In addition to improving children’s creativity, music cultivates and improves skill development in children that can benefit them for the rest of their lives.
The positive effects of music in the development of children are overwhelming, so for children in the hospital trying to cope with pain and fear, music is an even more powerful tool.
The Children’s Music Fund has teamed up with Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach’s music therapists to bring “Let’s Jam,” an afternoon of high energy, interactive music, to the patients at Miller Children’s.
On Wednesday, June 1, the Children’s Music Fund and Miller Children’s presented “Let’s Jam!” CMF guest artist 15-year-old Kaile Goh, a LAVA/Universal Republic Records recording artist from Singapore, and Vanya Green, CMF’s Director of Music Therapy and singer/mutli-instrumentalist, will facilitate the afternoon jam. Kaile and her band will be performing on the Giggles Show, a Miller Children’s special, child-oriented show designed just for patients. Vanya will be joining Kaile in the playrooms for a short performance and jam session with Miller Children’s patients and music therapists.
“Not only is music beneficial to help children during their hospitalization, it also plays a part in their ongoing development,” said. Laurel Terreri, music therapist, Miller Children’s. “Listening to music can be very soothing and therapeutic. Patients, their family members, and even the child’s care team have all told me it creates a more relaxed environment for all.”
Music therapy soothes hospitalized children and their families with the healing power of music. Research shows that listening to music lowers blood pressure, promotes a more positive state of mind, reduces stress and anxiety levels and can even help reduce pain through the release of endorphins.
At Miller Children’s, a music therapist, child life specialists, and volunteers all work together to deliver bedside music therapy, group music interactions, hallway performances and an interactive mobile music cart that travels through units and playrooms. However, this is one of the first times that a full “hospital concert” has taken place at Miller Children’s.
“We are thrilled to be working with the music therapists and the Child Life team at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach for ‘Let’s Jam,’” said Raffi Tachdjian, president and founder of Children’s Music Fund.
“Music is a great tool for the development and healing of a child in the hospital. We are looking forward to bringing our artists, instruments and music for a totally awesome jam session with the children at Miller Children’s,” said Tachdjian.
“Our patients are so excited to have Children’s Music Fund and their artists perform at Miller Children’s,” Terreri said. “Music provides a relaxing and enjoyable experience for our patients during a difficult time.”
