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Complementary and Integrative Medicine: Music Therapy

What Is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based practice of using music intervention to address individualized goals in a therapeutic relationship. It may help patients to alleviate physical, psychological, emotional, and social stresses caused by cancer. Music therapy provides an opportunity to help patients and their caregivers improve physical and emotional well-being and quality of life.

Music therapy can help cancer patients:

  • Reduce anxiety and stress
  • Reduce physical symptoms such as pain and nausea
  • Engage in self-expression
  • Increase feelings of relaxation
  • Improve quality of life

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise

Ridley-Tree Cancer Center's Music Therapists have created this music guided progressive relaxation exercise to help patients and caregivers reduce stress and improve relaxation. In progressive muscle relaxation, you tense a group of muscles as you breathe in, and you relax them as you breathe out.

Music Therapy Program

The Ridley-Tree Cancer Center Elly Nadel Music Therapy Program provides music therapy services and support to cancer patients, family members and loved ones in a way that meets physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs in a one-on-one or group setting. The Elly Nadel Music Therapy program has been made possible through the generous support of philanthropist Julie Nadel and her late husband Jack in memory of Elly Nadel. 

Programs are offered free-of-charge. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all classes are currently being offered online via Zoom. For more information or to register, see the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center Calendar or call (805) 879-5654. 

A Path to Serenity: Relaxation Time with Sound

Our music therapist, Saiping Lin will offer a relaxation class, using the HAPI drum (a melodic and resonant percussion instrument), to help you relax and reduce stress with peaceful and soothing sounds.

Schedule: Tuesdays, 10:30am - 11:30am

Sing Together From Home

Let's sing together! Join our music therapist for a fun singing class to help make connections and keep active while staying at home.

Schedule: Tuesdays, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Musical Instrument Lending Program

Bring the benefits of music therapy into your home! The Cancer Resource Library has a variety of musical instruments available for checkout. The collection includes singing bowls, egg shakers, an ocean drum, ukulele, percussion kit and more! Instruments can be borrowed for four weeks at a time.

For more information, call (805) 879-5648

Videos

Music Therapy

An introduction to the Elly Nadel Music Therapy Program at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center which provides music therapy services and support to cancer patients, family members and loved ones. 

Materials at the Resource Library

These are just a few highlights from the Resource Library collection. Please click here to search our online catalog. For more information about the Resource Library and how to borrow materials, visit our website. 

Resources provided by the Cancer Resource Library are for informational purposes only. The information in these materials may or may not apply to your specific condition, and should not be construed as medical advice. We strongly encourage you to consult your healthcare provider to review anything you learn through these resources.

Ridley-Tree Cancer Center provides comprehensive cancer treatment and support programs for patients and families. We are recognized for medical excellence, a strong clinical research program, and a multidisciplinary approach to cancer prevention.

Cancer Resource Library | 540 West Pueblo Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 | (805) 563-5807 | library@ridleytreecc.org | www.ridleytreecc.org