COVID-19’s Impact on Therapeutic Music

Jul 25

Harp under a tree and a flyer COVID 19's effects on Therapeutic Music

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On July 17th 2020 I had the pleasure of moderating a panel discussion at The Somerset Folk Harp Festival on Covid 19’s Impact on Therapeutic Music.

My guests were: Edie Elkan, Dr. Laurence Furr, Sister Margaret Mary McBride, Jocelyn Obermeyer, Karen Peterson, and Mary Stevens. The panelists were generous enough to allow me to share their discussion with you on my podcast and I was thrilled that Edie Elkan led us in a Mindfulness Meditation at the end of our discussion.

A big topic that we kept returning to was how important it is to take care of yourself and to take the time to recharge, especially in these times where we are all navigating stressful waters.

We discussed what it is like for Therapeutic Musicians right now during this global pandemic.

There are many issues such as whether or not musicians are allowed in certain hospitals and care facilities right now; and if they are, what are the precautions professional CMTs (Certified Music Therapist) are taking.

Some musicians are not allowed in certain facilities at the moment but are using technology to connect with patients and staff. With so many essential workers in hospitals suffering burnout CMTs have done studies where their music actually calms not only the patients, but the hospital staff leading to a reduction in attrition which can save hospitals and other care facilities money.

Each of my panelists have received certification from different programs and some hold various certificates. They have found that having CMT certification has helped them secure employment and that during this time they have found an uptick in enrollment in their programs.

Helpful Advice for Certified Music Therapists

They also offer some helpful advice to any CMT who was furloughed and is looking for work. Many practitioners have worked hard to create positions and programs and they offer some suggestions. Above all, they wanted to let the listeners know that it is essential for all of us to take care of ourselves, recharge if we need to, so we can be healthy and help others.

Questions Asked of the Panelists

1. "What is it like out there?" A quick landscape of working and non-working CMTs since March.

2. "Tell me about providing live therapeutic music on site?" What's different about playing on site now, infection control.
3. "How are certified therapeutic musicians providing music virtually?" Logistics of getting the music to patients, coordination with staff, technologies, privacy concerns.
4. "You each represent an accredited training program. How does a certification benefit musicians at this time, and what is the future of the field?" Volunteers versus essential personnel, looking ahead.
5. "What can certified musicians who have been furloughed or who were having trouble finding work before the pandemic do now?" Strategies, skillsharpening, self-care.

Edie Elkan is Founding Director of Bedside Harp, both a service and educational organization, exclusively college-based from 2003-2016 and a member of the National Standards Board of Therapeutic Musicians since 2017. Launched in 2002, Bedside Harp has partnered with and worked at acute care and psychiatric hospitals, life care communities, hospices, rehabs, and cancer centers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and has trained nearly 1,000 students from the U.S., Canada and Europe to play the harp for their own and others’ healing. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Bedside Harp has played only in psychiatric settings.

Dr. Laurence Furr is a Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner and a Certified Clinical Musician. He is also on the Board of Advisors for the Medical Musician Initiative. He works for JPS Health Network and Vitas Hospice. During the pandemic, Laurence continues to provide music at Vitas's in-patient-unit in Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. At JPS Hospital, Laurence plays in all departments including surgery, ICU, Emergency, Trauma Unit, NICU, the county prison hospital, and psychiatric wing. Laurence is also Director of Music and Organist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Worth. Laurence has taught classes for several years at Somerset Folk Harp Festival, Harp Journeys, and Holden Village.

Sister Margaret Mary McBride was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in Burlingame, California in 1968. Sister Margaret received her BSN from the University of San Francisco in 1974 and her Master’s in Public Administration from USF in 1995. Sister has spent 46 years in healthcare in a variety of roles and responsibilities and currently serves as Service Area Vice President

for Mission Integration for Dignity Health in Arizona. She serves on a variety of Boards in the Phoenix community involved with hospice care, quality committee for a Medicaid program in Arizona.

Jocelyn Obermeyer is a Certified Therapeutic harp Practitioner and a Certified Clinical Musician. She is the Program Director for Therapeutic harp Foundation in Phoenix, Co-Director of the International Harp Therapy program USA and serves on the National Standards Board of Therapeutic Musicians. Jocelyn is grateful to be considered essential personnel for St. Joe’s hospital, Phoenix, serving the staff, non-Covid patients, babies in crisis and ICU surgery. She works in unison with the Missions and Spiritual Care Departments. Jocelyn and her team bring the music for all patients at Hospice of the Valley, playing from a safe distance from staff, family and patients.

Karen Peterson

Karen Peterson is a Certified Music Practitioner and the President of the Music for Healing and Transition Program. She and her fellow certified therapeutic musicians are considered essential personnel at St. Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey, where she has been working since 2012. From March through May, she played for staff in all areas of the hospital, for non-COVID patients at their doorways, and for COVID patients through their closed doors.

Mary Stevens is a Certified Clinical Musician and Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy Practitioner in north central Montana, and the owner/program manager for Harp for Healing, which includes the Clinical Musician Certification Program. She is also a member of the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians and a church musician. Before COVID19, she was providing therapeutic music to a hospital and five care centers, all of which are currently closed to non-staff members.