LITTLETON, Colo. — An 83-year-old self-taught violinist has been bringing musical joy to residents at StoneCreek of Littleton twice monthly for the past three years, performing a repertoire of hundreds of songs he learned entirely by ear.
Jack Ward, who didn’t pick up the violin until age 60, plays for assembled residents at the senior living community, drawing enthusiastic responses from audiences who appreciate both his musical talent and caring personality.
“I enjoy people who enjoy my music, and these people, especially here, are very, very caring,” Ward said. “They would have me play every week if I could, or they could have me.”
Ward’s musical journey began as a retirement hobby in Florida. His neighbor, a homeschool teacher, taught him violin basics in exchange for Ward teaching her children subjects like history, chemistry and mathematics. The musical tradition runs in Ward’s family—his mother and grandfather both played piano by ear, along with several aunts.
His grandfather’s musical talents even led to romance. While playing piano at a party outside Indianapolis around 1890, he asked about a woman named Daisy standing nearby and immediately began playing the era’s popular song “Daisy,” which helped him win over his future wife…