Parkinson's patients improve vocal skills through Tremble Clefs

Mary Beth Lee first noticed the crack in her voice when she was singing in her church choir.

“I had been singing all of my life, and I’m usually spot on,” she said. “But it just kept getting worse every week and that wasn’t good.”

The 59-year-old from Surprise discovered the change in her voice was related to her diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease five years ago.

Then she learned about Tremble Clefs, a nationwide singing program that addresses voice and communications problems through breathing, stretching and posture activities, vocal exercise, rhythm and movement, and a strong social support system.

Lee didn’t have to go far to find the program — there’s one based at Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church in Sun City.

Since she joined, Lee said she’s noticed a big difference in her voice.

“I’m doing so much better, and it doesn’t feel as if I’m cracking all over the place anymore,” she said.

The Tremble Clefs has two Valley chapters, one in the East Valley and the other in Sun City, which are sponsored by the Muhammad Ali Parkinson’s Center.

Sunjoo Lee, director of the Tremble Clefs, said Parkinson’s patients’ vocal muscles don’t function well and singing helps loosen them up. She does a number of breathing exercises for the music group, which has approximately 25 members from the West Valley.

Lee said participants perform everything from classic tunes such as “God Bless America” to Broadway songs from the musical “The Sound of Music.”

“You have no idea how much it helps Parkinson’s patients,” said Lee, a trained music therapist. “Many of them have had trouble talking, but when they’re taught to sing correctly they can be understood.”

In addition, Lee said the Tremble Clefs helps with friendships.

“They have so much in common with others here and they know what they’re all going through,” she said.
Wyman Andrus, a Surprise resident, has had Parkinson’s for three years. Even though he can speak clearly, he chose to join the group for his love of singing. But he recognizes the Tremble Clefs has a two-fold purpose.

“Singing in this group helps me in the long run to speak clearer even as my condition might get worse,” he said.