Looking for a teaching resource?

It surprised me that we covered the complementary therapy section in about 5 minutes. It may be true that knowledge translation for evidence-based research in complementary therapies is slim. I would suggest that we need to identify excellent HPC complementary therapy resources and share them with one another.

One resource for educating HPC volunteers, physicians, nurses or students around Music Care and specifically music therapy in HPC is On Wings of Song. What I like about this DVD is that it can be used in its entirety, or it can be shown case by case, in 5-8 minute sections.

Here is what reviewer Dr. Amy Clements-Cortes says about On Wings of Song:

On Wings of Song is a look into the daily work of palliative care music therapist Deborah Salmon. Deborah has worked with the terminally ill at Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital since 1984, and in this video she eloquently expresses the potential and privilege for music therapists to work with clients at this stage in their lives. The documentary highlights her work with several clients and demonstrates the effectiveness of various music techniques such as: guided imagery and music; music and relaxation; improvisation; song-writing; music for reminiscence; and, singing and playing instruments.  The case examples demonstrate music’s effective power to: facilitate emotional expression; divert attention away from pain and facilitate relaxation; decrease feelings of social isolation; elevate mood and affect; provoke discussion and reminiscence; and, motivate frail patients to participate. 

The power and healing potential of music are very much alive in this documentary. Music has the power to transport us back to memories, help us relive those memories and is also a tool to help us express those memoriesThe video takes us through many emotions and clearly establishes the sacred spaces that can be created through music. It is touching, rousing, and thought provoking, all while highlighting music’s potential to help us celebrate life.[i]