Live music sessions streaming on Zoom platform are being delivered to patients and staff at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, aptly called the 'Virtual coffeehouse'.
She Is the Music, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the number of women in the music industry, has partnered with the Alicia Keys Foundation to enhance the virtual performance series at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. This unique collaboration aims to bring music into the hospital setting and incorporate doctors, nurses, and other staff members into the experience.
The virtual coffeehouse concerts, reimagined as a Zoom "virtual coffeehouse" concert series, offer a healing opportunity for all involved. Michelle Arkuski, executive director of She Is the Music, stated that the events are used to give back and provide entertainment to a group not previously served. Gina Kornfeind, the support and bereavement coordinator for the hospital's Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care Program, described the energy of the show as "very peace, love, and understanding."
During these concerts, medical center staff, patients, and their parents tune in through iPads in hospital rooms and desktop computers in staff workstations. The inaugural February showcase featured more than a dozen performers spanning various musical genres, and the hospital's virtual-performance series now includes entertainers from across the country.
The therapeutic effect of these virtual coffeehouse concerts extends beyond the event itself, creating a "therapeutic trickle effect." Bollard and her staff continue to provide music therapy support for patients and families during medical procedures, therapy sessions, emotional expression, and exploration.
Before the pandemic, the hospital's music therapy offerings included the Songs Under the Stars events. These in-person concerts have been supplemented by the virtual coffeehouse concerts, ensuring that the ongoing music therapy services haven't been compromised.
Looking ahead, another virtual coffeehouse event, featuring Aly & AJ, Támar Davis, and Yaniza, is planned for International Women's Day on March 8. For the most current details about such events, it's recommended to check official UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital channels, the She Is the Music website or social media, or event listings closer to International Women's Day.
The virtual coffeehouse concerts provide a special opportunity for everyone involved to see each other in a new light, offering a brightness to bedside visits by connecting everyone through a shared experience. This partnership between She Is the Music and the Alicia Keys Foundation is bringing music and healing to UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital.
- The unique collaboration between She Is the Music and the Alicia Keys Foundation incorporates music into the hospital setting, promoting not only entertainment but also mental health and wellness for staff and patients.
- In addition to the virtual coffeehouse concerts, the hospital's efforts in health-and-wellness and entertainment include the use of music therapy during medical procedures, therapy sessions, emotional expression, and exploration.
- Social media platforms can be valuable resources for staying updated on upcoming virtual coffeehouse events, such as the one planned for International Women's Day featuring Aly & AJ, Támar Davis, and Yaniza.
