| What
is it about the harp that is so healing?
The strings of the harp are similar to the long
muscle fibers of the human body and they resonate in
sympathy with a plucked string. The listener
can sense the associated emotional expression that
is applied to and released from a string like a
musical massage. A plucked string vibrates
along its entire length as well as in halves,
thirds, quarters and so on - producing an infinite
number of overtones until it comes to rest.
The harp is
frequently used in these settings:
- At
the bedside of those in hospital care, ICU and
CICU, or under Hospice Care
.
- In
group settings, in continuing life-care
communities, for residents with dementia or
Alzheimer's disease, in continuing life-care
communities, for residents in Healthcare or
Comfort care settings
.
- For Individuals,
in continuing life-care communities, in
Rehabilitation at their home, to augment Hospice
Care or Recovery and Respite
Care Programs, to augment services under the
direction of a Music Therapist.
The difference between therapeutic harp music and
music therapy is that in therapeutic harp we address
the spiritual nature of the patient, not in a
religious way, but in a way that works intrinsically
to uplift the person. We do a lot of work with the
Modes so that we can match the moods of the
patients. Music therapy is more goal oriented
trying to achieve a behavioral goal or a social
goal.
There
are five qualities that I address when working with
a patient:
- The
mood of the patient
- The
tempo of their breathing
- What
type of music they like
- Their
resonant tone
- How
it is all put together with musical components
as rhythms and intervals.
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