You can now hear the sound of hands tapping in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  

LaToya Collins and Carolyn Beal smile for the camera.  LaToya works in activities with the elderly. Carolyn is the a transportation provider, and a talented musician.  She is the lead vocalist for Voices of Harmony.  She is willing to lead tapping sessions with children or youth and also the elderly in the area.  Call her at 260.418.2555

I am old enough to remember following the “bouncing ball” while singing along with Mitch.  I recently ordered some Mitch Miller music and I have been listening to it….and tapping…of course.  The tap dancing rhythm was so much a part of the music “way back then”.  Memories of when I was a little girl are flying through my brain….good memories.  I will be using these CDs in nursing home when we have tap sessions.  The one I like the best is  called “Mitch Miller & the Gang - 50 All-American Favorites.”   It is very fun.

Laurie

Check our our newly revamped “About” section.  There you will find a photo of our first prototype.  There is also a photo of one of our hand tap makers, Woody, who works at Cannon Industries, which employs the disabled.

  Jessica Brooks, a Taylor University student, helped man the booth at the Indiana Music Educators Association convention at the Indianapolis Convention Center.  Many were coming back more than once to try the hand taps.  We especially enjoyed seeing the college kids who came by and tapped with enthusiasm.  They had not seen them before.  A year ago, we were test-marketing a two-month old idea for “tap dancing with your hands”.  Now, a year later,  it is a product with books and a 20 song CD.  This was the first convention where we have had the final product with book and CD ready to sell.  There was alot of tapping and fun happening at our booth.   The winners of the drawing for Handtaps/CD/Book  were Brad Seward, music teacher from Monticello, and Sharon Albertson from New Market.

“They’re amazing…. there’s just something about the noise and the rhythm,”  Jackie Watley, Activity Director, reports.  She is leading weekly tapping sessions from the new Activity Book for the elderly at Middletown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Indiana.  The residents look forward to listening to the music and participating in actiivities that work well, even with the low functioning.  The music is energizing.  They can tap or talk, sing, or listen.  Jackie goes with the flow.  Many thimes they come up with their own ideas of how to use the taps.  Other times, a particular song, may bring memories to the surface…memories to share.  “The book is easy to follow,” Jackie says,  “It’s all right there.  You don’t have to prepare ahead of time.  You just do it.  It works!”  She recommends them for facilities everywhere.

Click here to take a look at one session from the Activity Book.