You gotta tip your hat to musical sister

In her heart, Sister Elizabeth Dovidio, RSM, is more than the music director at St. Teresa of Avila parish in Albany and more than an experienced trainer of persons who work with the elderly.

At heart, she's an entertainer.

"I want plumes; I want feathers!" she declared, showing off the hat she planned to wear for a new program of Broadway show tunes she's creating. The costumes go with the music when Sister Elizabeth provides sing-alongs for nursing home residents all over the Albany Diocese.

In tune

She learned to play the piano and organ as a child at St. Mary's and St. Patrick's churches in Troy. Then, she played at funerals and Benedictions; she eventually provided music at liturgies for more than 40 parishes in the Diocese, including St. Teresa's.

In addition, Sister Elizabeth became involved in ministry to senior citizens. In 1976, she founded the Craft Guild Senior Center in Albany, where seniors could sell handmade crafts, later opening a second shop in Ten Eyck Plaza, as well. She also worked with the NYS Office for the Aging to help train people who would work with the elderly.

Though she also worked as a teacher over the years (at Sacred Heart School in Watervliet, St. Margaret Mary's and Vincentian Institute in Albany, and Catholic Central High School in Troy), Sister Elizabeth said she was in music ministry "all the way through."

Old-time music

Last year, Sister Elizabeth realized there might be a way to meld her dual interests in ministry to seniors and the ministry of music.

She audited a class at The College of Saint Rose in Albany on technology in music and learned about a computer program called "Band in a Box." She entered the chords she wanted to use for a particular song, chose which musical style it should be played in, and tinkered with the notes until the song sounded as if a full band were playing.

The result was put onto a computer disk that could be played in a portable mp3 player -- and, accompanying the songs with piano and voice, Sister Elizabeth had created a traveling sing-along act.

Nursing homes, senior citizen centers and convents in the Diocese loved the idea. Sister Elizabeth packed up her microphones, keyboard, speakers and music player, and was quickly in demand as an entertainer.

Repertoire

Using a music-writing computer program called "Sibelius," Sister Elizabeth expanded her repertoire: She could do a sing-along of Christmas tunes, Irish music or "springtime melodies."

"I love all the Broadway tunes, and songs from the 1940s, '50s and '60s," she told The Evangelist. "I don't like new music at all; I like music that's melodic. And the songs I remember from my youth are the songs the seniors know."

The musician has played at the Cohoes Senior Center, the Convent of Mercy and Kenwood Convent in Albany, and Villa Mary Immaculate Nursing Home in Albany, among others. Always, she said, some residents sing along -- she provides programs of lyrics and also does some solos -- but even residents with Alzheimer's disease or dementia perk up when they hear old, familiar songs.

"They can't even speak, but you look at their feet and they're tapping right in line with the music!" Sister Elizabeth noted.

That's entertainment

Entertainment is a vital need for today's seniors, the nun said, since those entering nursing homes now are used to being more active than past generations. They want to be a part of activities and have many choices.

As such, Sister Elizabeth is continuing to develop her new ministry. Her program of Broadway show tunes is partially finished, and will eventually include songs like "Hello, Dolly," "Oklahoma," "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "Tea for Two."

Besides music, she passes a microphone around and invites her audience to share stories during her performances, and to dance if they're able.

Costumes have also become an important part of the show. Sister Elizabeth has several glittering gowns and fancy hats she wears to perform, and residents often enjoy the clothing as much as the music.

"They wait to see what I'm going to be wearing!" she remarked. "It's a visual aid."

Chanteuse

Flipping a switch on her keyboard, the musician rolled into a lively version of the song "I'm Old-Fashioned," her soprano voice filling her tiny office.

"This is real entertainment," she said, contrasting it with her other work as a parish music minister. "I don't believe in entertaining at liturgy; I help the assembly in giving praise with song. But this is an opportunity to [help people] come out of themselves. It's an awful lot of fun, and it lifts their spirits."

At 63, Sister Elizabeth has many years of entertaining ahead. She couldn't decide whether she'd next create a sing-along of songs from Hollywood films, try some "old-time favorite melodies" or break songs down by composer or era.

"I've got to come up with some other angles," she said. "I've got loads of music!"

(7/15/04)