conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

accordions, god and transpersonal psychology

I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life
to tell me what is happiness.
And I went to famous executives who boss the work
of thousands of men.
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile
as though I was trying to fool with them
And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out
along the Desplaines River
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees
with their women and children and a keg of beer
and an accordion.

- Carl Sandburg

So, let's talk about music therapy for a moment. I had an interesting experience yesterday that I thought I'd share. I was invited by one of the other chaplain residents to go with her to a local nursing home to sit in on a music therapy session with one of the hospice patients. I figured that observing would make for a simple introduction to the art and would not push me around too much. It ended up being a very different experience than I imagined.

"Abigail" has dementia and is dying. She spends a lot of time in a "transpersonal" space. This is fairly typical of people who are in the late stages of dementia. She sees people where you and I perceive none. She is in her own memories. Shades appear to her and are real. Music therapy is a means of entering that space with her.

Sue, the other chaplain, introduced me to Laura, the hospice music therapist. I shared with her some of my thinking and how I was trying (struggling really) to integrate music into my pastoral ministry at the hospital. When I was done filling her in on the whole thing she smiled and declared, "You need to be a music therapist."

Yay.

I went into the room with Laura Sue. I was introduced to Abigail who was lying on her bed with a severe headache. Laura had brought some hymns to sing for her. I thought I was going to observe, but Laura suggested we all sing. "On Eagle's Wings" is one of my favorites, so I agreed. Besides, it is just a hymn or two, right? "No big deal." I thought, " I can do this."

Sue and Laura have developed this way of reading to Abigail that she seems to respond to. Sue reads from scripture or the Book of Common Prayer while Laura improvises on the harp (A small Irish harp is a regular tool of the music therapists I have met.). It was beautiful. Laura changed her tempo with the rate of Abigale's breathing. This process is called "entrainment." Simply, it allows the therapist to join the patient at their emotional/stress level. There are other ways of doing this that we chaplains are exploring, but this is the first time I have seen such a deep entraining before. I will have to remember how she did it. I'll write more on entrainment some other time.

While Sue was reading, Laura improvised a simple hummed melody over the harp's music. At this point I have been sucked in to the space and timing of it all. I was relaxed and willing to go wherever Laura needed me to go. Darn harp and its wicked way with me. I was an easy mark, I know ("Easy like Sunday morning" does apply to me after all, Susie.). I find myself spontaneously improvising counter-melodies and harmonies with Laura's music. Laura nodded her approval and smiled.

We did this for an hour, humming, listening; Laura would sometimes stop humming and ask Abigail who was in the room with us. We were introduced to Jenny, someone from Abigail's past. The headache lessened. Sue was wonderful, simply holding hands with her and stroking her arm. Abigail is very much alone. Our presence, I hope, was some solace to her. Laura did a great job of leading Abigail through her visit with Jenny and the others. I do not know much about transpersonal psychology, but it was very interesting to witness. Unfinished business does indeed find us, even when we are seemingly lost to the world.

Our session ended when the hospice nurses came in to take Abigail to lunch. Laura welcomed me to my first experience with transpersonal psychology and commended me on my willingness to improvise along with her. I was a little embarrassed at my own forwardness, but thanked her. Then she and Sue dropped the bomb, "So, next Monday good for you to do this again?" What? Again? Hello, baby steps...hello! But there I was saying, "Yes." Laura said she would bring her guitar with her and we could play both the harp and guitar for Abigail. The more richness we can add to the music, the more likely Abigail can articulate her emotions and let the music help her deal with whatever/whomever is visiting her. Unreal. Next Monday, I will help out again.

Wow. I will be contacting the hospital's therapist to let her know what is happening and ask for her guidance as well. It felt so good to help out with the session. It felt right somehow. This is a great affirmation and encouragement to me that I may be on the right path with my ministry in the hospital, as a musician and pastor. This skill could prove invaluable in church work. I am stunned by my own willingness to continue and I feel a little stupid.

Of course I was going to play along or sing along if given the opportunity. Who was I kidding? No one but myself. It was so obvious to me once I started humming. Duh. Oy. Sheesh. What else was I gonna do? Was I really just going to sit there? No. Not a chance in hell. So, there you go, gang, my first time out and I was caught singing. I am a happy camper. I'll keep writing about this whole process. I think it will be my yearlong project to simply see how music therapy can be a useful part of my ministry in the hospital. It makes sense to me now...or at least more sense to me now.

Incredible.

Posted by tripp at November 23, 2004 08:48 AM