Carol Perkins is a member of the Milwaukee Accordion Club. She shares her experiences accompanying the third graders in their Spring Concert. It was a rewarding time not only for Carol but also for the students who were fascinated by her accordion.

See links for the complete story. 3rdGradeCanBeFun.pdf

Carol received her RNBSN from the University of Wisconsin. She took accordion lessons from age 8 through HS. Why did Carol play the accordion? Carol shares, “According to family legend, when I was 3 years, I broke away from my mom and ran up to the accordion players at a farm meeting. In farming country in northern Wisconsin there were dairy farm coops. They always had lunch and accordion music at farm meetings. All the families would go. My parents could not afford music lessons but seeing how motivated I was they worked hard to provide me with lessons and an accordion. It was a big sacrifice for them. To this day, I am grateful to them. When I am entertaining I always try to reach a person that is least interested or least able to be interested or participate. That is a part of my nursing background. All of the years in nursing prepared me to do this. Music is what gets people out of their shell.”

Carol played at a small town German fest for a few years. The director was a music therapist and Carol learned from the director how to incorporate her ideas. Carol said, “I love to play and enjoy reaching out to people and I think a person can connect to others through music. I played in a county senior dining room and there was man who was a double amputee. He loved my accordion music. The faster I played the faster he would “dance” with his wife in the wheelchair! Everyone was delighted to witness his joy. I derive great satisfaction from bringing happiness to others through my accordion playing”

For further information: aperkins@perkins-engineering.com