Another excellent Harp and Instrument maker.

I just added the link for MusicMakers who offer wonderful kits to make harps, hammered dulcimers, and a whole Santa's sleigh of other musical kits, along with fully built instruments as well

My joy with them is due to my purchasing one of the Reverie Harps which I use at our local hospital on the psychiatric unit's recreational therapy group. The harp never fails to bring some peace, wonderment as how it sounds, sometimes tears and mostly delight.

Well worth a visit...go there!

Blessings,

Duncan

A wee bit of Christmas/Yule Music

I finally remembered to update the Harp Music player with some music for the Christmas and Yule season.
May it bring a bit of joy and comfort during this busy time.

Warmly,

Duncan

Excellent article about Music Thanatology.

Here is a link to an article about Music Thanatology in the lastest issue of Spirituality & Health that I think you will find both informative and hopeful in what M-T's (Music Thanatologists) bring to the bedside of those in Palliative Care and in Hospice.

Playing on Heartstrings

As you know, this is dear to my heart and I rejoice when more information is shared, especially in a national magazine.

Stay warm, it's about 5 degrees here between the temperature and the 35-45 mile an hour winds.

Blessings,

Duncan

Music Thanatology video and a Vigil.

I am delighted to have added an excellent video to the blog about Music Thanatology, especially since the lovely harper in the video page link is my harp teacher from many years and is a dear friend with whom I still meet and discuss harp, music, and more mundane matter. 

Speaking of music and dying,  I was asked by a chaplain on Thursday to play for someone who was dying in the ED and had no family or friends to keep the patient company during the transitus (movement/change) from this life to the next.

I arrived at the ED and was directed to a small room where a nurse was monitoring the patient's vitals. I introduced myself and sat so I could be near the end of the gurney so I could observe both the patient and the monitors.

The patient was restless and breathing with a mask, the head moving from side to side.
I began to play softly, choosing some celtic slow laments and lullabies while keeping a watch for where the patient would take me next. After about 15 minutes of playing, the nurse and I noted the vitals beginning to drop and the patient was less restless. I slowed my playing even more and began to find notes that I believed would allow more rest and comfort for the patient....not tunes per se, but notes of peace. 

After 30 minutes or so, the vitals were near to 0, and the patient gave a deep sigh. The nurse checked her pulse and heart, then noted the time of death in her log.
I continued to play for another few minutes for the soul's journey and then thanked the staff for having me be with her.

Looking back, I now know I was in two places at the same time. One was the "real" world of the ED,  the sounds of the hustle and bustle of  nurses and doctors, bells and pings of monitors, x-ray machines being moved about and anxious relatives watching and pacing.

However, I also went to a deeper and sacred place with the patient as I kept vigil where time was both immediate and forever. Keeping watch when transitus is close, is truly in a different place than when I play by the bedside of someone who will usually be up and about in some day's time. 

All I can say is that for me, this is "holy" work and I am humbled to be asked to bring what comfort the music and harp can provide. They provide the true comfort, I am but an assistant to the real grace of the power of music. 

Blessings and peace to you this first of December.

Working through difficulty.

Since I last posted on October 6th, life has taken an interesting turn.
I went to the hospital to play the harp as usual on October 15th and had a good day bringing music to the floors.
The next day I came down with what I thought was the flu (headache, body aches, etc.). but by the weekend when there was no fever, but increased fatigue and pain in the joints, hands and so forth, I figured something else was going on.
To make a long story shorter, I probably have some sort of auto-immune disorder and/or arthritis. Could be lupus, CFS, fibromyalgia, etc. Waiting for an appointment with a specialist for more testing.

What is the most "painful" is having so much less energy to do anything--including practicing/playing the harp--and not finding the strength to go back to the hospital.
For me, at least, using the harp to help heal/comfort patients and staff is a "calling" to a form of service and not being able to do this is very discouraging.

I know the circle will turn and in the words of Julian of Norwich: "And all shall be well...".

I will try and post more often, just to keep my blog alive if for no other reason!

By the way, the time of the Winter Solstice is GMT as the widget site does not include Pacific Standard time.

Blessings to all.

Blogging problems.

I have had to download a new browser (Opera) in order to have the Blog allow me to post. Both Firefox and PaleMoon (which is otherwise great) no long open the Blog with the header bar and options to modify, etc.

It's been a busy 6 weeks, a new harp and a presentation about Harp Therapy to the top administrators and managers of our local hospital (where we play) on the 30th of September.

We met in the bottom floor of a new community center on a camp near Bellingham and Gail and I had about 15 attendees. 

Good response from all the folks who were there and I hope there will be more chances to share with the top management the magic of the harp.

Luna, and another Harp Therapy Program listing.

I have just added a link for Bedside Harp. If you are in the East Coast area, do take a look.

And here is Luna exploring the Coral Honeysuckle planter, I couldn't resist taking a picture.

Happy First day of September, here in the Pacific Northwest it is a lovely and sunny day.