Musicians from Newman College play music in the corridors and wards of the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Picture: SUPPLIED.
For many people hospitals aren’t the most pleasant of places.
But several volunteers from Melbourne University’s Newman College are bringing a little bit of joy to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Parkville.
As part of Emma O’Brien’s music therapy program, musicians perform in the wards and hallways of the hospital.
Julia Gorton, 21, became involved in the program in April last year after attending a fundraising dinner.
After experiencing the soothing powers music therapy can have on patients, Ms Gorton asked Mrs O’Brien if a group of Newman College musicians could come and play at the hospital.
Ever since, a group of about three to seven musicians play at the hospital each week.
Ms Gorton say the chance to make a difference to a stranger’s day through the smallest of gestures is worth every bit of her time.
“For me it’s my favourite time of the week. It’s really relaxing to just sit and play for an hour with friends,” she said.
“We’ve had people come up to us and say how wonderful it is to hear music in a hospital.
“A lot of the time people look like they’re rushing off somewhere but they’ll slow down a bit and start smiling when they see us playing, and often people will stop and listen for a bit.”
