Music Therapy at Victoria Hospice
Music is what feelings sound like. That’s how Maryann Burrows thinks about it. As the music therapist at Victoria Hospice, Maryann’s job is to harness the emotional and neurological power of music. To break it down to its core elements, and administer it to meet her patients’ needs, whether emotional or physical.
A patient’s sharp pain may be best reflected by the sound of violins, while low drums may be just the right anecdote for a dull ache.
Music therapy is one of the emotional and spiritual supports offered at Victoria Hospice. It can reduce anxiety and perceptions of pain. It can also help patients process emotion.
“Some things are just unspeakable,” explains Maryann. In those moments, music can come in and offer an indirect, gentle way in.
At Victoria Hospice, Maryann aims to capture her patient’s feeling through music, reflect it back to them, and work with it. Sometimes it’s joy, beauty, and humour. But other times, it may be pain, fear, or denial.
“I can verbally tell you that what you’re going through is valid, but music can give this message like a warm blanket wrapping its comfort and care around you like nothing else can. And once we validate whatever the feeling is, we can transform it into something new, towards healing.”
Music therapy can play a role as someone moves closer to death and their body begins to shut down. If shortness of breath occurs, Maryann provides a steady, gentle beat. It gives the body’s rhythms the support they need to naturally align, regulating breath, heartrate, and blood pressure while calming the nervous system, making the physical process of dying more comfortable.
“Music has saved me a few different times,” she says. “It is so effective, and so powerful. I want to connect people with that and help them feel resolved as they complete their lives and feel ready to transition to whatever comes next.”
Music therapy at Victoria Hospice is just one of the many vital programs made possible thanks to the generosity of legacy donors and community partners.