Therapeutic Music Samples

Therapeutic musicians provide live soothing and relaxing music at the bedside. We invite you to to listen to some of the samples below for demonstrations of improvisations. 

Music samples on hammered dulcimer by Amy Lyons, CMCP mentor

 Harp sample by Mary Stevens, CMCP program director, demonstrating improvising on a Christian hymn for a person struggling with their faith, demonstrating how to express different moods during an improvisation.

Samples of improvisations on various instruments can be found on the youtube channel Mary Stevens Musical Meditations. These are all improvisations, examples of what you can do if you just follow where the music leads. These are not intended for use as bedside music, just demonstrations of improvisation possibilities, adapting music into many different moods and styles.  

Below are short samples of adaptations of music into a therapeutic style

Slow tempo, low complexity--Notice the slow tempo and simple accompaniment

Slightly uplifting sound--Notice the gently ascending melodic line

Open Space--Notice the open space where notes are allowed to simply sustain and ring

Somewhat neutral but restful--Notice the general feeling of calm, but fairly constant gentle rocking movement

Restful but stimulating--Notice the use of repeated notes

Reaching out and pulling back--Notice the reach toward a higher note, then the descending line, which pulls back

Example of Bedside Session Presented by Dee Sweeney, CCM