Our Sounds of Healing Program uses music therapy to improve the cognitive, physical, psychological, and social well-being of children facing medical diagnoses and/or experiences that impact their daily lives.
Our Board-Certified Music Therapists use music to create positive experiences that contribute to the overall quality of life and progression of health for infants, children, and their families.
We provide individual and group sessions for infants and children in hospitals, schools, treatment centers, community partner locations, in collaboration with social service organizations and in homes.
Sounds of Healing Programs
Ariana Miller Pediatric Hospital Program
Our Board-Certified music therapists have provided inpatient music therapy at Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego (RCHSD) for over a decade. Services were provided to patients affected by cardiac, neurological, or psychiatric diagnoses, or those at the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
Our music therapists collaborate with nurses, doctors, and other medical staff, including co-treating with physical therapy or during chemotherapy treatments. Each session is designed to meet the patient’s individual goals.
Pre/post session results:
- 51% decrease in pain.
- 78% decrease in anxiety.
- 81% improvement in mood.
- 96% of children fully calmed
Our program with Rady is currently paused due to funding; we hope to resume soon!
In-Home and Private Services
Resounding Joy offers in-home and private virtual music therapy services for children with significant medical challenges. Sessions may be offered at no cost or on a sliding scale, thanks to support of grants and generous funders.
Free or shared cost pediatric services are prioritized for children who:
- Have a medical diagnosis that will last a year or more
- Require ongoing medical supervision
- Have significant motor, emotional, social, developmental, and/or cognitive challenges
- Or have a terminal diagnosis with a life expectancy of under one year
We use customized, evidence-based interventions such as musical instrument play, therapeutic singing, songwriting, and music-assisted relaxation.
We partner and receive referrals from the San Diego Regional Center and Elizabeth Hospice.
Children’s Group Sessions
Resounding Joy’s group sessions provide the benefits of one-on-one music therapy as well as socialization and peer support. We customize our group programs to specific ages and needs.
Current partners:
- California Avenue School
- Friendship School
- ARC Toddlers
- San Diego Regional Center
Most surveyed teachers and parents “strongly agreed” that music therapy increased overall health and well-being and helped children work toward their goals.
We’re currently developing after-school individual and group music instruction workshops at our Music Wellness Center— stay tuned for more details!
Rady Children’s Hospital
Since 2010, we’ve been making a difference in the lives of infants and children at Rady Children’s Hospital through music therapy. We want to acknowledge two individuals who played vital roles in Resounding Joy’s involvement at Rady.
First, Allison Tartari. Allison’s journey began in 2003 when her newborn son fought against a life-threatening blood disorder. Witnessing the transformative power of music therapy in the NICU at Rady Children’s Hospital, Allison advocated for the same treatment for her son, leading to significant improvement. Motivated by this experience, she founded Healing Notes that funded music therapy services at Rady through 2009. The following year, Alison merged her organization with Resounding Joy to extend music therapy services to pediatric patients and families.
Second, we honor the legacy of Ariana Miller, a beloved young musician who touched hearts with her love for music despite battling congenital heart disease. Music brought joy and comfort to Ariana throughout her life, inspiring her family to establish the Ariana Miller Music with Heart Program. Since its inception in 2010, the program has provided thousands of children with cardiac ailments and other illnesses at Rady access to music therapy at no cost. The program is now called the Ariana Miller Pediatric Hospital Program. Read about Ariana and the impact of music therapy in this inspiring article in Delta Sky Magazine.
Ariana Miller was the inspiration for the Heart of a Child Benefit Concerts, the premier showcase of young musical talent in San Diego for 11 years.
The concerts featured a diverse array of talented vocalists and instrumentalists performing a variety of musical genres, some of whom had previously appeared on television, played Carnegie Hall, and won national competitions. Proceeds supported our efforts to provide no-cost music therapy to patients at Rady Children’s Hospital. View the livestream of the final Heart of a Child Concert in 2022.
We are no longer hosting concerts, but we continue to raise funds to support our efforts through the Ariana Miller Pediatric Hospital Program. Donate today.
