Keyboardist brings his love of music to nursing homes

Musical fun at the Valley Health Care and Rehabilitation Center earlier this month. Read the exerpt below.

Billings Gazette - MT, USA

By ANGIE BUCKLEY
Of The Gazette Staff

Pete Hansen says he's musically challenged, but at Valley Health Care and Rehabilitation Center earlier this month, you couldn't tell.

Hansen and his backup band - cued at the push of a button - entertain residents there and at other retirement homes and assisted-living centers a few times a month. Playing big-band tunes, waltzes and hymns, Hansen's keyboarding skills set toes tapping under walkers and on the footrests of wheelchairs at Valley Health Center.

A music fan his entire life, Hansen taught himself to play the keyboard 20 years ago. Attempts to play trumpet and drums as a young man were thwarted by his father, who didn't appreciate the "moose calls," Hansen said, laughing.

Taking the title of musician became reality when he bought a keyboard with Christmas money in 1985. Because he couldn't read music, he put stickers with the names of notes on each key and soon discovered "easy play" books that show the names of the notes in the music as well.

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http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/11/25/build/local/60-hansen.inc