Musical Memories

Statements by noted neurologist Oliver Sacks in Skagit Valley Herald's recent article, "Neurologist, choir explore music's healing power."-

“I regard music therapy as a tool of great power in many neurological disorders -- Parkinson's and Alzheimer's -- because of its unique capacity to organize or reorganize cerebral function when it has been damaged."

"What we have been studying…is that when you pray, there’s actually a physiological change in the body,” says Oliver Sacks, “Music is very much a part of this. There are certain notes that generate in the human body a kind of peacefulness."

"Music therapy has been an invaluable tool with many of our rehabilitation patients. There is no question that the relationship of music and medicine will blossom because of the advent of previously unavailable techniques that can now show the effects of music."-Mathew Lee (Acting Director, Rusk Institute, New York)

"(Music therapy) can make the difference between withdrawal and awareness, between isolation and interaction, between chronic pain and comfort -- between demoralization and dignity."-Barbara Crowe (past president of the National Association for Music Therapy)