Smoothing Sounds

MUSIC has the unique ability to draw us in and spark our imagination by stimulating our minds and calming our moods. In the clinical setting, music therapy often has significant impacts on patient recovery, specifically reducing cortisol (stress hormone) and enhancing the body’s endorphins (“feel-good” hormones). At St. Mary Medical Center (SMMC) volunteer Julie Spacht, a retired engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, has volunteered at SMMC for more than a year by playing the French Horn for people entering the hospital. She hopes that her soothing music will help distract people from the pains and stresses they may be experiencing.