Music Therapy

What is Music Therapy?

"Music Therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals" for Hearts for Hospice (www.musictherapy.org, 2006). A music therapist is not just a music performer, but actually trained in counseling and music. A music therapist creates goals and objectives for their patients and uses music activities and music experiences (listening, composition, improvisation, or playing/singing a familiar song) in order to achieve those goals.

Although music therapists work with various populations (ie. developmentally disabled, autistic, mental disorders, drug abuse, forensic, special education, etc.), when working in the hospice setting, goals for music therapy may include, but are not limited to:

  • Stress management
  • Pain relief
  • Expression of emotion
  • Reminiscence
  • Life Review
  • Breathing control
  • Improved self-esteem
  • Higher social interaction

Possible Goals and Objectives:

Goal: Pain Relief
Objective: Given the music-assisted relaxation, the patient will respond by relating a pain level of five or less (on a scale of 1-10) following the intervention.

Goal: Expression of concerns
Objective: Given the song “Sometimes It’s Hard“ or “the blues,“ the patient will relate stresses that he/she is experiencing and the music therapist will incorporate these concerns into the lyrics of the song. The patient and music therapist will sing about these concerns together.

Goal: Reminiscence
Objective: Given familiar songs sung and played by the music therapist, the patient will respond by relating 2 memories associated with the music.

Goal: Life Review
Objective: The patient and family will contribute memories and thoughts in order to create the lyrics for a song composed by the music therapist.

Music therapy is for the patient as well as the caregiver and family. It is offered free of cost to "Hearts for Hospice” patients. The current music therapist, Emily Sarà, plays guitar and piano and graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Science in music therapy.

Who can participate?

Families and other caregivers are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the music. Nothing is expected from the patient or family. They are simply asked to receive the music, which may last from thirty minutes to one hour, depending on the needs or requests of the patient or the family. The music can support those who are exhausted with the demands of end-of-life care.

What does it cost?

There is no cost to the patient or family for this service.

How do I ask for more information?

Please contact Hearts for hospice or simply make the request to the attending nurse, social worker or chaplain.

Utah County Program (801) 772-0243 Office
Salt Lake City Program (888) 772-0243 Toll-Free
Ogden Program (801) 475-6222 Office
Boise Program (208) 389-2276