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Music Therapy
March 13, 2008 |
It may look like child’s play but singing and dancing is actually a form of
therapy for some patients. Julie Avirett is a Music Therapist at The Children’s
Hospital of Southwest Florida. “I will look like a volunteer musician but we’re
looking at very specific goals through music, we’re looking at their anxiety
reduction, their pain management, “she says. Julie and her box of instruments
are right at home at the hospital. The cheerful crooner is on call to help
children get thorough trying times in the hospital note by note. “In just a
matter of moments you’ll see a patient who may be crying hear something that’s a
familiar song to them. So if I’m playing twinkle twinkle little star they’ll
focus immediately to the guitar. They begin to look at me for trust in a
situation where they’re feeling pain. They’ll look towards the music and you’ll
watch the monitors and the respiration rates will decrease, the heart rates will
decrease.” Julie strums and sings with children of all ages for all kinds of
reasons. “We can use drums and position it in a specific area so that they’ll be
able to get more range of motion and help with physical therapy treatments. I go
from that to pediatric oncology where we’re trying to have socialization where
we’re trying to use music to boost their immune system.” At the end of the day
just hearing that she helped make a patient’s day better is truly music to
Julie’s ears. “It feels amazing to be able to help the families to help the
patients to be at their side to help through these times of trials and
difficulties it feels good to know that you’re making this day a little brighter
for them.” Music Therapy is a researched based program that is completely funded
by community support. To learn more about how you can donate funds or
instruments to the music therapy program you can log onto www.leememorial.org. |
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