ON A MUSICAL MISSION Music has always been a huge part of George Ginther’s life, and he hasn’t missed a beat since moving to the Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill. George plays the piano five to seven times a month for health care residents, during Sunday worship services and outside the dining room as retirement living residents head in for dinner. He also plays at some special events, like the annual Spring Fling.
“If playing music makes other people happy, then it makes me happy,” he said. “Most people seem to enjoy the music. I get favorable comments from my fellow residents.” At 92 years old, George still reads music “by shorthand” through letters and key signatures printed on a piece of paper, rather than standard musical notes. Some of his favorite songs to play are hymns, as well as more popular tunes from his youth like “Harvest Moon,” “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and “Sweet Adeline.” George grew up in a musical family in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. One of his main activities was
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Summer 2022 Issue
going to church and playing hymns for Sunday school. His two uncles played Hawaiian guitar and violin. His mother, father and sister all played the piano. “On Friday nights while growing up, we’d go to one of my uncle’s houses and play music,” he said. “I was 8 or 9 when I first started playing and taking lessons. I grew up playing hymns in church, but I like other music, too.” George has several large binders of music in his apartment. He listens to all types of music on his radio, from popular to spiritual. He watches a music channel on television as well.
“Music is deeply involved in my life,” he said. “I don’t know if [playing the piano] keeps my mind sharp, but I keep doing it. I can tell that I’m slowing down. My memory fails me in many areas. But I’m still doing it.”
