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"Beautiful" is the word Cathy Maglaras uses to describe the first time she sat playing her harp to a man as he died. "People always ask, 'Isn't that depressing?' But no," she explains. "Actually I felt so honored to be there at such an intimate moment."
To view the entire article, go to:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/19/AR2008121903041.html?referrer=emailarticle
The Effect of Music Therapy on Patients’ Perception and Manifestation of Pain, Anxiety, And Patient Satisfaction Terry Richards, Jennifer Johnson, Amy Sparks, Howard Emerson
Music therapy has been an established medical practice since the 1950s, with degree programs
offered by several universities (American Music Therapy Association, 2004).
In addition, within the last 10 years three schools have been established to train and certify musicians to play therapeutic music at the bedside for patients in hospitals and other clinical institutions: The Music for Healing and Transition Program (Hillsdale, NY) (The Music for Healing and Transition Program, Inc., 2005), The International Harp Therapy Program (Mt. Laguna, CA) (International Harp Therapy Program, n.d.), and Chalice of Repose (Missoula, MT) (The Chalice of Repose Project, Inc., 2003). Graduates are certified music practitioners, harp therapy practitioners, and music thanatologists, respectively.
While training emphasis varies among the schools, the common focus is offering music to patients in individualized therapy sessions. Because of its tonal quality and range, the Celtic harp is the instrument of choice in all three programs. Bedside therapeutic music is an increasingly popular and respected modality, and West Virginia University Hospitals (WVUH) is one of the pioneer institutions offering this therapy as a service. WVUH utilizes a Certified Music Practitioner (CMP) to play harp music for patients and families. The potential benefits of a therapeutic music program came to the attention of WVUH staff and administration through the efforts of a harpist volunteering at the hospital in early 2001. As a result, research into the benefits of such a service was conducted and other facilities using therapeutic music were contacted.
It was concluded that in addition to other benefits, the skills of a trained therapeutic musician would be helpful in providing patients a mechanism for coping with the impact of their situation. In late 2001, a CMP was hired. To date, 42 other hospitals utilize the services of a CMP (The Music for Healing and Transition Program, Inc., 2005).
Effects of live music therapy sessions on quality of life indicators, medications administered and hospital length of stay for patients undergoing elective surgical procedures for brain.
Walworth D, Rumana CS, Nguyen J, Jarred J.
J Music Ther. 2008 Fall;45(3):349-59.
Source - Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, FL, USA.
Physician Uses Harp To Soothe, Heal Patients
The soothing tones of a harp filled her room at Loyola University Hospital as Donna Kuzniar closed her eyes and mentally journeyed off to a more serene place and time, free of the pain and worry of her serious illness...
To read the full article, please go to:
Hitting the Right Notes To Aid the Ill
By Mary Ishimoto Morris
Supportive Research ...
Links to ongoing research and current articles on the effects of live music
"In the twentieth century, beginning in 1973, bedside therapeutic music was pioneered by Therese Schroeder-Sheker and the Chalice of Repose Project through a new medical modality called Music Thanatology. Using harp and voice, Therese planted the first seeds for the development of modern live therapeutic music used at the bedside. MHTP is grateful to Therese for her vision, dedication, and perseverance."
(from the website of The Music for Healing and Transition Program (c) website. mhtp.org
Envisioning Live Therapeutic Music Throughout Healthcare (mhtp.org)
