How has music played a role in your life?

Music has been in my blood since I was born. The minute I was big enough to reach the keys on the piano at home, I would be following Grandma Brown and picking out the tune she was playing. I even wrote a piece of music when I was eight - she was so intrigued that she wrote down the tune I composed. When times were bad during my time with Jack, I’d wait till the kids would go to school and play the piano for half an hour to calm down.

Now they’re saying playing music and musical instruments stops you from getting dementia - didn’t I know that! I’ve mentioned it so many times. I use both sides of my brain all the time. While I’m playing one song, I’m working out which one’s coming next. The program’s going in on one side of my brain while I’m playing with the other side and working through my hands. I’m kind of ambidextrous and ‘ambiminded’!

With my piano accordion, I’m not just playing chords like with a guitar. I’m playing the tune and the bass section as well. Now that my voice isn’t what it used to be from all the drinking and smoking, I whistle and play the piano. I can’t pick up the squeeze box anymore, but I’ve made other arrangements. I’ve been innovative.

My mind is still sharp at 93. It’s the music, without a doubt! Using both sides of my brain all the time has kept me sharp. Most people only use one side, but when I’m playing music, I’m using both - one side for playing the current song, the other for planning what comes next. The doctors and pharmacists are always amazed when I name all my medications.

I really know a lot of people think I’m demented, but I haven’t got dementia. How could I when I use both sides of my brain? I never touch classical music - I leave that to the experts. I’m the sing-along girl. As my kids have often said, I was the beginning of karaoke! When the news came out about music preventing dementia, I started to laugh. I knew it all the time. I’ve been exercising my brain with music my whole life.