Music Lessons with Essential Workers
In partnership with the New England Conservatory (NEC) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), we have designed a music education program matching “teaching fellows” from the Conservatory together with frontline healthcare workers at Mass General.
The NEC/Boston Hope Music fellows provide MGH workers with weekly private lessons and a quiet space for community and learning. The NEC teaching artists also receive targeted support in trauma-informed teaching from an MGH music therapist.
After a successful 6-week pilot in the fall (2020), we are excited to continue our partnership with NEC and MGH into 2021. We anticipate being able to slightly expand the number of healthcare workers we serve.
Engaging in creative activities can help to find positive meaning, promote happiness, develop self-awareness and decrease stress. Music has been shown to have specific healing properties ranging from decreasing stress hormones, blood pressure and heart rate as well as enhancing brain development and resiliency. Art has been used as a complement to medical treatment and can help to process feelings, increase self-esteem, and reduce stress and anxiety.
This partnership is made possible thanks to the efforts of the Boston Hope Music team in collaboration with Tanya Maggi (NEC), Kathy May Tran (MGH), and Lorrie Kubicek (MGH).
