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Tunefoolery
State of the Art

BY NINA WILLDORF

Over the past seven years, the Cambridge/Somerville Social Club, a drop-in center for mental-health patients, has hosted a program called Tunefoolery Concert Ensembles, in which psychiatric patients perform everything from klezmer to classical, from show tunes to blues, at nursing homes and hospitals — healing themselves while helping others, the thinking goes, and earning $45 a gig. Performing in front of a live audience might seem an unlikely prescription for stress reduction. But a recent study published in the journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine showed that participating in even the most annoying musical activities (in this case, drum circles) can not only lower stress levels but also beef up the body’s immune responses. It’s part of a growing field called music therapy, in which listening to and playing music is being looked at as a way to heal a variety of illnesses and disorders, from Alzheimer’s to high blood pressure.

Although it’s funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, and the TJX Foundation, the Tunefoolery program isn’t exactly flush with money. To help out, the Boston rock scene is going to sing for Tunefoolery’s supper, starting Tuesday at the Kendall Café and continuing Thursday at the Middle East and Friday at T.T. the Bear’s. The promoters hope they can raise a few thousand dollars from these benefit shows — enough to keep Tunefoolery chugging along for another six months. The performers will include Chubby, Aaron Perrino of the Sheila Divine, Stephen Brodsky of Cave-In, and Six Going On Seven.

Although most of Tunefoolery’s musicians will be watching the concerts from the wings, Nicki Glasser will be performing at the Kendall gig. A singer/songwriter/guitarist who describes her sound as “new rock pop acoustic,” Nicki finds that strapping on her guitar and belting out songs has helped her get through bouts with severe depression. “I actually look forward to playing. I get the validation of the group. A lot of my songs relate to my struggles, and people really respond enthusiastically. It’s really a big boost mentally for me.”

Organizers add that patients’ performances, which are given either solo or in small ensembles, are just one part of the healing process. Tunefoolery artistic director Jens Rybo finds that a large part of patients’ self-reliance comes from being in charge of their own group — choosing music, arranging gigs, getting paid. “To play and perform music as well as be in charge of your own program, well, it’s just amazing to see how much healing that makes.” In fact, picking up an instrument and sharing a skill, he says, can be an important accompaniment to the club’s psychiatric counseling sessions. “People go to therapy, they go to groups, but we also try to incorporate the arts.”

Apparently, the local rock, pop, and punk all-stars didn’t need much convincing to come to the financial rescue of the traveling troubled bards. “I called everyone and told them a little bit about the cause,” explains Matt Squire, a mental-health counselor at the Social Club who assembled the line-up. “I didn’t even have to ask twice. Not one band refused me. No one’s even asked me if they’re getting paid. I guess we’re all going under the assumption that they’re not.”

The Tunefoolery benefits will take place this Tuesday, March 20, at the Kendall Café, 233 Cardinal Medeiros Way in Cambridge, with Naked Sams and Chubby; Thursday March 22 at the Middle East, 472 Mass Ave in Central Square, with Aaron Perrino, Stephen Brodsky, and Meghan McLaughlin; and Friday March 23 at T.T. the Bear’s Place, 10 Brookline Street in Central Square, with Six Going On Seven, Garrison, the Lot Six, and Cancer Conspiracy. Call 576-6570, or visit www.northcharles.org/tunefoolery.html.

Issue Date: March 15 - 22, 2001