Music as Therapy

We've all been moved by music at some point in our lives. It isn't hard to imagine the soft sound of a harp as birds flit around a magical forest, or the nostalgia that arises upon listening to favorite songs of days past. Music has the power to move, connect, and recall in ways that we might be able to imagine, but for those who study music, play music, and provide music in therapeutic settings, there is an ever deeper understanding of its potential and power. Join special guest Music Therapist Anya Ismail, MA, MT-BC, this week as she shares her stories, expertise, and ideas about applying music to the end of life experience. Anya works with hospice patients and families at the end of life, and her work goes far beyond providing songs upon request. Providing social interaction, engaging family members in patient care, establishing clinical goals, recognizing signs and symptoms of decline: these are all elements of Anya's deep work with patients. Join us this week to learn all about her work and how we might apply her insights to our own experiences!

Anya Ismail, MA, MT-BC hails from Vermont from an artistic family. Her mother was a ballerina, and she was drawn to opera. Anya’s undergraduate degree in voice is from the Manhattan School of Music. Anya fell in love with the idea of helping people through music and pursued a Master of Arts Degree from  Drexel University in Music Therapy. As a Board Certified Music Therapist, Anya leads the music therapy program from Hospice of Santa Cruz County and oversees a new Music Therapy Intern program. When you meet her, she lights up the room with her enthusiasm! Anya’s commitment to her patients and to the training of future music therapists makes her an invaluable member of any clinical care team.

To see Anya working her magic, copy and paste the following link. Scroll down and click the button that says "Music in Action".  https://www.hospicesantacruz.org/hospice-care/

You will receive an email reminder one day before the event.

Here are the details:

Register for access to the Zoom link for our gathering. Please note the date and time zone.

5pm PST/ 6pm MST/ 7pm CST/ 8pm EST.

How to participate:

1. Choose an option below. 

2. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to the week's resources as well as the Zoom link for the meeting.  

***NOTE: Both the subject and 'sender' of the email confirmation will be "Music as Therapy"***

3. Arrive a few minutes early to ensure all technology is working properly.