Medicinal Music

I t sounds like rain,” says six-year-old Erin Bentevegna, a patient at the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. She is referring to the magical melodies of the harp, which studies have shown to be one of the most soothing musical instruments. Music Therapist Laura Letchworth (shown with Erin at left) performs for anxious children and their parents while they await or undergo stressful procedures. “The music reduces their pain, anxiety, blood pressure, and breathing rates explains Letchworth. “We can actually match the patient’s breathing rate and then slow down the music to make the breathing rate drop.” NYU Medical Center is one of the first hospitals in New York City to add a harp to its music therapy program.