Paul Simon and Therapeutic Music?

This past Wednesday I had a most incredible opportunity to attend a private House Concert in Washington DC of Paul Simon...YES, of Simon & Garfunkel.  Paul Simon is not only still making music but he sounds as good as ever.  This intimate gathering was a Fundraiser for a Senator who is also friends with Paul Simon.  The home it was held in was lavish, but warm.  It had a Library "to die for".  It also had a beautiful glass Sunroom, with a Steinway Piano..my dream piano.  This Sunroom was where the Concert was held.

After a warm and funny welcome from the home-owner, Senator and Paul Simon...the room grew quiet.

Now, what does any of this have to do with Therapeutic Music???  EVERYTHING!

The music started with the single notes on an Acoustic Guitar...the Intro to "Sound of Silence"...a timeless song with timeless lyrics...just brilliant.  When I heard the strings of his guitar, I could feel this peace come over me.  It wasn't the awe of looking right at Paul Simon a few feet from me, it was the music being played on these strings.  It was the gift of Music.  As the guitar and his voice vibrated throughout the room, I continued to relax and felt a healing right to my soul.  I let go of all my strife, all my anxiety, all the worries of the world....the hungry, the sick, the poor, the angry, the bitter, the homeless, the bullied and those forgotten because they are too small in this great big world.

As the music continued with the vibrations of a cello, a second guitar and voice, I started to take notice of the people in the room with me.  Is it just me that feels this way?  Am I so in-tune,  as a Therapeutic Musician,  that I am the only one aware of this profound peace?  As I looked around the room I realized everyone had the same reaction.  It's true, there was not a face I observed that didn't share the same relaxed facial expressions...body movements taking in every note, every vibrations thrown out at us.  It was one of those special moments in my life when the truth just rang out...."this is what my Patients feel when I play my Harp for them."  These are the same expressions and relaxed bodies that I see when I am observing my Patients...pain turned to peace, loneliness turned to compassion by a warm body next to them.  The vibrations of the Harp Strings..filling their room and their entire bodies right to the cellular level.

Let there be no mistake, this was a "moment" for me....a new understanding of the powerful effects music has on all of us.  It doesn't matter the genre, the simple truth is, music comes into our mind, body and spirit and renews and heals.  By the way,  Paul Simon was awesome on every song and it was a night like no other, and I thank him for showing me the impact of music...what a night.