Katherine Rhoda has a special interest in and gift for engaging in rich musical contact with older adults,
especially those with dementia. With a sensitive and rousing voice, and with a variety of instruments,
she fosters ease, comfort, and a sense of connection in her audience. Someone once fittingly called her
nursing home work her “joy ministry.” Although she is not a certified music therapist, her work is much
more than entertainment. She is gifted with a warm presence and the ability to accept people as they
are and provide sensitive, respectful, appropriate personal response. She offers her services to nursing
homes, adult day care programs, assisted living facilities, senior centers, and retirement communities, as
well as general audiences.
especially those with dementia. With a sensitive and rousing voice, and with a variety of instruments,
she fosters ease, comfort, and a sense of connection in her audience. Someone once fittingly called her
nursing home work her “joy ministry.” Although she is not a certified music therapist, her work is much
more than entertainment. She is gifted with a warm presence and the ability to accept people as they
are and provide sensitive, respectful, appropriate personal response. She offers her services to nursing
homes, adult day care programs, assisted living facilities, senior centers, and retirement communities, as
well as general audiences.
Although she had occasionally performed in nursing
homes, her nursing home work began in earnest in
1986. That year she undertook, at Hillcrest Manor
Nursing Home (now Newton Center) in Sanford,
Maine, an artist’s residency sponsored by the New
England Artists Training Project, whose mission was
to facilitate experiences in the arts for people with
special needs. Training for this program included
workshops conducted by Very Special Arts
Massachusetts and a symposium, held at the
Cotting School for Handicapped Children in Boston,
on integrating the arts into special needs
situations. The residency led to a passion for
enhancing the lives of nursing home residents
through music, and she has gone on to share her
music at a number of institutions.
homes, her nursing home work began in earnest in
1986. That year she undertook, at Hillcrest Manor
Nursing Home (now Newton Center) in Sanford,
Maine, an artist’s residency sponsored by the New
England Artists Training Project, whose mission was
to facilitate experiences in the arts for people with
special needs. Training for this program included
workshops conducted by Very Special Arts
Massachusetts and a symposium, held at the
Cotting School for Handicapped Children in Boston,
on integrating the arts into special needs
situations. The residency led to a passion for
enhancing the lives of nursing home residents
through music, and she has gone on to share her
music at a number of institutions.
Katherine’s programs are tailored to the
needs of the audience and the facility, and
may include: paying musical visits to room-
bound individuals; music for individuals
and small groups of targeted residents in
need of stimulation and human contact;
wandering the halls with music to meet
residents where they are; music for group
sing-alongs, parties, and special
programs; and soothing piano music at
mealtime in the dining room. She usually
brings her guitar, accordion, autoharp,
flute, and ukulele to a nursing home visit,
and has more instruments at her disposal
if desired, for example, for a performance
at an assisted living facility. She has a
wide repertoire of folk, religious, and
other popular music.
needs of the audience and the facility, and
may include: paying musical visits to room-
bound individuals; music for individuals
and small groups of targeted residents in
need of stimulation and human contact;
wandering the halls with music to meet
residents where they are; music for group
sing-alongs, parties, and special
programs; and soothing piano music at
mealtime in the dining room. She usually
brings her guitar, accordion, autoharp,
flute, and ukulele to a nursing home visit,
and has more instruments at her disposal
if desired, for example, for a performance
at an assisted living facility. She has a
wide repertoire of folk, religious, and
other popular music.
Here are some excerpts from letters of recommendation she has received (emphasis added – full copies
available upon request):
“She has a wonderful way about her. She targets all different levels of care.”
Jessica Rodger, LNA, ADC, Recreation Director
Lafayette Center, Franconia, NH
“Katherine has a remarkable, therapeutic skill that I have never seen in anyone else in the 24
years I have been involved with the elderly. Her voice has a texture and clarity that engages her listeners
and her range of music and instruments assures everyone will enjoy something! When she asks for requests
she is able to identify the most obscure reference and please the individual with that song from long ago.
“The most wonderful moments Katherine provided were in the hour she spent with our residents
with advanced dementia. Outside stimulation was eliminated by closing the door, no staff were allowed in for
any but emergency reasons. The room was quiet and calm and Katherine would begin to sing surrounded by
residents who seldom responded to anything. Within minutes their posture and breathing would relax, people
would smile, mouth words and remember pieces of a tune. Katherine’s music touched a place in them that
we could not reach.
“I would recommend Katherine to you without reservation. All who are near her and hear her are better for it.”
Mary Ann Gessner, CNHA, Administrator
Country Village Center, Lancaster, NH
“Katherine provides some of the richest programming here. She travels throughout the building, instruments
on a cart, touching the lives of all in the building. This is no small task: We have seven dining rooms among the
three floors housing 123 residents. She moves with quiet grace and respect, stopping for a minute or
an hour to play a song for, or sing with one resident or ten. She has a wonderful intuition about the
needs of each resident with whom she comes in contact. She also touches the lives of the staff, including
me. There is nothing greater than to see someone in a late stage of a dementing illness clearly
connecting with the world through Katherine’s song.”
Anne Herrick, Administrator
Springbrook Center for Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Westbrook, ME
“The joy and comfort she brought to the residents was evident by the expression on their faces….Katherine
brought much more than music to the residents. Her gifts of caring, compassion, commitment and love
were evident in all that she did. It was a joy to observe her interact with the residents, both in her group
entertainment and her 1x1 involvement.”
Thomas Peters, Activity Director
Brookside Health and Rehabilitation Center, Bradford, VT
“She is a very talented, caring, respectful member of our facility….”
Carol Lovejoy, Activity Supervisor
Newton Center, Sanford, ME
“Katherine Rhoda has been providing musical programs at facilities for me for over 10 years. Her gentle,
loving approach to seniors of all functioning levels exceeds any other performer I have ever hired.
She has the knowledge and expertise of a variety of unusual and usual instruments, and a pleasant and
soothing voice.
“When working with nursing home residents, Katherine learns which songs and instruments they enjoy, and
plays them from visit to visit. Anyone walking by can see how her musical style lifts the residents’ spirit, and
truly makes their day.
“Assisted living residents and independent seniors get another side of Katherine, the teacher. Her
ability to describe each instrument’s personal history also makes for a hands-on musical appreciation very few
people have the knowledge and expertise to do.
“I would highly recommend Katherine for any senior audience, or any audience for that matter.
Her fee is also quite modest for someone of her caliber.”
Patricia Flynn, Lifestyle Director
The Atrium at the Cedars, Portland, ME
available upon request):
“She has a wonderful way about her. She targets all different levels of care.”
Jessica Rodger, LNA, ADC, Recreation Director
Lafayette Center, Franconia, NH
“Katherine has a remarkable, therapeutic skill that I have never seen in anyone else in the 24
years I have been involved with the elderly. Her voice has a texture and clarity that engages her listeners
and her range of music and instruments assures everyone will enjoy something! When she asks for requests
she is able to identify the most obscure reference and please the individual with that song from long ago.
“The most wonderful moments Katherine provided were in the hour she spent with our residents
with advanced dementia. Outside stimulation was eliminated by closing the door, no staff were allowed in for
any but emergency reasons. The room was quiet and calm and Katherine would begin to sing surrounded by
residents who seldom responded to anything. Within minutes their posture and breathing would relax, people
would smile, mouth words and remember pieces of a tune. Katherine’s music touched a place in them that
we could not reach.
“I would recommend Katherine to you without reservation. All who are near her and hear her are better for it.”
Mary Ann Gessner, CNHA, Administrator
Country Village Center, Lancaster, NH
“Katherine provides some of the richest programming here. She travels throughout the building, instruments
on a cart, touching the lives of all in the building. This is no small task: We have seven dining rooms among the
three floors housing 123 residents. She moves with quiet grace and respect, stopping for a minute or
an hour to play a song for, or sing with one resident or ten. She has a wonderful intuition about the
needs of each resident with whom she comes in contact. She also touches the lives of the staff, including
me. There is nothing greater than to see someone in a late stage of a dementing illness clearly
connecting with the world through Katherine’s song.”
Anne Herrick, Administrator
Springbrook Center for Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Westbrook, ME
“The joy and comfort she brought to the residents was evident by the expression on their faces….Katherine
brought much more than music to the residents. Her gifts of caring, compassion, commitment and love
were evident in all that she did. It was a joy to observe her interact with the residents, both in her group
entertainment and her 1x1 involvement.”
Thomas Peters, Activity Director
Brookside Health and Rehabilitation Center, Bradford, VT
“She is a very talented, caring, respectful member of our facility….”
Carol Lovejoy, Activity Supervisor
Newton Center, Sanford, ME
“Katherine Rhoda has been providing musical programs at facilities for me for over 10 years. Her gentle,
loving approach to seniors of all functioning levels exceeds any other performer I have ever hired.
She has the knowledge and expertise of a variety of unusual and usual instruments, and a pleasant and
soothing voice.
“When working with nursing home residents, Katherine learns which songs and instruments they enjoy, and
plays them from visit to visit. Anyone walking by can see how her musical style lifts the residents’ spirit, and
truly makes their day.
“Assisted living residents and independent seniors get another side of Katherine, the teacher. Her
ability to describe each instrument’s personal history also makes for a hands-on musical appreciation very few
people have the knowledge and expertise to do.
“I would highly recommend Katherine for any senior audience, or any audience for that matter.
Her fee is also quite modest for someone of her caliber.”
Patricia Flynn, Lifestyle Director
The Atrium at the Cedars, Portland, ME
Katherine’s fees are
affordable and are
negotiable depending
on services desired.
In general, she is
available November
through April.
affordable and are
negotiable depending
on services desired.
In general, she is
available November
through April.
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