Ed Hasselblad doesn't think his memory is very good. Yet the 93-year-old has hundreds of songs in his head that he can play without a sheet of music. "It Had to Be You" and "Ain't Misbehavin'" are just two of many tunes that Hasselblad learned by ear and plays effortlessly.

   To keep his talent from rusting and to share his gift, Hasselblad volunteers with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Orange County. With RSVP, he plays music from the 1920s to the 1960s at the senior center in Chapel Hill twice a month. He also plays twice a week at Carolina Meadows, the retirement home where he lives. There Hasselblad teams up with fellow resident Emily Newcity, who sings.

   "I just enjoy doing it," Hasselblad said. "If people like it, that's fine."

   Hasselblad's musical odyssey has been somewhat unconventional. He took piano lessons as a child, and later during his senior year in college he switched his major to music so that he could get a job teaching.

   But after teaching music on the high school level for five years in Seattle, Hasselblad moved into the administrative side of education. He didn't get back into music again until he retired in 1981. Then he picked up playing the organ briefly, but quit because he thought his size 13 feet were too big for the pedals.

   It wasn't until about four years ago, after his wife of 65 years died, that Hasselblad finally came back to the piano with any regularity. He began playing for himself and others, grateful to have a talent that keeps him active. Hasselblad is teaching himself Roberta Flack melodies, including "Feel Like Makin' Love," from sheet music he ordered from a music store. Here Hasselblad talks about what music means to him:

   Q. Does playing the piano keep your mind sharp and alert?

   Oh, my mind isn't sharp. It got dull a long time ago, and my memory is getting shorter. Playing the piano is relaxing and fun. I play all the time. I should be out exercising or something. But I do water aerobics every morning for about a half hour.

   Q. Do you like any of the popular music that teenagers listen to?

   When I hear the modern songs, I can't even understand what the singers are singing. When Frank Sinatra and those guys sang, the camera was just on them and their singing. Now there is just so much stuff going on in the music videos. But the young people like it, and that's what it is for.

   Q. Any thoughts of giving up the piano as you did earlier in your life?

   As long as my health holds up, I will play. A couple of years ago, I had an eye exam. The doctor called me up and said, "You are going blind." I didn't take that. I went to another doctor, and he said I'd probably die before I went blind. And he's right. My eyesight is fine. I have no problems with my eyes as far as I know.

   Q. You seem to enjoy working with Emily Newcity, who sings while you play. Why is that relationship so much fun?

   Emily and I work as a team. I very much enjoy accompanying her more than I do playing solo. With Emily, she's a good enough singer that I can do anything. A lot of singers you have to play the melody or they will get lost. But I can play background music and Emily keeps going. She's a professional singer.

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