Live music at the bedside and in groups has been shown to effectively help with pain control, physical comfort and relaxation, and provide palliative care in times of transition.

Certified Music Practitioners use the inherent qualities of live acoustic music to create a healing environment that meets the immediate needs of the patient such as anxiety, pain, loneliness, impaired memory, or end of life transition.

Karen Johnson, C.M.P., is a professional clarinetist, and instructor for Music for Healing and Transition Program (www.mhtp.org) a national certification course for practitioners. She also trains and works with retired racing greyhounds in the field of therapeutic/healing music. The combination of music and dogs is useful for many people, especially those in nursing homes. Through sessions offered to individuals or community groups, the music and dogs help to alleviate pain, increase movement, stimulate memory and communication and encourage emotional expression. A session of therapeutic music and dogs combines music drawn from American Songbook, jazz, folk, ethnic and spirituals played on clarinet and one to one interaction with the greyhounds.

To err is human... but to forgive, canine!

Clarinetherapy was established in 1999, and currently serves nursing homes throughout the N.H. seacoast, Manchester and Concord areas and St. Joseph's Hospital in Nashua, N.H.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

call: 603-436-8742
email: info@clarinet-therapy.com
write: Karen Johnson, 455 South Street, Portsmouth, N.H. 03801

LINKS WORTH VISITING

Stowe Weekend of Hope -- A weekend retreat for cancer patients/survivors. See also Pink Cope Pink Hope here.

Click here to visit the Music for Healing and Transition Program (MHTP).

Gerotranscendence -- A shift in meta perspective, from a materialistic and rational view of the world to a more cosmic and transcendent one, normally accompanied by an increase in life satisfaction.

From Age-ing to Sage-ing -- The anticipated fulfillment of life, not its inevitable decline. "Elders will bring us into this more compassionate, intuitive, and caring era." -- Library Journal

Pet Photography by Sandra Mallalieu -- Gorgeous work!

Benefits of Pet Therapy -- Does it really work?

Adoring Pets -- More on how pets help us.

SeacoastNH.com -- A really fun and well-written site.

Ruth Cunningham -- Provides training and seminars in sound healing, vocal recordings, and vocal instruction.