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Neural Nostalgia
My mom, grandmother, and I are alike in many ways: our dark hair, our light eyes, our penchant for coffee ice cream, our fondness of...
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WE BRING
MUSIC
WHERE PEOPLE NEED IT MOST
Mission
Grace Notes is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing live music to cancer centers and nursing homes as a form of therapy to reduce anxiety and loneliness.
From the founer
FROM THE FOUNDER
For as long as I can remember, music has played an essential role in my life and in my sense of personal well-being. In times of frustration or sadness, my mother would sing to me and I would find myself immediately soothed. As I grew older, I began to play the viola and - much later - the harp. I always enjoyed performing for others, whether in front of a concert audience or simply for my grandparents in the living room. Even as a child, I recognized that music had the power to transport people to a place away from their daily troubles. I hope that Grace Notes will bring comfort, connection, and the renewal of spirit to those in need of healing.
- Ava Tillman Schwartz
WHAT WE DO
Facing serious illness, a cancer diagnosis, or end-of-life issues can bring a tremendous amount of distress. Music can play an important role in reducing stress associated with procedures, treatments, and loneliness.
Studies have demonstrated the effect of listening to music on reducing cortisol levels and decreasing pain, in some cases even more effectively than prescription medication. However, music is not commonly a part of patients’ experiences when they undergo anxiety-provoking treatments. Experiencing music allows patients to reconnect with the healthy parts of themselves and is a visceral reminder that they are more than their illness.
Grace Notes brings music to places where people need it the most. Our mission is to perform live music for patients and their family members in cancer centers, hospice facilities, and nursing homes, to help alleviate stress, provide comfort, and demonstrate the power of music to heal and transform. Our organization also provides the opportunity for musicians to meaningfully enhance the lives of others.
Grace Notes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in the state of Massachusetts.
MEET THE TEAM
FEATURED BLOG POSTS
At Grace Notes, we provide live music to patients and their family members in cancer centers, hospice facilities, and nursing homes. We also spend time learning about music’s role in therapy, rehabilitation, and well-being. In our blog section, we write articles that cover many different topics, including music thanatology (also known as “prescriptive music,” which is used in palliative care), meditation, fractal music, and more. We even have a great playlist featuring music from around the world for stress relief. Read more on our blog page!
PODCAST EPISODES
Hosted by Ava Tillman-Schwartz, Grace Notes is the companion podcast to the nonprofit organization. We explore the intersection between music, culture, and cognitive science with the goal of promoting cultural understanding and personal wellbeing. Click below to view our full podcast feed!
RESOURCES
Grace Notes’ work lies at the intersection between music therapy and ethnomusicology. We encourage you to explore these perhaps unfamiliar fields by delving into the resources compiled below. It is our hope that, by understanding the cognition underlying the profoundly healing effects of musical traditions from around the world, we will promote cultural understanding and personal wellbeing. Click below to view our resources page!
Gallery
GALLERY
Over the last four years, Grace Notes has provided many different live music experiences, especially at North Hill, a local nursing home, as well as the Mass General Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. During the pandemic, I (Ava) made connections with program directors at these facilities, and when it became safe to give masked, socially distanced performances, we visited these facilities to provide their patients with live music. Here are some videos of a few of our performances.
Contact us
GET IN TOUCH
Please reach out to us if you would like to invite us to your community!
Ph: (339) 222-4817
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