Health & Wellness Initiative

MusicianCorps Health & Wellness is a pilot service initiative that supports the physical, mental, and emotional recovery of patients, veterans, and other populations. Serving in children’s and veterans hospitals, hospice residences and senior homes, the Health & Wellness Initiative uses music therapy to reduce anxiety and stress while providing non-pharmacological management for pain. It also improves patients’ moods and emotional states, enabling them to participate actively in their own treatment.

ONGOING SERVICE

MusicianCorps Health & Wellness provides small group and one-on-one sessions. Currently, MusicianCorps is partnered with:

  • UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital – MusicianCorps serves inpatient and outpatient youth through the Child Life Department including the Marie Wattis School program. Since 2009, a Board Certified Music Therapist and MusicianCorps Mentor has served over 500 patients and family members.
  • San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center - MusicianCorps provides ongoing music therapy to residents of the Community Living Center, a long-term care facility for veterans. A Board Certified Music Therapist works to improve residents' physical, psychological, and psychosocial well-being through one on one and group therapy sessions.
  • Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center - MusicianCorps provides monthly music engagement workshops and performancs serving patients.

TEAM BASED SERVICE

In addition to providing ongoing service, MNS holds frequent, recurring events at hospitals and wellness sites. During these visits, residents and patients participate in music-making activities with MNS staff and volunteers.

MusicianCorps partner sites include:

  • Gift of Love Hospice
  • Vintage Golden Gate Senior Living
  • Palo Alto Veterans Hospital
  • Oceanview Senior Home

TESTIMONIALS

“MusicianCorps continues to be a tremendous asset to our hospital school program. The hospital can be a very daunting place for many children. Sometimes music is the only thing that can bring a smile fo a child's lips during their hospital admission.” 
- Julie Pollman, Child Life Lead Teacher at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco 

“A lot of the patients that don’t usually come out of their rooms came out [for the MusicianCorps event]. I saw their toes tapping, I saw them shaking shakers and maracas, I saw them singing along. It almost brought me to tears because I saw some people that were so touched by the music. It was beyond words. It was incredible.”
- Beth E. Longwell, MT-BC, Palo Alto Veterans Hospital 
“ The addition of MusicianCorps services has enhanced the care delivered to our veterans...[contributing] to recovery and a better quality of life. .”
- Caroline Wyman, Service Chief of Recreation Therapy at Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System