Science majors are often stereotyped as bookworms, devoid of any
kind of creativity. The volunteer organization, Heart Sounds and
MEDleys however, has shown the contrary since its inception four
years ago.
Every other week, the small group of medical students converge
to rehearse music which they eventually perform for patients at the
UCLA hospital and for elderly residents living in the retirement
home, Westwood Horizons, during the Christmas season and a couple
of other times throughout the year.
“I think that does surprise people when they do find out
we’re a group of medical students,” said second-year
medical student and Heart Sounds and MEDleys student leader, Vicky
Chang. “Sometimes they say, “˜I didn’t know you
guys could play instruments or you had the time to come out
here.’ It’s just the fact that it’s more of an
artistic thing. Most medical school groups are community service or
science oriented-type things. So it’s working your left
brain, but this group is more working with your right.”
The group is composed of musicians with a wide-range of levels
of experience and style.
They perform a cappella pieces as well as Christmas music,
classical music, Broadway show tunes and Beatles songs. Instruments
include keyboard, flute, violin, guitar and voice, and the group
oftentimes encourages audience participation.
Chang said that some residents at Westwood Horizons have even
played along on harmonica and piano.
“They intermingle very well,” said Liza Garson,
Westwood Horizons Social Services and Activities Coordinator.
The organization has been so successful, that recently an
undergraduate division of the organization (simply called MEDleys)
was formed by third-year Biochemistry student, Virginia Liu, who
strongly believes in the dire need for similar interactive
volunteer programs in hospitals.
“I’ve volunteered at a hospital, and I’ve
noticed the atmosphere could use a little bit more life and emotion
involved in it,” Liu said.
“A few times I’ve noticed while working in the
hospital that all that can help the patients make their day a
little bit better, is just companionship. These are all elderly
patients talking about all these things they couldn’t do,
because they were being committed to their beds in the hospital,
and I figured if they couldn’t go out and experience these
emotions and live their life, then we might as well go there and
bring it to them.”
More specifically, the volunteers believe in the power of music
to heal.
“A lot of your physical being has to do with your
emotional and mental well being,” Liu said. “Being able
to help with that part isn’t something that the hospital
currently has the opportunity to offer, just because they’re
so concerned with the physical aspect of health.”
Many medical studies have proven that music can be therapeutic
and hospitals like the Santa Monica Hospital, with which Liu has
been in communication with, now have musical therapy programs
available.
There is even musical-therapy-assisted labor and delivery
available for pregnant women in hospitals today.
According to the American Music Therapy Association, the idea
that music can be therapeutic has been around since Aristotle and
Plato. And during World War I and World War II, musicians from
various communities began performing for veterans in hospitals
across America.
After seeing the positive effects of musical therapy on
patients, hospitals began hiring musicians to perform for
patients.
Overall, the volunteers of Heart Sounds and MEDleys have found
that their efforts not only benefit the patients and elderly they
perform for, but also themselves.
“The first two years, you spend all your time in the
classroom basically,” Chang said of the medical school
experience. “When I went out with Heart Sounds and MEDleys
for the first time, it was actually the first time I had been on
the different floors of the hospitals and so you get exposure to
that, and it does motivate you and inspire you in a way to be a
better doctor because you do want to help the people that you see
in the hospital.”
The volunteers also get the chance to enjoy playing music and
interact with each other.
“The goal is not only to play music to improve
patients’ lives, but also just to have fun for us,”
Chang said.
For further information on MEDleys, email
VirginiaBLiu@gmail.com.