Music As Medicine: The Healing Powers of Sound and Song

In room 5 West at Avow’s hospice house, “Anna” is aware of visitors at her bedside, but often drifts into sleep. Her family already misses Anna – the sister who was always humming, the wife who sang for years in her church’s choir. They miss Anna’s lively personality, eclipsed now by her body’s slow transition and approaching release of the life she lived.

Avow music therapist Jillian Iurlano steps in to work with Anna. She watches Anna’s breathing, assessing her face and body for signs of discomfort. Jillian slowly begins playing her guitar, timing the pace of the song with Anna’s breath. She softly sings hymns, watching Anna for reactions. To the family’s surprise, Anna not only wakes, but also joins Jillian in song. Her voice still has all the sweetness her family loved, all of the praise she sang in times of joy and distress. For a few minutes, Anna is not a patient – Anna is who she was before her life was eclipsed by illness. She is radiant as she sings. When the singing stops, she relaxes into a deep sense of peace. Her family is teary with wonder and relief.

Jillian Iurlano is one of the board-certified music therapists on staff at Avow, a hospice, palliative care, and grief/loss support provider serving Collier County and Southwest Florida. She and her colleagues work with adults and children, using music therapeutically to resolve their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. Music therapy provides patients and clients a way to communicate when words fail them. It is a clinical tool that music therapists like Jillian use to resolve pain, anxiety, restlessness, confusion, and spiritual unrest.

“The power of music to heal has been known for centuries,” says Jillian. “In 1944, the first bachelor of arts program for music therapy was established at Michigan State University. The program brought together the best research on the physiological, social, spiritual, and psychological effects of music as a healing tool. Since then, the field has kept pace with other developments in resolving physical and non-physical distress in children and adults. It is such a rewarding career, even if our work is sometimes misunderstood.”

That misunderstanding often comes from those who are unaware of the clinical framework of music therapy. People who have not experienced the therapy firsthand often see treatments with music as “entertainment” or pleasant diversion – something anyone with any skill level can provide. That is one of the reasons the World Federation of Music Therapy declared March 1 as World Music Therapy Day. The group, says Jillian, works to make the public aware of the science and study behind this unique healing tool.

“Music therapists are trained in music history, theory, and musical genres. They must be able to sing and play piano, guitar, and drums with proficiency,” Jillian explains. “The undergraduate degree also requires extensive training in psychology and biology, as well as research methods and case management. We learn about physical therapy, speech therapy, and how illness can affect movement, emotional health, and spiritual health. All board-certified music therapists complete a minimum of 1200 clinical hours working with children and adults with a variety of needs as part of their training. We may, for example, work with autistic teens, seniors suffering from dementia, or mentally ill adults. After we pass our board certification exam issued by the American Music Therapy Association, we must take continuing education as we practice, earning a minimum of 100 credits in education every five years. It is a demanding profession, but one that gives so much satisfaction.”

Avow also incorporates music therapy in its Avow Kids® programs for children and teens who are learning to live with a loss. Attendees at a session of Camp MendingHeart®, for example, may write lyrics and compose a melody to express what they feel and how they see themselves growing. Younger children may use rhythm instruments to express their feelings or say through song what they otherwise cannot verbalize. The benefits of music therapy for children, teens, and adults are numerous, and can be combined with other creative outlets such as art therapy.

“Avow’s music therapy program is one tool we have to provide the best in patient care,” says Jillian. “It’s a tool that is remarkably flexible to resolve a remarkably complex range of needs in kids and adults. I am proud of my discipline and proud that Avow places such a value on this important component of care.”

For more information about Avow programs, visit www.avowcares.org or call 239-280-2288.

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