The Willé family's journey in the NICU at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is a remarkable testament to the healing power of music. Just a day after their daughter Akemi was discharged, they shared their story in Seacrest Studios. (video courtesy/Seacrest Studios)

Music as a Therapeutic Intervention

Jamye and Austin Willé have always been familiar with music. They met in 2005 during a summer camp at W.O. Smith Music School. Austin is a touring saxophonist, and music has always been a part of their lives. But it wasn't until Akemi was born prematurely that they experienced music in a whole new way.Music therapy, a therapeutic intervention, proved to be healing. As a social worker, Jamye was familiar with it but had never been exposed to it in this context. When Dana, the board-certified music therapist, came by their room and explained how music therapy could help Akemi's well-being, Jamye was immediately interested.Even though Jamye had been singing to Akemi all along, it wasn't until the first visit with a music therapist that she saw the benefits. Akemi was hooked up to a monitor, and when they sang and played the guitar, they noticed her oxygen level increase and her heart rate decrease. It was a special moment that they watched constantly.Akemi was born in May at 28 weeks and was hospitalized for 89 days in the NICU. The music therapy interaction was not only beneficial for Akemi's health but also elevated the hospital experience for the parents.

Music Therapy in the NICU

The NICU music therapy program, led by Dana Kim, MA, MT-BC, focuses on providing safe and effective evidence-based music interventions. These interventions promote neurodevelopmental stimulation, increase infant rest and regulation, and provide opportunities for caregiver attachment and bonding."We work to care for the entire family during their NICU experience," said Kim. "We may teach parents about music interventions and empower them to do so outside of our sessions. We also offer a lot of parent support to help with stress reduction and relaxation, which results in improved patient outcomes."For Austin, Akemi's dad, the music therapy sessions were eye-opening. "All of my creativity sort of went numb," he said. "But the music therapist understood where I was and found ways for me to be more involved."What started as a simple lullaby morphed into a full song that incorporated Akemi's heartbeat and baby coos. Austin, a music engineer, had a hand in recording the piece.

The Impact on the Family

The Willés are grateful for the opportunity to integrate their love for music into caring for their child and seeing the positive impact it had on them all. Now home, they look back at their time in the NICU in song."It was also so helpful to have a nonmedical interaction in the hospital," admitted Jamye. "As time went on, I felt that this experience was bringing us closer to her and allowing me to put my thoughts and feelings into words. It was a special bonding experience."In December, the program will begin NICU Music Mondays, where families will have the opportunity to explore a variety of stations including song sharing, music technology, developmental education, and a sibling station."This program developed from interacting with families at the bedside and seeing a need for more support around incorporating music into developmental care and bonding," said Kim. "These group sessions will allow music therapy to connect with more families each week."The goals of the group sessions are to foster a supportive community for NICU families and staff through music engagement, provide education on developmentally appropriate music for the NICU, and promote positive coping through creative self-expression.Monroe Carell has three board-certified music therapists on staff who have advanced NICU music therapy training to provide coverage for infants' and families' needs throughout hospitalization. NICU music therapists require additional certification to provide infants with directed interventions to ensure neuroprotection and optimize growth and development.