Sounds of Healing Notes Pediatric Music Therapy

Music therapy has made the impossible possible.” – Healing Notes parent

Sounds of Healing Notes (Formerly the Ariana Miller Healing Notes Program) serves families with children with significant medical issues in San Diego in hospitals, homes, and at partner sites. These children and youth have a serious illness or condition that requires ongoing medical supervision and diminished quality and/or length of life.

Many of these children cannot participate in or do not have access to traditional music education programs. Studies have reported an association between music and language skills, and a growing body of evidence has pointed to the beneficial effects of musical training on the cognitive development in children. Music therapy supports expression of emotions and ideas through dancing, singing, and music-making. 

Sounds of Healing Notes breaks down barriers to accessibility and offers the benefit of music engagement at a critical point in these children's development, encouraging collaboration, and promoting music as a systems-level solution to improve quality of life. The program addresses clinical goals through evidence-based interventions disguised as musical play. 

Resounding Joy works with community partners to provide these music therapy sessions in safe and nurturing environments, either online, in-home, or at a partner facility. The program also teaches caregivers how to use easy music interventions at home.

The overall goal of this program is for all children and their families to experience the highest possible quality of life, level of functioning, opportunities to celebrate life, and moments of joy. These families often experience financial burdens due to high medical costs and one parent acting as full-time caregiver and unable to work. Some children have multiple diagnoses that may include a wide number of rare diseases, with consequences ranging from amputation to extreme distress.

Funds will support HomeCare in-home sessions and Shine & Sing group sessions.  $5,000 will match partner contributions for up to 100 sessions!