This is part twelve of my blog posts where I describe music therapy interactions I've had that are indicative of why music is so healing, meaningful, enriching and sometimes life changing!
This
post describes a series of music therapy sessions with a woman on our
hospice service. This elderly woman, diagnosed with Alzheimer's
disease, loves music and her Christian faith.
Our
chaplain first told me of “the new patient who recites a poem or
psalm that she (the patient) says 'was given to her by God...' “
The chaplain emailed me the religious poem. My initial thought was
that I would put music to her words, a task I have done with music
therapy clients for years. Her lyric was very organized and very easy
to put music to.
The
next day I was excited to visit with “song in hand” to play it
for her. I was excited because so often in the past, when I would put
music to clients' words, seeing their reaction was most often
priceless. Our patient was very receptive to hear her song but after
I played it she said “it's nice but the melody's not right...”
What I failed to realize was that she also had a melody to her words.
She said “God gave me the words AND the music...” So I was very
pleased to support and encourage her to sing the song as I recorded
it so I could then write out the accompaniment. In a faint, frail
voice she sang the song. After recording it on my phone I finally put
accompaniment music, her music, together with her words. The next
visit I was very excited to play the finished song for her. After
playing it she said... “it's good, except there is one wrong
note...” I was so pleasantly surprised because she supposedly has
Alzheimer’s. I then slowly went through each line with her until
she pointed out the “wrong note.” We then easily fixed that note
and when I played it for her she sang and was very pleased. The
experience for me was again priceless. Next visit I will have a CD
and printed out lyric sheet of her song for her and her family.
So, "Why
music??"... To provide a “platform” and opportunity for an
individual to share life experiences. In this case, the woman
described a spiritual experience that has a deep effect on her
hopefulness, security and her feelings of productiveness as she
shared her important message with me and others. For her it is not
only sharing the literal message of the song that affected her but it
is important for her to help others understand that she “received a
gift from God.”
As
a reminder the main thrust of the music therapy/childbirth lecture is
to support moms (and dads) as they put together their own music
listening playlists or CDs to support rhythmic breathing, act as a
positive diversion from pain and stress, etc., to be used during
labor and delivery.
Also,
I'm looking forward to recording my second music album this year.
This is music for child development, autism and special needs. As a
reminder, one song, “High 5,” from David's Basics in Education
(music album #1) is still a free download for a limited time.
In
upcoming posts I will continue with other
music therapy/health and wellness related blog posts.
My
prescription this week???
Pray
and listen for the voice of God... Maybe He'll place a song on your
heart.
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks
