What is a Music Practitioner?

A Music Practitioner is a trained professional who plays music at the bedside of people who are sick or dying in order to enhance the patient’s innate ability to heal. Music Practitioners are trained in a nationally recognized not for profit program called The Music for Healing and Transition Program. For detailed information about program requirements and basic principles please go to MHTP.org on the World Wide Web.

How Does it Work?

Music, perhaps more so than any of the arts or sciences has the power to affect change on many levels of the human body, mind, emotions and spirit. Live music played at the bedside can soothe or energize, relax or uplift, help lower or raise heart rate, blood pressure and even reduce the need for pain medication. The Music Practitioner is trained in basic assessment of a patient’s condition, in physical terms, mood, energy level, pain level and preferences. The Music Practitioner chooses music she feels will connect with and be appropriate for the patient, always aware of the patient’s reactions, ready to change or stop the music to suit the situation at any moment.

The Music Practitioner meets the patient where they are with music that is appropriate to the mood and physical condition of the patient. Once this connection is established the Practitioner may choose to move the tempo, mood and feeling of the music in a direction that may help the patient to move into a new level of comfort, relaxation, energy, or state of mind.

Where do Music Practitioners typically work?

We work in hospitals, for Hospice organizations, in Nursing Facilities, Extended Care Facilities, in the OR, ICU, CCU, Birthing Centers and in the home.

Are Music Practitioners paid for their work?

Yes. Though most Music Practitioners do not come to this profession with money as their first motivation, in order to attain and maintain a level of excellence in this field requires training and dedication, much like any other serious vocation. The amount of time and energy invested in certification is approximately equivalent to that of a Licensed Massage Therapist or LPN. The Music Practitioner generally works directly with patients no more than 25 hours per week, for physical reasons, and there is additional time invested in practicing one’s instrument and ongoing study, training and repertoire development.

Does Research support the purported benefits of Music for Healing and Transition?

Yes. There is a very good overview of research in Mark Ryder’s book, The Rhythmic Language of Health and Disease. According to Dr. Ryder, the experience of healing music played live at the bedside can actually help boost a patient’s immune system, in a way, helping to charge the patient’s battery, often by simply allowing the patient to relax, breathe and rest more deeply, or by helping the patient to let go of habitual ways of thinking and feeling. It is common knowledge today, that our thoughts and feelings have a dramatic effect on our state of physical health and it is indeed true that “Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast.” Music seems to have an integrating effect on a person’s systems at various levels simultaneously helping to release blocked energy, physically, emotionally and even spiritually, thus enhancing the healing process.

What is my background and how did I come to work as a Music Practitioner?

After playing the Double Bass in The Florida Orchestra for 21 years and practicing yoga and meditation for seven years, I felt called to do some kind of community service with my music, beyond what I was doing with the symphony. I began as a volunteer at The Moffitt Cancer Research Center in Tampa, Florida, but as a volunteer I was only allowed to play in the public areas of the hospital. Even in this capacity I was interviewed and trained to make sure my knowledge and intentions were in line with the Moffitt Centers standards and expectations. At Moffitt they understand the power of music and other art forms, (as well as Integrative therapies such as Acupuncture, massage and Yoga breathing techniques), and require that these therapies be administered with the same level of excellence as any other form of care.

The Moffitt Center has an Arts In Medicine Department, devoted to the use of the Expressive Arts as therapeutic tools. There are Music Practitioners, Visual Artists and artists who use the written and spoken word. All these artists are highly trained and dedicated to their work. Once I saw the possibility to take this work to the next level I could not refuse. Now Music for Healing and Yoga Instruction are the main focus of my professional life.

Lloyd J. Goldstein