Music’s Profound Capacity to Heal
Chaplains Emily Douglas and Allison Basilius perform Ben Platt’s “Grow as We Go” at the Timpanogos Regional Hospital Pride Service.
Music holds extraordinary power in the hands of a compassionate caregiver. Across hospitals and senior communities served by ECS chaplains, music becomes more than sound—it can be a healing presence during some of life’s most difficult times. Whether calming patients in isolation or easing the transition at life’s end, ECS chaplains use music to foster peace, connection, and healing.
Today, we share stories from across the ECS family that testify to music’s sacred role in spiritual care—for patients, families, and staff alike.
The Healing Harp
Mary Norton is a Certified Therapeutic Musician with ECS at St. Mark’s Hospital, offering a remarkable ministry of sound each week. Carrying a portable harp from unit to unit, she plays gentle, improvisational melodies designed not to be recognized but to be felt.
“I play quiet, soothing music that brings healing,” Mary says. “Patients feel the vibrations from the harp, which calms their bodies and eases their anxiety. I watch moods shift and peace return.”
Hospital staff also happily anticipate music’s arrival: “When I walk onto a unit, I’m greeted with smiles and comments like, ‘Where have you been? We’ve missed you!’”
Mary’s music brings presence, not performance. Her gift of music has become an indispensable part of the ECS Spiritual Care team.
Songs of Faith and Comfort
At Lakeview Hospital, Chaplain Shannon Burke was asked to visit a patient in his final hours. The patient’s son, unable to be present, told Shannon of his father’s deep Baptist faith. Fortunately, Shannon’s own grandmother had passed down a love for Baptist hymns—and Shannon had scanned many into her phone.
As the patient slowly slipped away, Shannon sang I Surrender All and The Unclouded Day, familiar songs of faith and comfort. The sacredness of the moment was palpable.
Afterward, the patient’s son expressed deep gratitude. Knowing his father passed surrounded by the hymns of his tradition and a loving presence brought him comfort and peace.
Country Roads
During a call to the Emergency Department at Timpanogos Regional Hospital, CPE Chaplain Intern Abigail Anderson brought along her ukulele. The patient she met loved country music, so Abigail sang familiar songs by American Singer-Songwriters Hank Williams, Jr. and John Denver, along with the much-loved favorite hymn, Amazing Grace.
As Chaplain Abigail played, the patient relaxed and became visibly more cheerful. “She calmed down, was happier, and able to focus on our conversation,” Chaplain Abigail recalls. The music helped the patient gain clarity and make important care decisions.
“Music enlivens the spirit–I’ve seen it help confused patients become more centered and aware.” -Chaplain Intern Abigail Anderson
Therapeutic Beats
At a staff support session at Lakeview Hospital, ECS Lead Chaplain Manager Brad Baird partnered with Trauma Manager Shannon Seibt to offer something not usually seen in the hospital setting—drums. After time spent sharing and processing emotions, Chaplain Brad led the team in a collective drumming experience, with rhythms ranging from freestyle to African-influenced patterns.
“The whole group embraced the drums,” Chaplain Baird reflects. “They absorbed the energy, made the rhythms their own, and found joy in the act of creation.”
During Safety Huddle the following day, the ICU Director spoke of how therapeutic and healing the experience had been—not just for her staff, but for her soul.
