Would you like to help patients heal faster without expensive treatments?
Millions of people trapped in hospital beds every year could use something completely free to speed up recovery.
Music therapy for healing is revolutionizing the way healthcare facilities think about patient care…
And here’s the best part:
Charities are now delivering live concerts directly to patients who need them most.
In this post, we’ll explore how nonprofits are connecting musicians with hospitals and hospice patients for therapeutic visits. I’ll also share how you can get involved with the patient care nonprofit of your choice.
Let’s get started…
What’s inside:
- Why Music Heals More Than You Think
- The Science Behind Music Therapy for Healing
- How Nonprofits Are Changing Patient Care
- Finding the Right Music-Based Programs
- Making Music Part of Your Wellness Routine
Why Music Heals More Than You Think
It’s no secret that music can make people feel better.
The right songs have the power to uplift, energize, and inspire people to move in ways they never thought possible.
But did you know that music can heal people as well?
Research has proven time and time again that songs have a real, measurable effect on the human body.
Here’s the deal:
Patients who listen to live music experience significant drops in blood pressure, stress hormones, and pain. Real. Tangible. Data.
This is not feel-good fluff.
According to research, hospital patients who received music therapy reported clinically significant reductions in anxiety by an average of 2.80 units on a 10-point scale.
That’s a major shift for someone trapped in a bed trying to get better.
The key is in the word “live.”
Harmony & Healing is a nonprofit using music for wellness that brings live musical performances to hospice and hospital patients all over the United States. The whole concept is beautifully simple…
Bring world-class musicians directly to patients who are too sick or injured to attend concerts themselves.
The approach works because music brings back good memories. It distracts patients from pain and uncertainty. And it does this without a single side effect or dollar spent on medication.
The Science Behind Music Therapy for Healing
Want to know what makes music therapy so powerful?
It’s all in the brain.
Scientists now know that when someone listens to music, multiple areas of the brain light up at the same time.
Muscle control, emotion, and memory centers all work in concert to create a full-body response that extends far beyond entertainment value.
Research has proven that music-based interventions can help:
- Reduce pain perception during medical procedures
- Lower anxiety before and after surgery
- Help hospital patients sleep better
- Improve the emotional well-being of long-term patients
A study from community hospitals found that 90.2% of patients reporting stress experienced significant improvements in their stress levels after a single music therapy session. That’s an astounding success rate for any kind of intervention.
Here’s something else most people don’t realize…
Live music has different effects than recorded music. When someone visits a patient’s bedside to perform, there’s a human connection that amps up the healing response. The patient is not just listening to notes… They’re participating in a genuine moment of care.
That’s why charities focused on live musical visits are seeing such incredible results.
How Nonprofits Are Changing Patient Care
The patient experience in a hospital or healthcare facility can be very isolating.
Hours are spent alone in a room entertaining only one’s own thoughts and worries.
Music-focused nonprofits are changing this dynamic by recruiting professional musicians to donate their time and talent to patients.
Some will visit in person, others will use platforms like Zoom to connect virtually.
The programs generally work like this:
- The hospital, hospice, or family makes a request for a musical visit
- The nonprofit staff matches the patient with an appropriate musician
- The musician performs a set based on the patient’s preferences
- Patients and families pay not a single penny
This model works so well because of the personalization aspect. The musicians can play songs from the patient’s younger years, triggering a rush of memories and emotions. This is not background music… It’s highly-targeted emotional support.
Big name health systems are finally paying attention as well.
NYC Health + Hospitals recently expanded their “Music for the Soul” concert series in partnership with the charity Sing for Hope. The performances are now available during night shifts and throughout hospitals beyond just the main lobby.
The demand for music therapy in these facilities is about to skyrocket.
With more than 36 million hospitalizations each year in the United States alone, there’s a massive opportunity to connect patients with live music in their time of need. Every bedside performance delivered is one more human being accessing the healing power of music in their most vulnerable state.
Finding the Right Music-Based Programs
Charities with music programs are not all created equal.
Here are a few things to look for when evaluating organizations that will deliver musical experiences to patients:
Quality: The best nonprofits thoroughly screen their musicians. Professional performers are vetted to make sure they know how to interact with patients and their families going through difficult situations.
Flexibility: Some patients can’t handle certain types of music or loud sounds. Look for programs that allow performances to be customized to individual needs.
Accessibility: Virtual visits have opened doors for patients across the globe. Charities that offer both in-person and remote music performances have the potential to reach more patients in need.
Questions to ask before partnering with a music program:
- Does the organization only work with certified or professional musicians?
- Can performances be tailored to patient preferences?
- Is there a cost to patients or their families?
- How does the organization vet its musicians?
The right music program can make a hospital or hospice stay something that is dreaded into something that is tolerable. It can give patients and their families a bright spot during one of the darkest times in their lives.
Making Music Part of Your Wellness Routine
Music therapy is not just for those in hospitals and hospice.
Anyone can start using music as part of their daily wellness routine. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Build playlists with songs that specifically designed to relax
- Listen to calming music ahead of stressful appointments or events
- Use music as a companion during exercise to keep moving
The most important thing is intentionality. Pick songs that match the state of being you are trying to achieve.
For those with family members or friends in healthcare facilities, take a moment to connect with a music-focused charity. Most will make visits at no cost to the patient.
One last thing to remember…
Music has been used for healing in every culture known to humankind throughout history. We are just now proving with modern science what humans have known for generations…
Sound has the ability to change bodies and minds.
Wrapping Things Up
Music as medicine is one of the most accessible and effective wellness interventions around today.
It takes no prescriptions. It has zero side effects. And thanks to dedicated nonprofits, it’s 100% free for patients who need it most.
The science is irrefutable:
- Patients have access to significant reductions in pain, stress, and anxiety
- Live performances create a human connection
- Music brings back positive memories and emotions
For anyone looking to get involved, consider donating to a music-based nonprofit that visits hospitals and hospices. Volunteer your time as a musician if you have the skillset. Or at the very least, help spread the word about these life-changing programs.
Every person hospitalized or in a hospice should have access to a few moments of joy during their healing process. Music makes this possible… One bedside concert at a time.
