. Most people can't play longer than thirty minutes, but with my experience, I have more capacity than most."
Gloria says she can now play three hours with just a few breaks three times a week, all while not playing the same music twice. She says, "I never would've played if it hadn't been for the encouragement of Dana, as well as volunteer coordinators Peggi Blackman and Alison McCullock, and the many other wonderful volunteers who'd stop by."
Gloria adds, "Playing at the hospital, especially on a Steinway, has been a great blessing to me. Our caregivers, patients, visitors, and volunteers carry such heavy loads. It's so rewarding to see how music helps everyone relax. I'm looking forward to the day when this quarantine and pandemic is behind us and we'll have live music playing again in our hospitals."