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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – As we look ahead to celebrating our country’s 250th anniversary, we know America would not be the same without its music, especially Memphis music.
So, we’re introducing you to a group of musicians tapping into the healing power of song.
Musician Jim Keller and guide Bob Stewart know music soothes the soul, and music is how they bring a dose of joy to some of the tiniest of patients at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis.
Musician Jim Keller and guide Bob Stewart play for patient at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital(Action News 5)
“Just watching the kids is so uplifting. It’s heartwarming because you see the joy of the music in their heart,” says singer and guitar-toting Jim.
Jim and Bob are part of a nationwide organization called “Musicians On Call,” bringing the healing power of music to patients’ hospital rooms.
“But, just seeing the smiles, you know, because being in the hospital is a long, lonely procedure and just getting a little smile …” makes Bob’s day. He generally makes the introductions to patients, knocking on hospital room doors to ask if they would like to hear a song from Jim.
Now headquartered in Nashville, “Musicians On Call” actually started in New York City 26 years ago after the group’s founders brought in a musician to a local hospital as a “thank you” for treating a loved one battling cancer.
Musician Jim Keller and guide Bob Stewart play for patient at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital(Action News 5)
According to Melinda LaFollette, M.O.C.’s Director of Public Relations and Events, “They saw that it brought so much joy into the hospital environment that they wanted to do it some more. So they started bringing more musicians in, and they saw that it brought so much joy into the hospital environment that they wanted to do it some more. So they started bringing more musicians in.”
And soon, musicians started going room-to-room to reach those too sick to leave their beds. Now, “Musicians On Call” operates in about 70 different hospitals coast-to-coast.
As for the healing properties of music, Melinda points out, “There are studies that have proven that music can help, you know, alleviate pain and lower blood pressure, help patients manage stress.”
Musician Jim Keller and guide Bob Stewart(Action News 5)
Studies also show music helps the caregiver, as well.
Take Ava Rankin, whose 5-year-old daughter Amari requires frequent hospital stays that sometimes last weeks or months at a time.
“To be honest, give me a little something to look forward to from being here a while and just something different than just sitting here. I never wanted her to just sit here and just watch TV. I wanted her to experience different things. And music therapy has been great,” Ava explained.
Jim does take limited requests, and after learning that patient Emma Huntley, another frequent Le Bonheur patient since birth, loves The Beatles, he played “Let It Be” for her in her hospital room.
Emma says she, too, looks forward to the hospital room musical visits.
“It makes me feel appreciated and special. Like really special, honestly,” the 18-year-old enthused.
Emma Huntley, 18-year-old Le Bonheur patient(Action News 5)
But, of the two dozen hospitals and primary care medical facilities in the Memphis-metro area, you’ll only find “Musicians On Call” at Le Bonheur.
And, in a city that claims to be “Home of the Blues” and the “Birthplace of Rock and Roll,” there are only two volunteers within the entire metro.
“We’re the only two, we’ve been doing it since 2018,” bemoaned Jim, adding, “We are looking for more volunteers, musicians and guides, and we would love to have some more people here. We’d love to go into other hospitals in the city.”
Bob added, “We need you. We need more, more volunteers because the children, the children need you. The hospital needs you. And it’s a wonderful, rewarding volunteer service that you can do for the Memphis area and the hospital.”
If you’re interested in learning more or becoming a Musician On Call, just know you must be 18 years or older to volunteer for the organization. To sign up, click on this link.
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