BY JESSIE WANG, LEAD WRITER (COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL AWARENESS)
We often hear music outside of concert settings – in restaurants, through the streets, and inside shopping centres (now that Christmas is coming up, I’m anticipating my grocery shopping trips to be filled with Christmas carols).
But for Michelle Cripps from Royal Adelaide Hospital’s Centre for Creative Health, music completes the puzzle to improve the quality and experience of healthcare for people in need. The centre has been running its art programs and even an art gallery for a while, now. So when a generous donor gave the hospital a small grand piano last year, Music on the Concourse was created.
We chat with Michelle a year on from the program’s initiation.
Hi Michelle. Lovely to talk to you today. So, what exactly is Music on the Concourse?
Music on the Concourse is a Centre for Creative Health initiative at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital. The Centre for creative Health is responsible for all the arts programs and projects in the new hospital. It sits under Allied Health, and receives its funding from philanthropy through The Hospital Research Foundation and from grants and sponsorship.
Music on the Concourse is built around the donated grand piano in the hospital’s foyer. The donor, now deceased, was a patient at the former hospital and wanted to ensure that there was more than subtitled afternoon television on offer while patients waited! I wholeheartedly agreed.
I knew there was space earmarked as a performance area, which could take a small grand piano, and that it could become the centrepiece around which the centre could develop a comprehensive music program. Twelve months on, and the program involves pianists, flautists, choirs and other musicians sharing their love of music with staff, patients and their families.
Beyond the piano’s donation, why did you wish to start a music program?
I knew that walking into a big, new hospital would be very daunting for patients and their families, also for some staff, and wanted to create a more welcoming atmosphere that would put people at ease and bring a smile to their face. I knew there would be many people waiting – for appointments, to see loved ones, or just needing a break; and that music could provide a pleasant distraction in the hospital setting.
Tell us about the musicians at Music on the Concourse.
The main musicians are the 21 pianists who are rostered on to play the piano each week, contributing to creating a healing environment within the hospital. Many are current or past music professionals including individual pianists, former members of bands, and music teachers.
We also have students from the conservatorium and those for whom piano has been a lifetime passion outside of other work. From jazz to easy listening, from musicals to current pop songs, the musicians play music that is uplifting and wide reaching in appeal.
We are also fortunate to have accomplished musicians who play flute, guitar and the guzheng (a traditional Chinese instrument) as part of the program.
How are the staff and patients also involved with Music on the Concourse?
There are times in the daily roster for patients and staff to play – it is amazing the number of doctors, nurses, and other staff who are pianists. Often, of an evening, patients who are pianists will also come down to the main foyer to play; and there are times when it is used by physio and occupational therapists with patients who are pianists.
What’s been your favourite moment since you started this program?
Seeing the amazement on the faces of visitors and staff as they realise we really do have a grand piano and the pianist is real, the music is not recorded.
How would you like to see the rest of Australia using music to the benefit of people’s health?
There is so much research that has been completed globally showing the benefits of music. I hope as a society in Australia, we not only recognise this but actively engage musicians, music therapists, and others in the music industry to work in collaboration with other professionals to improve health outcomes.
Lastly, have you got any special events coming up?
In December, we have a range of choirs presenting Christmas songs and carols to patients. I love that the choirs ‘tour’ the hospital singing at the bedside and in patient wings.
I am also looking forward to next year when, in collaboration with a number of bands, we will present a special lunch hour program for staff and visitors.
Find out more about this program online.
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