...more on my musical "therapy" stuff going here. I've never listened to music, because I just like to play a lot more than listen...I get antsy and bored just listening and not jumping in and playing. So...well here lately I'm doing more driving and now once again listening to the old groundhog...it's kinda weird to listen to one's own music...I mean...for a while I got super critical and it just about made me sick to hear it. But here lately...I'm participating...singing, humming, getting hubby to sing too...we probably look weird blaring out songs opening our mouths on the crowded interstates...lol...but I think it's helping me to sing along with the groundhogs, or hum along with their fumbly fiddling, and more than that, it's helping hubby too...and even more than that, it's helping both of us in a way we couldn't seem to be helped before. Long story I guess, but the music seems very therapeutic right now...and since I have little time to play...I can listen to what I did play (until it makes me sick to hear it again like it did before...lol), and kind of participate in a way...and have him participate too...twist of the old arm and he sings too...lol. I guess now I'm a groundhog music therapist...lol. Until hearing it makes me sick...lol...which could happen at any time.

Nice post, Peggy!

I'd like to share a quick tid bit on the power of music if I may...?

I worked with kids in the autism spectrum for 13 years. Toward the end of that run, I held an amazing concert for my coworkers and parents.
During my time at the ARC, I would incorporate music with many of the clients. Some of which were profoundly non verbal. And some who had an amazing voice. And some who just liked listening. I'd bring guitars in and play, drums to bang on, shakers to shake. So then I had this idea. I wanted to put on a concert at the end of summer so for 2 months, 1 time a week, I met with each kid, 1 on 1 and I think we played 4 songs. I found the strengths in each child and stuck to that for 2 months, once a week.
They caught on so fast and I was so excited to present this. In the end, there were 13 of us on stage I think. But we never performed this all together until the night of the concert.
The night of the concert came and the excitement was through the roof. Surely there were some skeptics in crowd thinking, "these kids can't PLAY music" and boy were they wrong!
The look on everyone's faces when we began were priceless! I set up a PA and mics and these parents burst into tears of joy. They watched there child perform, some singing, some shaking, some taking solos on a harmonica....it's one of the best shows I've ever been a part of.

Many of the attendees left with a new outlook on the power music, as did myself!

quote:

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Originally posted by Erockin

Nice post, Peggy!

I'd like to share a quick tid bit on the power of music if I may...?

I worked with kids in the autism spectrum for 13 years. Toward the end of that run, I held an amazing concert for my coworkers and parents.
During my time at the ARC, I would incorporate music with many of the clients. Some of which were profoundly non verbal. And some who had an amazing voice. And some who just liked listening. I'd bring guitars in and play, drums to bang on, shakers to shake. So then I had this idea. I wanted to put on a concert at the end of summer so for 2 months, 1 time a week, I met with each kid, 1 on 1 and I think we played 4 songs. I found the strengths in each child and stuck to that for 2 months, once a week.
They caught on so fast and I was so excited to present this. In the end, there were 13 of us on stage I think. But we never performed this all together until the night of the concert.
The night of the concert came and the excitement was through the roof. Surely there were some skeptics in crowd thinking, "these kids can't PLAY music" and boy were they wrong!
The look on everyone's faces when we began were priceless! I set up a PA and mics and these parents burst into tears of joy. They watched there child perform, some singing, some shaking, some taking solos on a harmonica....it's one of the best shows I've ever been a part of.

Many of the attendees left with a new outlook on the power music, as did myself!

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PRICELESS!!!!  ...inspiring!!!    So much good in that!  Thank you!  

I've been listening to a lot of classical violin music. It's so different than fiddling that maybe I enjoy listenng to it because it's not really something I can jump in and play.

Violinist/violaist Pinchas Zukerman said in an interview that when he's not playing music, he doesn't want to listen to it.

quote:

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Originally posted by Erockin

Nice post, Peggy!

I'd like to share a quick tid bit on the power of music if I may...?

I worked with kids in the autism spectrum for 13 years. Toward the end of that run, I held an amazing concert for my coworkers and parents.
During my time at the ARC, I would incorporate music with many of the clients. Some of which were profoundly non verbal. And some who had an amazing voice. And some who just liked listening. I'd bring guitars in and play, drums to bang on, shakers to shake. So then I had this idea. I wanted to put on a concert at the end of summer so for 2 months, 1 time a week, I met with each kid, 1 on 1 and I think we played 4 songs. I found the strengths in each child and stuck to that for 2 months, once a week.
They caught on so fast and I was so excited to present this. In the end, there were 13 of us on stage I think. But we never performed this all together until the night of the concert.
The night of the concert came and the excitement was through the roof. Surely there were some skeptics in crowd thinking, "these kids can't PLAY music" and boy were they wrong!
The look on everyone's faces when we began were priceless! I set up a PA and mics and these parents burst into tears of joy. They watched their child perform, some singing, some shaking, some taking solos on a harmonica....it's one of the best shows I've ever been a part of.

Many of the attendees left with a new outlook on the power music, as did myself!

---

Shoot, I edited a spelling error on the quote...dulp!!!!

Well I just wrote up a big response, and I even think it was a good one...but an ad popped up and I clicked something wrong trying to get it off the screen and BOOM...my post gone away forever. But I'll distill it down...Erockin...love the story and I'm sure you changed those kids' lives, and their parents too. Great story. Shawn, I do agree with the Zukerman feller in that one gets so much more out of being immersed in the music...i.e., playing or participating, or even just being in the presence of music being made...my own words to agree with that feller, if I may be so bold...lol. Ok there was a lot more but it's probably better that the big corporate hand of fate got rid of all that for me.

Great stuff!
And so inspiring, Erockin! :-)

Music is such a joy in my life …I will play (and listen) as long as able to.

A negative aspect of music I have seen, is kids being forced to take lessons/practice when they don’t want to… also the auditions, judges and scoring…can lead to people feeling inadequate or frustrated and just abandoning music, saying “I’m no good.” Encountered many adults who are wistful, and say, “I used to play X but I was no good and gave it up.” Wish people did not ‘judge’, and could just relax and enjoy! As Erockin’s story illustrates, anybody can make music…

quote:

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Originally posted by NCnotes

Great stuff!
And so inspiring, Erockin! :-)

Music is such a joy in my life …I will play (and listen) as long as able to.

A negative aspect of music I have seen, is kids being forced to take lessons/practice when they don’t want to… also the auditions, judges and scoring…can lead to people feeling inadequate or frustrated and just abandoning music, saying “I’m no good.” Encountered many adults who are wistful, and say, “I used to play X but I was no good and gave it up.” Wish people did not ‘judge’, and could just relax and enjoy! As Erockin’s story illustrates, anybody can make music…

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TROOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH! 

It's in our DNA to judge but why? Why with music? We're better than that...

I did some some band competitions and to each their own, I think they suck! Some people get into that. Others don't. Just play the damn thing. lol

Since discovering bluegrass and getting to play with some hard hitters, it pains me to hear other musicians put other musicians down, regardless if their comments are accurate or not, it just stinks! Recently, I was playing a show and we had a guest fiddle player sitting in...meanwhile an opinionated and no jive to back up her statements female was at our table watching, she carried on by criticizing an incredible fiddle player because she was not on stage. Everyone at the table was very turned off by the situation. The nerve....lol. I mean this guy plays fiddle AND violin. In a band that's signed to major label and plays with an orchestra, so certainly he does not "suck"

Another situation recently that really blistered my britches was, a very good friend of mine, and a musician who I respect very highly shared a conversation about an up coming band "Shadow Grass" and to each their own, you're welcome to like what you like but his comments were "Man, that band is kicking ass but their fiddle player sucks"...while I was trying to get out, "I really admire that band"...Come on man...don't be like that is what I should've said but it lingered with me. Here we were, excited about the same band and he shames the fiddle player. Saying, they need to get a better one...? Me, I like the way she plays. I like the band and they are on the rize. Admire that, don't knock it.

The bluegrass scene can be brutal. Fighting for clout, shows and fans, likes and shares...name dropping this and name dropping that...it gets real old. If you're among some hard core players, you'll notice they don't act like jealous children...Rant over...lol. Happy Friday and lift others up, even if their not listening...

I've relentlessly listened to recorded music since I was three. My dad was a hi-fi nut who bought (or built on the kitchen table) new gear every time a new technology would develop (and we're goin' back to the introduction of long play 33 rpm mono records). Whenever he made a step up, he'd give his old equipment to me (yes, including his old 78 player).

My love for recorded music is still going strong, even though I'm now...ahem...collecting Social Security. I still have Mom & Dad's 45rpm singles from the early '50's, not to mention a pile of them me and my sister bought, way back when.

I've gone to countless live concerts of every genre. I've seen many, many top flight musical artists. Johnny Cash. Hendrix. The Berlin Philharmonic. Miles Davis. A bevy of Punk/New Wave bands. I never did, however, see the Beatles or Stones.

And yeah, I've been maniacally playing musical instruments ever since my parents brought a piano into the home, sixty-very odd years in the past. I currently play piano, fiddle, banjo, and both electric & acoustic guitars. I've learned music via lessons, listening to it, and via standard music notation.

What can I say? Music is more than a simple diversion for me.

quote:

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Originally posted by Erockin

quote:

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Originally posted by NCnotes

Great stuff!
And so inspiring, Erockin! :-)

Music is such a joy in my life …I will play (and listen) as long as able to.

A negative aspect of music I have seen, is kids being forced to take lessons/practice when they don’t want to… also the auditions, judges and scoring…can lead to people feeling inadequate or frustrated and just abandoning music, saying “I’m no good.” Encountered many adults who are wistful, and say, “I used to play X but I was no good and gave it up.” Wish people did not ‘judge’, and could just relax and enjoy! As Erockin’s story illustrates, anybody can make music…

---

TROOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH! 

It's in our DNA to judge but why? Why with music? We're better than that...

I did some some band competitions and to each their own, I think they suck! Some people get into that. Others don't. Just play the damn thing. lol

Since discovering bluegrass and getting to play with some hard hitters, it pains me to hear other musicians put other musicians down, regardless if their comments are accurate or not, it just stinks! Recently, I was playing a show and we had a guest fiddle player sitting in...meanwhile an opinionated and no jive to back up her statements female was at our table watching, she carried on by criticizing an incredible fiddle player because she was not on stage. Everyone at the table was very turned off by the situation. The nerve....lol. I mean this guy plays fiddle AND violin. In a band that's signed to major label and plays with an orchestra, so certainly he does not "suck"

Another situation recently that really blistered my britches was, a very good friend of mine, and a musician who I respect very highly shared a conversation about an up coming band "Shadow Grass" and to each their own, you're welcome to like what you like but his comments were "Man, that band is kicking ass but their fiddle player sucks"...while I was trying to get out, "I really admire that band"...Come on man...don't be like that is what I should've said but it lingered with me. Here we were, excited about the same band and he shames the fiddle player. Saying, they need to get a better one...? Me, I like the way she plays. I like the band and they are on the rize. Admire that, don't knock it.

The bluegrass scene can be brutal. Fighting for clout, shows and fans, likes and shares...name dropping this and name dropping that...it gets real old. If you're among some hard core players, you'll notice they don't act like jealous children...Rant over...lol. Happy Friday and lift others up, even if their not listening...

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Bluegrass and Heavy Metal are the most competitive genres I've personally encountered. I love playing/singing bluegrass, but when it loses it's musicality to become a shred contest (metal can do that too lol) I am unimpressed. Honestly, I'm unimpressed by much of what is just flash, smoke and mirrors covering up a lack of feeling in the music. 

I've dismounted the tall horse. Thanks for your time.

I'm really hesitant to post this, but I've been following this thread for a bit and 'what the heck.' So, here it is:

There’s so many ways to think about the power of music I’m not sure where to begin.

1st - there’s the power of the music that sucks you in and makes you want to play and you have no rational understanding why.
2nd - there’s the power of music being shared by people creating a moment of community; player to listener and back to player
3rd - there’s the power of music that moves you in emotion that is unexplainable
4th - there’s the power of music that it’s just so much fun to play.
5th - there’s the power of music in worship (if you’re spiritually inclined)
6th - there’s the power of music in playing with others and sharing that experience, knowledge, and love

I would be curious if other of you have more to add to the above items. None of the above have negative elements. I think it’s easy to fall into negativity as human beings and it’s something I certainly deal with. I was grousing about some musical thing I was working on to my brother. Can’t remember if it was a tune or something about a session, and asking if he thought it was worth doing. He simply said, “You’re asking the wrong question. The question is; Is it fun? If you’re not having fun playing music, don’t do it.” I think that’s a great bottom line.

I agree with your brother...play it because you will have fun playing it. bottom line, for sure. hopefully anyone who listens might catch the fun too.

I guess with me music has always been a healer...like...in one of many examples I can think of, one time I was cutting limbs off of a box elder tree for our goats. It was dark...bout maybe 10 at night, and like a dummy, I was looking up in the dark and cutting a high limb to fall down for our goats to eat the leaves off of...but...as can only happen to such a dummy for doing that...lol...the limb fell directly into my eye...so my eye hurt like mad and I fell down and the goats joyfully jumped up and down on my back because they thought I was playing, etc. Finally got back up to the house and had a horribly painful eye...anyway, the cornea was scratched bigtime, among other things...and for about a week straight that eye hurt like mad...hurt to have it open, but hurt to have it shut, and you're out of options if neither of those work.

Well that's a longer story than I intended to write, but during that week of horrible eye pain, where from one second to the next I could only alternate between eye open (owe, owe that hurts) and eye shut (yewwowwie that hurts). So I grabbed a guitar, and as long as I constantly picked tunes on the guitar I found the pain bearable. The eye doctor said I could take pain relievers...but I found music to reduce the pain substantially...enough that I could stand it. Of course I had to pick a guitar almost constantly to get through...still...it relieved my pain. I had a similar experience with an abscessed tooth...at the time I worked in the field as a map tech and couldn't play music all the time...that sucker hurt so bad I would have to lay down in the car and cry a few minutes after eating my lunch...but picking a guitar got me through until we could scrape and save enough for the dentist. By the time I got to the dentist the tooth had performed its own root canal...meaning the roots calcified over the damaged nerves inside of them and pretty much took care of the roots, and all that was left for the dentist was to put a SE KY steel crown on top...I still have that tooth today too. That's not the ideal way to take care of an abscessed tooth...I mean, it can kill ya...and the pain feels like it'll kill ya...lol...but another time when picking a guitar as much as I could actually alleviated physical pain in my case.

But there are really strong emotional things happening with music...it conjures up emotions out of their hiding places and pours its healing properties all over them. How can anyone get through life without it?

There are folks that speculate Harmony was the first drug.
I spose we'll find out how music puts our brain's in order, eventually.
This stuff is just telling us what we already know.

Yes...amazing how it works. There's so much...harmony can instantly turn on the calming switch...I think that's maybe why the gospel and hymns all grabbed up the melodies that harmonize well...the church music does have the most sweetly harmonizing opportunities and hits that instantly calming switch...in my opinion, anyway. But then there's the rhythm...powerful stuff...melody itself and how one approaches the melodic contour...i.e., how an individual perceives that contour and travels throughout it...which is why notes on a page can easily fall short, again, just a groundhog's opinion.

Maybe I make too much of melodic contour, and I did not grow up in a musical family...just heard things like we all hear as we grow up and go through life. But sitting next to my great aunt in church...I mean, she was not a singer, but singing in church it always amazed me how she went from one note to the other. It was unique and interesting and I guess it taught me about melodic contour...the journey of the melody from point A to point B. And just how one traverses their way from one point to another. Also interesting how chord progressions, or just drones, or just harmony great affects that...not to mention rhythm. Sorry...just musing aloud here.

But I guess I wanted to say something about the above talk about musicians saying bad stuff about each other. Yeah, now THAT is a bad thing. Of course I've verbally trashed some...like some of the professional stuff that comes out...I've said bad stuff about the Michael Jackson things that the kids used to listen to (the kids that are now approaching 50), but then when I took my daughter to the local skating rink on Sunday afternoons and we skated with our friends, I realized...ok...yes, Michael Jackson makes me skate better...so...I'm wrong in thinking there's not much there. It is powerful music to, to those who have the ear and mindset to interpret that. Lesson learned. Then here lately I've heard clips of Taylor Swift, and to me it sounds like pure YUK...yet, she's extremely popular and demanded all around the world. Well then when her concert was cancelled because of terrorist threats, and they interviewed young crying kids...kids who said her music helped them deal with life in ways nothing else could...I cried too, just watching that on the news...it's like...ok...I'm missing something here...she's bringing something to those kids they really thrive on. I'm not getting it, but they are.

But as far as my favorite kind of music that I think everybody should play and participate in...what I call Folk Music, because it's just down-to-earth, playable, easily played and related to by anybody around...in my opinion (which I'm starting to think is just plain curmudgeon...lol...but I hope not), anyway, when it comes to communities or just friends playing in their own homespun style together or just in some informal setting...trashing the musician is really in poor taste. I'm wondering if it comes from comparing with the big rich musical professionals...or with a desire to be in control at a jam, or if it could even be jealousy...or whatever else, I don't know. But to me...when an amateur folk musician dares to play with or for or within earshot...stop and give a listen...and gee whiz chill out and hear how they are going from the melodic contour's point A to point B. Kinda like in our big political year here where people are saying veterans don't need to be publicly trashing other veterans' service...unite and be supportive for heaven's sake. Same with folk musicians...you play fiddle; I play fiddle...that brings us together...makes us pals. That used to bug me big time when I went to BG jams with the little amaeur band...like...ok guys just let me play, don't rush around me to "correct" all the things I do wrong...lol...I mean...I could be doing that too if I felt like being a jerk. Anyway...yeah...musicians need a special place in their hearts for musicians...because amateur or professional...we are all seeing that power and goodness music can bring.

Speaking of harmony and the power of music.. reminds me of a time when a guest was invited to a quasi-church Joy and I attended for a while - to hold a "session" on "shape singing". There were about 6 or 8 of us there. She spent time helping each of us recognize "our part" with a music score written with shape notes for each part. She worked with each of us individually as needed until...

When she thought we were ready - she had us stand in a circle = up close - facing one another. And then we sang the song together (as one) - and I think we scared ourselves. It was magic. We could not stop smiling. And then we sang it again - so powerful. And then again... still magic.

She left after that session. We would talk about that night and remember what happened, but = for whatever reason - that magic left with her. But we still have the memory.

Its real.

The power of music and health is now a respected researched topic. I was lucky to hear Rene Fleming (yes, THAT Rene Fleming) and former director of the NIH, Dr. Francis Collins two week ago talk about this very subject. Apparently, the part of the brain that responds to music differs from the language and visual centers. And, it doesn't matter if you actually hear the music or you "think" it. That part was astonishing! Rene' actually put herself in the MRI for the study.

She edited a book: Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness." In this book she highlights current research on this. On aspect was in pain control. Music reduces the need for anesthesia or sedatives. It was amazing how this worked with children!

Another study by Aniruddh Patel showed the positive effects music has on Parkison's patients. Those who had an unsteady, shuffling step suddenly transformed to regular strides.

She also strongly advocated for music therapy in hospital settings. Stroke patients who were unable to speak could sing! Music made the hospital environment much less scary. I know those on here and also my friends here in Texas who do music therapy activities can tell you some amazing stories. The unfortunate thing is that this work is not recognized by insurance companies and many hospital administrations as valid. Hospitals reluctantly let music therapists in because it gives the patients and staff a brief respite.

Music is a "social disease." We need it. We crave it in all of its forms!

FWIW: Dr Francis Collins grew up in Virginia. His father was a classical violinist and his mother a pianist. His father got interested in "old time music" and playing "bluegrass." He did over 200 field recordings of Virginia musicians that are housed in the Library of Congress alongside of John Lomax and other well-known ethnomusicologists. And, Francis himself plays guitar, can back-up fiddle tunes and sings traditional songs as well as those of singer-songwriters, such as John Prine.

As fate would have it, my first official date with my future wife was to see a live performance of the opera Carmen. I'd somehow lucked out and was in possession of third row (or was it fourth row?) center seats at a posh concert hall. Needless to say, I ordered my future wife to wear her best clothes.

Anyway, the story was incredibly easy to follow, this despite the fact the opera was sung in French. The drama was big & juicy. The tunes absolutely blew me away. I still carry them in my head, and listen to a recording of it, often. In any case, blamm... I became an instant opera fan.

I don't remember the exact place, nor the song. But I recall changing chords in time to the beat, as I was singing, correctly, and for the very first time. At that point, I instantly understood. It clicked! I was so elated to find myself actually making music. I knew and understood, from there I could go anywhere. I think it may have been a banjer I was playing. Banjer kind of persuades one into the key of G. Once this happened, nothing was the same. I became someone that could play music. Years earlier, I had taken saxophone lessons. Learned to read music. Tooted the notes that was on the page. It never equated to Music for me. Some call what I do now as playing by ear, but to me, it's "knowing" the tune or song. I may learn a new tune by hearing it.

Classical music is my first love. Growing up, my Mom only permitted classical music to be played it the house - period. One of my earliest memories is listening to Beethoven's 6th Symphony with her. As the piece played, she pointed out the themes and music pictures of the country-side, the military band, the storm and the post-storm calm and sunny skies. Other pieces, in addition to the Beethoven Symphonies, that she introduced me to over the years included the Violin Concertos of Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and the Symphonies of Brahms, Mozart, Hyden, Mendelson and others. I found comfort in them.

She took me to my first opera when I was 10 - Madame Butterfly. It made no sense to me, but I knew the story must be emotional because she frequently had tears in her eyes. It took another 40 years before I went to another opera with my wife - The Flying Dutchman. Holy cow!!! Was that fantastic!! Then La Boheme. WOW!! Carmen! Don Giovani - The Magic Flute - The Bartered Bride - La Traviata - ... We went to nearly every opera we could. They were making more sense. One thing that really helped was a book with the synopses and librettos for the opera but written irreverently - "A Night at the Opera". This opened up more insights. I can't recommend this book enough!!

Now, here's my story. 12 years ago I was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of lymphoma. The treatments included 6 months of inpatient chemo. (I did not have to have radiation, thankfully!) The first two weeks were the most critical. If I survived these initial treatments, the probability of surviving increased to about 80%. If I got past the next 4 weeks of treatments, my survival probability increased to over 95%. I'll take those odds!!

During the second week, I KNEW everything would be ok. One night I had a series of very intense and vivid dreams. I briefly awakened after each dream. The last dream included Beethoven's Violin Concerto. I was at peace. This morphed into Beethoven's 6th Symphony. The 4th movement was the storm. When the 5th Movement started, entitled "In Gratitude and Thanksgiving", I woke up fully. I had set the radio to the local classical station. The music I heard was being broadcast. But was that last movement of the 6th Symphony that told me that I would be ok. As it ended, I could see daybreak over Dallas through my east-facing hospital room window. The sun was just starting to peak on the horizon.

What happened next is absolutely true. The strains of the 6th faded on the radio and immediately segued into the hymn "Morning Has Broken." I quietly sang along. "Morning has broken, like the first morning......" I felt reborn and renewed. My optimism was high, and I was going to be ok. I was going to survive!

During the rest of my treatments, I only wanted to listen to classical music and specifically that of Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Mendelson, Tchaikovsky and Handel. Many of my old-time music friends thoughtfully brought CDs of various old-time artists, but they could not understand why I did want to listen to these recordings in my hospital room. Classical music was all that I wanted to hear.

Every three weeks I got to go home for a week to rest and get a change to scenery. During these breaks, friends would come over and we would play old-time. This lifted my spirits!

About halfway into the treatments, I started to experience neuropathy in my fingers and feet - a by-product of the chemo. I mentioned this to my oncologist and my concern that it would affect my playing fiddle. She nodded and wrote in the orders that I was to play my fiddle at least 4-hours a day, including in my hospital room, to stem the advance of neuropathy in my fingers. I couldn't get my regular fiddle quiet enough for the hospital, so a friend loaned me his electric violin. Without a resonator, it was quiet!!

So, I followed the orders and within a week, the advance of the neuropathy slowed. In about two weeks, it started to reverse. By the time my treatments ended, I had no neuropathy in my fingers and hands!!

That was 12 years ago. There is no evidence of disease, and the probability of recurrence is very low and similar to what would be expected for the entire population. My oncologist uses the C-word (cured). I am grateful!

So, music is powerful medicine! I would not have survived without it and I would likely be facing some long-term neuropathy in my hands.

Wow...that's an awesome story. Glad you are here and well, Kirk! I'm glad you had music as a healing power to help you get through, and I'm glad the doctor listened to how important playing was for you and let you play in the hospital. Powerful story.

Music has just gotten me through life, really. I've told this tale before here...but back when my mom was very sick and dying, and I was so upset and stressed for all of that to be happening...I was sitting in the hospital room, barely enough room for me in there...and one time when she fell asleep, I just let my head go back and rest on the wall behind my head...closed my eyes and tried to just get into my own world for a few minutes. And then I heard somebody, way down the hall somewhere in the hospital, playing a Native-sounding, soft-toned flute...just a simple, lonely, wafting and barely audible from a distance...it instantly filled my eyes with free-flowing tears...and just helped me so much right at that very stressful moment. I wanted to somehow tell the person what they were doing for me, but I wouldn't have been able to find them or whatever. So...whoever it was will probably never know how they helped me on that day.

I'll tell one more thing that I haven't talked about much...maybe because it seems so sacred or something. My good friend I met at work...she was the janitor in our building where I worked...somehow we got to be friends...she was an Auschwitz survivor. Anyway we started eating lunch together and she taught me to knit. She heard me talk about music a lot but she never heard me play. Then some local riverfest event came up and my daughter and I paid out the money to record a CD (before I had a presonus...lol) to sell at the event...we could also play there for a few nights and try to sell some CDs (Of course nobody bought the CDs though...lol). Anyway, I gave my friend one of those CDs...just us doing some old tunes/songs with guitar and two voices. She called me, crying...that she couldn't stop listening to it and she understood so much more about me after that. That was an interesting enough thing. But several months later as she lay in a hospice dying, her daughter called me and said the family had to play that CD constantly to keep her calm and comfortable. Now, not only did that make me cry, and sorta just shock me...but...to think you're helping someone going through death...I mean, helping in that way...I haven't talked about it much, but it was beyond words for me and seemed like one of those places that you just don't tread on...I can't explain it, really. Her family also got us to play at her funeral.

It would be a good thing if there were more music therapists everywhere, and music would be used medicinally in every place where people could use it. It could be doing a lot of good. And this is why I always say people need to be playing music...anyone who can learn to play folk music really oughta experience this for themselves, and for anyone around them who can't seem to play or isn't motivated enough but at close enough proximity to be exposed to active listening ...live music just played by real people, I think, in my opinion for whatever it's worth, is something our society is missing out on, bigtime.

This thread.




Thank you, I needed it.

Advocate for music therapists. The scientific evidence is there that show the effectiveness of music on patients at all ages. Many colleges and universities have or are beginning music therapy programs that are in collaboration with the music department and the health professions (nursing, etc) department.

Music therapists are trained to know what kind of music is appropriate for the patient. Older patients respond better to music of their youth or familiar folk songs. Younger patients may be more responsive to silly songs or contemporary music. Some may prefer calming instrumentals played on harp, piano or guitar, while others may prefer upbeat music. Music therapists can tap into the individual needs of the patient.

Music is strong medicine.

Obviously one I missed;

7th - there's the power of music in healing and comfort

Thanks for sharing the stories. And there's certainly power in the sharing of stories too.

Then, there can be a situation where one feels separated from that power, like...Dolly Parton...she had to give up her musical career to take care of her husband, who has health issues. So...how is she doing it...I just wonder how she manages.