The final note of “The Lord of the Rings” theme song reverberates as senior Aditya Parikh finishes the last stroke of his violin bow. His friend and fellow senior Pranith Surapaneni applauds from the crowd of fellow peers and residents at Tallgrass Creek Senior Living.

The Melodies for Memory club travels to different senior living homes and performs student concerts for them. While working as a certified nursing assistant, Surapaneni said he noticed how much the elderly enjoyed music. Parikh said they started Melodies for Memory in search of volunteer opportunities. 

With both Surapaneni and Parikh having a passion and background in music along with a desire to help others, the idea of playing music in senior homes was born. He said the name came about due to the majority of their audience being older people, who often struggle with memory diseases like Alzheimer’s. 

They founded the club last summer with just two members, which has grown to 30 since then. Surapaneni said this growth spans across multiple schools in the Blue Valley School District due to word of mouth and personal connections. 

Listening to music benefits elders by triggering memories and establishing connections to their pasts, which leads to remembering happy moments, according to Parikh. 

“When we played the music for [the elderly], they would come up afterward and tell us that we really brightened up their day,” Parikh said. 

Similarly, Surapaneni said he thought the residents enjoyed the company and difference in routine along with the music, as being in a nursing home could have repetitive procedures each day. 

Junior Srinivasa Vel is an active member of the club and said he wants to take over the leadership role when Surapaneni and Parikh graduate in May. He first joined the club when Parikh texted him, asking if he was interested. Over time, Vel said he began to enjoy the club more and started to become dedicated and passionate about it, making him a candidate for leadership. 

“It kind of helped me, seeing [the elderly] happy,” Vel said. “Seeing other people play in front of them also made me happy too, because it shows our community is growing stronger.”

In the club, Vel said he is able to play music for people who really cherish it, as opposed to the large concerts he is in for orchestra. He said he also appreciates how anyone who plays an instrument can participate in the club and perform for the elderly, it doesn’t matter how skilled someone is or what instrument they play. The club allows for the elimination of competition and comparison and lets everyone value music for what it is, which, according to Vel, is a tool that makes others happy.

“Music itself is supposed to make people enjoy sounds, no matter what it is, like rap or pop or classical,” Vel said.

Along with appreciating music, Vel said people living in the senior homes need a reminder that others care for them, especially considering many residents are enduring difficult and lonely times. He said the performances remind them they are cared for, which embodies the message of the club—it is more than just music.

“[Melodies for Memory] is kind of a way to show [the elderly] that they’re not alone,” Vel said.

As members of the Northwest Orchestra, both Parikh and Vel said it is refreshing to perform in a stress-free environment where no one judges their skills, something they are unable to experience while auditioning for a seat or performing in front of critics.

“When you’re playing for people who are actually there to enjoy the music and not just give you a grade or score, you’re able to really enjoy the whole experience because you know that they value your time,” Parikh said.

Growing up involved in music and orchestra specifically, Parikh learned to play the violin in fourth grade and has continued all the way through high school, participating in both the symphonic and chamber orchestras. When choosing an instrument, he said it is best to try out multiple and see which one is the best fit, then focus and specialize in that instrument.

“Try out everything. Just go into a music shop, like Meyer’s Music, look at all the instruments first, and see if it fits you,” Parikh said, “If you feel like you’re a good fit for the instrument, try playing it, try seeing if it’s something you would do. And then, of course, you have to like the sound as well, more than anything.”

Similar to Parikh, Vel has been playing violin for nine years. He said music has been a productive method to alleviate stress, something he said he values more than just the enjoyment of playing.

“It’s good helping me forget about other things that are going on in my life,” Vel said.

Instead of specializing in an instrument like the violin, Surapaneni plays many instruments such as piano, guitar, french horn, trumpet and drums, practicing DJ skills and vocals as well. He said he went through a similar experience as Parikh in experimenting with multiple instruments while deciding to focus on the guitar as his main one.

“I enjoyed it (guitar) because it’s very creative. You can do your own thing with it, and there’s a lot of different paths you can take,” Surapaneni said.

For him, music is a way to break up the structure of his life. Surapaneni said with all the organized classes, homework and tennis practices, it is nice to have a new activity he is free to do anything with.

“I absolutely hated band in freshman and sophomore year,” Surapaneni said. “I just did it because I had to and that kind of killed the fun for me. The second I started doing things on my own, I enjoyed it a lot and it’s definitely something I’ll stick with.”

Vel said joining the club this year and developing a dedication to it has made him want to enter the leadership role. He said he wants to make it more structured and organized in order to create a consistent environment and become more connected with the community. To get more members, he plans to offer the incentive of volunteer hours, audition practice and work with other clubs and societies, like orchestra. With this approach, Vel said he hopes to increase club involvement while keeping the message and heart of the club the same. 

Reflecting on the lifelong connections he has made through music, Parikh said he will maintain his friendships from Melodies for Memory even after graduation. In college, he said he wants to join a community orchestra and possibly expand Melodies for Memory to a greater network of people. 

“Music is a very cool thing because it’s kind of its own language that everybody is able to understand,” Parikh said.