The Healing Power of Music in Spiritual Care

ECS Alum Pastor Andrew Fleishman during Kenshin Taiko drumming as part of the Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration at St. Mark’s Hospital

Spiritual care often conjures images of quiet prayers, thoughtful conversation, or moments of stillness. But sometimes, it speaks loud and clear—through rhythm, movement, and sound. Music has long played a sacred role in healing, offering comfort where words fall short and creating connection across cultures, faiths, and experiences. Within spiritual care, music becomes more than art—it becomes presence, expression, and even prayer.

This truth was powerfully demonstrated last week at St. Mark’s Hospital, where ECS Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) alum Andrew Fleishman—now a pastor at the Japanese Church of Christ—shared Taiko drumming with patients, families, and staff. As a member of Kenshin Taiko, Pastor Fleishman joined in a vibrant performance as part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The booming rhythms and synchronized energy offered more than entertainment—they created sacred space. In that moment, spiritual care wasn’t delivered through a sermon or a scripture reading, but through sound, presence, and cultural celebration.

Pastor Fleishman’s work is a shining example of the diverse ways ECS alumni are bringing their training into the world. As the Spiritual Care & Education Center celebrates 40 years of Clinical Pastoral Education, we are proud to see alums like Andrew using their gifts to uplift others—whether in hospital corridors, faith communities, or through the beat of a drum. It reminds us that spiritual care is not bound by tradition or language. It lives wherever compassion, creativity, and human connection meet.

Music continues to be a powerful tool in chaplaincy—not only for patients but for caregivers and communities. Whether through a meditative harp, a sacred song, or the resonant pulse of Taiko, music opens hearts, eases pain, and reminds us of our shared humanity. As we look to the future of spiritual care, ECS remains committed to nurturing chaplains who bring all of who they are into their ministry—voices, talents, and instruments included.