“There are places I’ll remember, all my life though some have changed. Some forever not for better, some have gone and some remain. All these places have their moments, with lovers and friends I still can recall. Some are dead and some are living, in my life I’ve loved them all.”
The Beatles, In My Life (Rubber Soul, 1965)
This week I have been working on a heartbeat recording with the song In My Life (The Beatles). This patient of mine declares this song his theme song. Putting his own rhythm, his own heartbeat, to the song has been a meaningful and cathartic experience for him. Doing these projects with patients amplifies the meaning of “living music” for me–this is why I do the work I do. Here is a photo of the process in action:
I spend the time recording the heartbeat, and then upload it to my recording software, creating a loop. I then layer tracks of songs, guitar playing, singing, and/or speaking and create a final project with the direction of the patient. It’s an honor to be a part of something so creative, beautiful, and personal for these patients who are at the end of their lives. {Heartbeat Recordings are done through my work with Grand Lake Hospice} You can read more about these special legacy projects here.
