With funds from public benefit concerts and hospice store sales, the hospital has begun building a therapeutic music program. The program is designed to use music as a healing tool.
So far, a medium-small harp has been purchased to play music in patients homes and rooms. Work is also beginning to build a music channel on MCDH’s in-room TV system.
“When a harpist played in one patient’s room, he got a big smile on his face and said ‘music is like a prayer.’, said Tanya Wyldflower, program coordinator and head of the chaplaincy program at the hospital.
Other instruments will be added to the therapeutic music program during 2011.
To view some of the program musicians and the benefit concerts on videotape: