The Hinton Parklander

Hinton musician uses harp for health and healing

One local musician has been using her talents to help people suffering with sickness feel a little bit better. Hinton resident Marilyn Bulger has been playing the harp for nine years and has seen music do wonders through musical therapy. Playing her harp in festivals, she won a scholarship for a course in musical therapy and has since enjoyed helping others with her favourite instrument.

"The technique is often used in palliative care", said Bulger.

Harp therapy has also been used to calm and soothe birthing mothers, autistic children and patients undergoing surgery. "It steadies the heartbeat," she said. "People need less anaesthetic when listening to live music."

The course she took gave her the opportunity to complete her practicum at the San Diego Hospice.

"It's one of the top three teaching hospices in the world," she said. I was really lucky to go there. I was working with people that were in their last weeks of life, sometimes their last hours," she added. One such person she vividly recalls was an elderly man whom the nurses told her was deaf and blind.

"We started playing for him and we put his hands on the harp and he started asking us questions," she said. "Up until then, the nurses thought he was in a catatonic state. The music was sort of a catalyst for his awareness." she added. Bulger said she remembered another dying man whose face was contorted with pain. After playing the harp for him, his face relaxed and he slept peacefully.

"Sharing music with others and comforting people with her instrument are rewards in themselves, said Bulger. That's what I want to do with my harp," said Bulger.

She also played for the families of people suffering with terminal illnesses. "It soothes them too," she said. It's a very calming instrument. It's a pure sound."

Though retirement from teaching music is inevitably in the future, Bulger said she does not plan on giving up playing music at any time. "It feeds my spirit."

"Music has always been a part of my life," she said. "It always will be."