For Healthcare Professionals
Historically and in all civilizations, music has been a mode to energize or calm one's physical energies, to express one's emotions and thoughts, to create moments of intimacy or community, to ritualize moments that mark a change is happening, in this moment. Can you hear phrases of "Pomp & Circumstance"? "Taps?" A wedding song? The bedtime song you sang to your children, or your parent sang to you? A recent song or melody that kept popping into your mind and wouldn't leave you alone?
Music is an everyday phenomena, woven into throughout the moments and movements of our lives. For healthcare professionals, music can be a powerful tool for self-care through the stresses of caring for others. Music can be a mode of empathy (always, always focusing on the person's musical preferences) and support: physically, emotionally, mentally, behaviorally, and spiritually.
Caution: Music can burn! Remember a time when a simple melody or phrase overwhelmed you with intense emotions and memories. The tools throughout this website, book, and conference teaching are intended to empower; never to manipulate. CORE Principles instilled include: Care, Ownership, Respect, & Empower. HEALing Techniques examined include: Hear, Explore, Affirm, & Learn. Sometimes, one's best choice is silence. (And, aren't moments of silence inherent in any music composition or mode of singing and playing.
Caution: Never confuse or call your uses of music "music therapy," unless you, indeed are a board certified music therapist, or are receiving therapeutic care from a music therapist. For more information or to find a music therapist, visit the American Music Therapy Association.
Core to the hospice interdisciplinary plan of care, each professional (1) serves as the expert within one's area of licensure or certification and (2) understands basic concepts for one's team members.
(1) For example, the professional nurse assesses details of physical changes and works with the physician to change medications. The social worker notorizes papers and helps navigate financial needs. The chaplain might support through prayer and funeral or memorial leadership. Professional boundaries and accountability are core to the delivery of care.
(2) For example, the nurse and certified nursing assistant must be able to recognize and be fully present through moments of life-review, grief and mourning, fear and hope. The social worker and chaplain must grasp basics of pain & symptom management, disease progession, and the actively dying process, and respond in the moment, within the scope of one's role.
Likewise, only the professional music therapist can provide skilled, clinical music therapy. And, other team members can be aware of ways that the person's music might bring supportive care. Simple, non-threatening questions can suggest ways for the person/family's own music to bring meaningful moments of comfort.
"What do you do that's creative?" (And this doesn't have to be musical. It calls forth one's quality of life.)
"What music helps you relax?" "Feel energized?"
"If there's a time, place, or person you'd like to revisit, what music would 'take' you there?"
"What music expresses a hope you have for your future?"
"What music do you hate? Why?"
Note: Most people have their music of preference in their LP, CD, or now MP3 collections. Anyone with a piano has favorite music in the bench or nearby. Crucial: the actual music score or recording doesn't have to be present. The simple conversation, humming, singing, and reflecting together creates ( "composes") the moment of meaning.
Only for those who are ready: "What music do you want for your funeral or memorial service? Who do you want to sing or play? Would you like to experience that now or in the near future, with your family & friends?"
More tools are inherent through the book. Again, cautions must be observed. One's roles, relationships, and uses of music must be protected within CORE principles and HEALing techniques.
For finding a song's lyrics, musical score, recording, or copyright permission, visit Resources & Links, Music Tools.
Healthcare Professionals' Reviews
"In Music of the Soul Berger has orchestrated a major piece of work, one that is in a single stroke both universal and deeply personal in its resonance. I recommend it highly for all of those who seek to reach where words cannot, and join more deeply with those they serve in seeking to compose life out of loss."
Robert A. Neimeyer, Ph.D, Series Editor Death, Dying, and Bereavement
"This is an important book for the field, beautifully written, with powerful and heartfelt content."
Galen Miller, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
"Dr. Berger's multiple gifts in the fields of music, faith, hospice, and education for health professionals will sensitively enlighten all fortunate to read this book and apply their new insights to the best patient care and education available."
Dr. Leah J. Dickstein, MD, MA, Professor Emerita, University of Louisville, School of Medicine
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