The Heather Pick Music Program

A few months ago, I was chatting with my piano teacher Suzanne Newcomb.  She told me that she played piano for the Heather Pick Music Program at the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio

To take a page from the program's website,

Heather Pick was a beloved news anchor for WBNS 10-TV, as well as a wonderful singer and songwriter. In November of 2008, she passed away from breast cancer after a courageous battle, leaving behind a mourning community and a legacy of healing through music.

Suzanne encouraged me to consider playing in the program, and I mulled it over for awhile.  I finally got my courage up to submit and application and a tape of my playing.  It was several weeks later, when I heard from Blake from the Pick program, and he basically told me I had passed.    I was surprised but somewhat excited, as I believed I could make a difference for patients and visitors at the James, by playing my favorite instrument.

The week before my first hour session, I was reviewing my extensive music collection trying to determine what I would play.  As I looked through classical and popular selections, I thought wow, do I know this well enough, or is this appropriate.  I finally concluded that I would play pieces that inspired me, and that I thought were interesting and thoughtful.  I also decided that the audience was cancer victims, their families, and hospital staff, and that I should play with the idea or concept of making a difference.

I found my travel rolling brief case, and began selecting books of music, with pieces I could play fairly well .  I began to tab various pieces, and number them, putting them in the order I wanted to play.  I knew I would be playing for an hour, and came up with about fifty pieces I could play proficiently.  My selection included classical pieces, Broadway show tunes, easy listening songs, and what I like to refer to as standards, pieces my mother loved, because well, Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett sang them. 

The day I arrive at the James Hospital, I was nervous.  As I collected my thoughts and sat down to play, I realized, that I was playing piano in the middle of a busy hospital lobby.  People were walking by with lunch in tow, others were shuffling along while texting on their phones, and some were wheeling their precious loved one in a wheel chair.  

I started to realize that it wasn't going to be a captive audience, so the best I could hope for, would be that someone would recognize a piece and have a simply moment of solitude, while listening and going about their day.  Occasionally someone would sit down in the lobby chairs and listen intently, and even clap.  In fact my third volunteer effort, resulted in a man singing along while I played Natural Women, an Aretha Franklin favorite.

What I truly learned from my first session was that the purpose of playing in this setting is to bring a brief moment of sunshine to an often challenging and dark place.  I've heard physicians start singing as I play the Lion King's Can You Feel the Love Tonight, and sighs, when I play the beautiful music of La La Land.  I've also heard folks tap their pen on a notebook, as I play an orderly Bach prelude.

After my first volunteer hour, someone had filled out a comment card about my playing.  He or she said something like, and I paraphrase....'this place would be a lot happier if someone like this woman played every week.'  That meant so much to me.  I used to play in yearly recitals, but now my playing is honestly confined to after dinner time, while my husband does the dishes.  And during piano lessons, in part, you are playing for an experienced musician, who is critiquing your efforts, to make a difference in the kind of pianist you are, and the kind of pianist you hope to be.

So, I think I will continue my volunteer efforts for awhile.  If you can play the piano, and want to perform, look for a similar type of setting, where any music you play will be appreciated.  Take some time to give of your musical self that you have worked hard to cultivate.  By your time and attentive playing, you will brighten a person's day, change their point of view and perhaps, give someone a moment of peace and relaxation.  

Even as an amateur pianist, your efforts should be shared with others.  It just strengthens the importance of the piano in our everyday lives.  So get out there and practice and play.  And if you are in Columbus, Ohio, look into the Heather Pick Music Program.  I would like to think that Heather Pick would be glad you did.