Grace Notes: Reflections on the Harp and Healing - Softcover

Briggs, Tami

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0971982201 ISBN 13: 9780971982208

Publisher: Musical Reflections Pr, 2002

Synopsis

Grace Notes is a book about Tami Briggs most profound and deeply spiritual experiences playing the harp at the hospital and hospice bedside. Having facilitated and witnessed hundreds of harp therapy "treatments," Tami s anecdotal stories detail many dramatic accounts of using harp music as a complementary care modality. An inspirational journey into the world of comfort care, the book poignantly tells of the harp s healing properties. The stories, selected because of their powerful impact, illustrate music s role in the healing process. Ms. Briggs weaves her personal experiences and clinical training together to: Define harp therapy. Explain the harp s unique healing qualities. Discuss research on the effectiveness of music and its benefits. Show how music triggers memories and elicits emotional responses. Suggest musical applications to optimize your well-being. Describe how the harp can be used to create sacred space, facilitating a healing experience. Detail how the harp can bring intimacy, depth, and tenderness to the sacred experience of dying. An enclosed CD highlights the music that is referred to throughout Grace Notes.

About this title

About the Author

Tami Briggs, founding principal of Musical Reflections, Inc., is a therapeutic harpist, composer, recording artist, and national speaker. She has played the harp at the bedside of hundreds of hospital and hospice patients, using her musical experience and her clinical training to address the immediate needs of the patient, the patient's loved ones, and the professional staff. Tami has completed a scientific research study measuring the benefits of live harp music on oncology patients.

A dynamic facilitator and presenter, she works with both large and small groups educating them about the healing properties of harp and therapeutic music. She has completed 12 CDs; Grace Notes: Reflections on the Harp and Healing is her first book, which also includes a CD.

From the Back Cover

same as description

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Denise (from Chapter 3: The Art and Science) Denise was a 25-year-old woman in a coma from attempting suicide with an overdose of anti-depressant drugs. As I set up my harp, Denise's nurse moved beside her and tried to get her to wake up. Denise's lack of response was typical of her two-week hospital stay. I began playing and the tension began slightly melting out of the room. After 15 minutes of playing, Denise lifted her head off the pillow and turned it toward the music. Further, the nurse commented that her vital signs had improved: her heart rate decreased from 78 to 69. Denise's mother said, "This is the only positive sign we have seen since she was admitted to the hospital."

Melissa (from Chapter 5: Music and Emotions) Melissa was 28 years old. She had brain cancer and the cancer had spread so much, the doctors could no longer operate. As I walked onto the surgical intensive care unit, her dad informed me the medical staff were going to withdraw her from the ventilator later that afternoon. I set up my instrument and began playing softly. Something beautiful was happening in the room. There was an incredible feeling of love -- love coming from every person, spreading into every part of the room. Instinctively, those present knew to support and care and attend to each other and to Melissa at this most painful, yet beautiful, time.

About 15 minutes later, Melissa's husband came into the love-filled room. He was visibly touched by the beautiful feeling. He buried his face in Melissa's pillow and almost crawled into bed with her as he, too, said good-bye. Through my own tears, I continued to play. Melissa looked relaxed, calm, peaceful, content. She was filled with love and radiated "all is well with me." Everything (medicine, prayers, speaking, and touching) that could be done had been done. Music was the final gift, perhaps touching her where nothing else could and giving her family comfort seeing her in such peace and love during her last minutes. The music softened the environment and helped create a sacred space where love, in its most beautiful earthly form, was present.

Gladys (from Chapter 6: Spirituality) Gladys had made a miraculous recovery and had progressed enough to be transferred from intensive care to a rehabilitation hospital. As I set up my harp, Gladys said, "I don't deserve this, but nevertheless, I am going to thoroughly enjoy it!" I encouraged her to relax and just go into the music and allow it to take her wherever she needed to go.

As soon as I started playing, Gladys laid down and shut her eyes. A gentle smile formed on her lips as she carefully removed her oxygen line. In her own way, she was making a statement: "I do not want to be encumbered while I have this experience." A few minutes later, she lifted her hands and they began gently swaying in the air to the beat of the music. And the longer I played, the bigger her hand movements became, until her arms and hands were making huge, sweeping motions. It was as if her whole body was dancing through her arms and hands. The circle of connection was between the rhythm of the music and the beautiful movement of her arms and hands flowing through the air. I sensed she was on a different plane, taking a spiritual journey.

As the time neared to end this session, I slowed and quieted the music, leaving long moments of silence between songs. Gladys's movements became smaller until they diminished; she lay very still. Eventually, the room was perfectly silent. After a long pause, she said softly, "I just saw God. And I saw angels."

Edition details

• Publisher: Musical Reflections Pr
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0971982201
• ISBN 13: 9780971982208
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 100