| Music Therapy at St.
Joseph's Home and Hospice
The fact that music originated from the monastery - when monks used to
raise their voices chanting out praises to glorify God - confirms its
spiritual source and inspiration.
A group of ladies, "The Cecilians" (named after St Cecilia, patron saint
of music) started music therapy at St Joseph's Home & Hospice three
years ago. Their objective is to use music as a means of healing not
only physically, but more importantly, spiritually. There is a generally
a feeling of rejection, loneliness and unworthiness among the aged. The
constant thought of death can cause feelings of anger and despair among
the elderly. "The Cecilians" hope to use music as a means to address and
attend to these needs; to bring hope and to help the aged get in touch
with their inner and spiritual self, thus helping them cope with and
prepare for death.
The Cecilians' first project was to start a percussion band. Its present
recruitment includes the lame, the blind and the deaf! The oldest is 98
and the youngest 75. Initial practices were pure noise and bedlam, but
it created opportunities for volunteers and residents to interact and
get to know each other personally and intimately. Their trial and error
of learning to play the various instruments 'broke the ice' and soon a
bond of trust and affection was forged.
|
|
Last December, St Joseph's Percussion band made its public debut at the
Christmas Light-Up by Parkway Group Healthcare. The concert was a huge
success, but more important was the overall sense of self-worth,
accomplishment and team spirit amongst the elderly.
The Cecilians incorporate prayer, hymns, stretching and vocal exercises,
singing, drama & dance, story-telling, memory-games, etc in their
therapy. Using old familiar songs help the aged to 'walk down memory
lane' and recall and relive past happy memories. They are encouraged to
talk and act out their thoughts and feelings. When a member passes away,
they pray and express their grief by playing the deceased’s favourite
tunes, comforted by the knowledge that the deceased is participating
from heaven. Hence tension and fear is dispelled and replaced by faith
and trust.
`
 "There is still a lot of ground to be covered," maintained the Cecilians.
But they are hopeful and excited that with God's grace and
inspiration from the Holy Spirit, they will be able to harness the
full potential healing power of music in their mission to reach out
to the aged and sick.
- A sharing by Anne Lim,
a volunteer who leads The Cecilians |
