Lifting spirits through the healing power of music
NJSO musicians Henry Kao and Martin Andersen walked a hallway of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, performing classical music at the bedsides of patients. After working their way from room to room, through some of history’s most beautiful melodies, they sensed a growing presence behind them. When they turned around, they realized they had started to amass an entourage of patients slowly getting out of bed to follow them along the hall—oxygen tanks and other medical equipment in tow.
“It was so incredible to see them following us while we played,” Kao says. “When it was over, I said to Martin, ‘My God—we thought we were here to help them, but actually, they helped me.’ They inspired me.”
The healing power of live music is inspiring patients, their families, caregivers and staff—and the musicians performing for them—through the NJSO’s Music and Wellness Program. NJSO musicians are performing customized programs for patients at their bedsides and chamber music concerts in common areas at several medical centers. The Music and Wellness Program is made possible by partnerships with Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC) and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey (CHoNJ), Hackensack University Medical Center and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
The Orchestra began a pilot program with NBIMC and CHoNJ in the fall of 2015; each month, NJSO musicians have performed live music at patient bedsides, infusion rooms and other areas, to the delight of patients, visitors and employees.
Music has shown promise in the reduction of pain, anxiety and fatigue among hospitalized cancer patients, and the positive impact of the NJSO performances was immediately apparent, NBIMC and ChoNJ Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Darrell K. Terry Sr. says. “This type of program really adds to the quality of life for our patients. We are thankful that NJSO professional musicians are able to share their talents here.”
NJSO bassoonist Marc Timmerman says: “As a musician, performing in hospital rooms for the patients at Beth Israel has been a uniquely rewarding musical experience. We performed duos on bassoon and violin, but ‘perform’ doesn’t seem like the right word, since our audience was three feet away, and we were able to talk to them and see their reactions to our music. I would say ‘sharing’ music is more apt. It was wonderful to bring a bit of brightness to the patients as well as the staff; the experience definitely strengthened my belief in the healing power of live music.”
“Live music reduces stress, lifts spirits and promotes a healing environment. Our patients, staff and families love it,” says ChoNJ Coordinator of Child Life Department Anne Reilly, MS, CCLS. “Two of our teens who were in school bands were thrilled to ask the musicians questions.”
Flutist Kathleen Nester says: “The people we played for in the reception areas seemed to respond a lot to it—they were singing along, and I hope it was lifting their spirits. One of the founding doctors came down to listen, and we played at patients’ bedsides. It was healing for me, and I hope it made a difference. Music is a great communicator. It’s always really good to play music for people, and I like playing in a chamber setting where you can [see that impact] up close. It’s a great program, and I’m glad we’re doing more of it.”
The pilot was so successful that Hackensack and Horizon are now bringing customized Music and Wellness Program events to their own medical centers and partner hospitals.
In one of several events scheduled for this month, NJSO musicians perform a Jungle Book-inspired chamber program for patients and their families in the lobby of Hackensack’s Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital. Hackensack Medical Center Vice President Maureen Keating says: “It’s going to be such a great program—through our music therapy programs so we know how much the kids love music. It will be such a calming, therapeutic time and emotional respite, for patients, their families and staff. We put a lot of thought into the location that was chosen—we wanted it to be accessible to patients, parents and staff, and we looked for a place with an atrium because it will be uplifting to hear the music fill the air.”
“It has been inspiring to see the happiness and comfort live music has brought to patients, their family members and hospital staff, and we are thrilled to be expanding our Music and Wellness Program with additional partners,” says NJSO Director of Institutional Giving Ingrid Novak.
You can help support the NJSO’s Music and Wellness Program, REACH Chamber Music Program and other education and community engagement programs that enable the Orchestra to make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities across the state. Donate today.
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