Ever heard a song on the radio that's just made you smile? Ever had a piece of music remind you of a friend or loved one? Ever been moved to tears by a melody?
Musicians On Call, a nonprofit organization formed in 1999, brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. Musicians On Call uses music to promote and complement the healing process for patients, families and caregivers.
Musicians On Call was originally founded by Michael Solomon and Vivek Tiwary in the course of their volunteer work with The Kristen Ann Carr Fund at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
After a concert sponsored by the Kristen Ann Carr Fund, a hospital staff member raised the issue that some of the patients had been unable to attend the performance either because they were in treatment or too sick to leave their rooms. In response, Michael, Vivek and the musician went from room to room to play for those patients who had been unable to attend the concert. The one-on-one interaction of patient and musician created a crucial intimacy; the expressions on the faces of friends and family members at the patients' bedsides revealed a deep sense of connection and release. Musicians On Call was born!
Unfortunately Musicians On Call currently only operates in the United States, and the Republic of Ireland. In the UK, Radio 3 ran a similar scheme for a brief period, but to my knowledge there's nothing in place right now.
If you want to make a donation, follow the links on the main Musicians On Call website. If you'd like to show your support at the same time, t-shirts can be purchased here. All takings above base costs will go directly to support the Musicians On Call program.
Labels: community, health, music, Musicians On Call
