Heartbeat Songs: Legacy Work with a Music Therapist Supports Children and Families
Emily’s House is getting “busier” with children in need of advanced end-of-life care, so our music therapist has been doing more Heartbeat Legacy recordings than ever. Some of these legacy recordings include music (composed songs or favourite songs) while others are simply the child’s heartbeat. The heartbeat, Heartbeat Song or Legacy Song recording, is transferred to a push toy bear that plays the audio when squeezed for younger kids. For older children, families are happy to receive a simple digital audio file via email, and to listen to it from a phone or computer. One recent “Heartbeat Song” type project was actually a recording of one child’s snoring. The sound of her snoring was such a comfort for all her family members – from time spent at her bedside – so the recording has become a treasure to them. This recording includes the overlay of a song composition, created with the music therapist, the child’s sisters, and especially her oldest sister.
March is Music Therapy Awareness Month 
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