Therapists Use Music as Powerful Medicine

临床医学家用音乐作为重要药方

Jan Stouffer: Hello friends, my name is Jan. We're gonna make music.

A music therapy class is beginning at Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Musician and therapist Jan Stouffer plays guitar while greeting four kids from the cancer unit, who range in age from 10 months to 11 years.

The children sit in a semi-circle facing Ms. Stouffer, surrounded by an array of drums, bells, tambourines, maracas and other musical instruments.

Jan Stouffer: Do you want the frog shaker or the bear tambourine or would you like a drum, a drum, which one would you like? The really big one, or a flat one?

 A little boy: The really big one.

Jan Stouffer: I thought so.

These children spend most of their time alone in sterile hospital rooms. Ms. Stouffer says being with other kids in a class like this eases stress while helping them get stronger, more active and more expressive.

Jan Stouffer: I provide a lot of activities for them to engage in self expression, to share their ideas, coming up with lyrics to songs…that type of thing.

While it may seem like this classes are loosely organized, the therapist says just the opposite is true.

Jan Stouffer: The structure of the music activities and the planning that goes into what music you're going to use and how you're going to use it --and that's what differentiates music therapy from performance, entertainment, recreational music, because we have very clearly defined goals where we're using specific music in a very specific manner to work on their goals. Like I decided I am going to do a sticking activity and included opportunities for the children to play the sticks in different directions at different heights relation to their body in order to include strengthening and physical conditioning.

While much of her therapy in the hospital is done individually in patients' rooms, MS. Stouffer says this weekly group session is special because it keeps the kids involved and attentive.

MS. Stouffer: Into be solo. We are cool. OK? So listen carefully to what instrument I call for and just that one plays. Ready? Here we go. We are great musicians, we play everyday. People come from miles away just to hear us play . . . the cabaca!

11-year-old Caitlin joins the group whenever she is able. Smiling broadly on her baseball cap, she sings and plays music on her wheel-chair, seemingly oblivious to the clear plastic tube running from her arm to an IV stand.

Caitlin says this is a nice change from her usual hospital routine.

Caitlin: I like playing the musical instruments and everything. It's a lot of fun. I like the drums, personally. I feel like I get a little more energy.

Family members are welcome to join the one-hour sessions. Caitlin's mother, Darlene, often does.

Darlene: I enjoy it. I love to see the difference from the arrival until the time they leave. You see the big difference in their faces. They light up while they're singing. It kind of takes them away from their pain and suffering.

Jan Stouffer is one of about 5,000 music therapists, bringing their special kind of medicine to rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes, senior centers and schools throughout the United States.

For VOA news now, I’m Mary Saner, in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

注释：

array [E5rei] n. 排列，编队

tambourine [7tAmbE5ri:n] n. 小手鼓

maraca [mE5rB:kE] n. 沙球(一种打击乐器)

sterile [5sterail] adj. 消过毒的

engage in v. 使从事于，参加

therapist [5WerEpist] n. 临床医学家

recreational [9rekri5eiFEnEl] adj. 休养的，娱乐的

rehabilitation [5ri:(h)E7bili5teiFEn] n. 复原，康复

nursing home n. 疗养院