Music is part of us.
It’s there when we’re happy, when we’re sad, or when words fall short. It connects us to ourselves and to each other.
Inside our hospital wards, music therapists Kelsey Passlow, Lani Lawson and Rebecca Holdorf are using music as a powerful tool for healing.
For Rebecca, music is how she understands the world.
“Music is a vehicle for connection, whether it’s to yourself, your community or your environment. It allows people to share parts of themselves in a way that feels authentic,” Rebecca said.
That idea sits at the heart of music therapy. It’s not about being good at music.
Lani said it’s all about being able to feel something and express it.
“Music therapy is a way to connect and create a safe space for expression,” Lani said.
“It’s a language that exists across cultures.”
And it’s not just emotional. Kelsey has noticed the physical impacts music holds.
“Music is deeply linked to memory and emotion. It can help people process experiences, reduce stress, lower heart rate and promote relaxation,” Kelsey said.
It’s used across pain management, sleep, rehabilitation and emotional recovery, helping patients regulate their bodies as much as their minds.
“Music can influence the heart, brain and nervous system,” Lani said.
“It can shift someone out of fight or flight and into a more regulated state.”
For some patients, especially children, that shift is everything.
“It can ease anxiety around procedures and support development,” Rebecca said.
Kelsey supports patients through long-term hospital stays.
“Many arrive withdrawn or low in mood. Afterwards, I often see more energy, improved mood and stronger connection,” she said.
“Being part of this space and witnessing the moments of expression, growth and connection that come from it, is incredibly rewarding.”
At its core, the impact is simple.
“I love helping people feel a little more human,” Rebecca said.
For Lani, the work feels deeply personal.
“I’ve always been a musician, but music therapy felt like my calling,” she said.
“People entrust their deepest thoughts and feelings through song.
“It’s a privilege to hold that space.”
Because sometimes, the most powerful moments aren’t spoken; they’re felt.
Our talented trio collaborated during World Music Therapy Week, creating beautiful sounds of healing together on the piano. Be sure to have a listen.
