THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC
William A. Wisdom

Music--at least banjo music--hath power not only to soothe the savage breast but also to heal the damaged body.

Some years ago a colleague of mine was struck by a car, her head thrown violently against the curb. She survived the accident, but only barely. For months she lay in a coma with severe brain damage. But her friends never gave up on her. They would sit by her bedside in the hospital hour after hour, reading to her, talking to her, caressing her hand. But she seemed to linger as far from consciousness as ever.

Some of them came up with what seemed like it might be a useful approach. They asked me to come in and play my banjo for her, figuring that it would be a pleasant stimulation that might help to focus her attention.

I was pleased to try to help. I brought my banjo to her hospital room, and began to play for her. The effect was miraculous! Within no more than a minute her eyes sprang open and she made the first coherent sounds she'd uttered in almost a year: "GO.....AWAY!!!"


Copyright © 2002, William A. Wisdom