EVERY fortnight retired music teacher Glenyss Barker packs up her Celtic harp and travels to the Adelaide suburb of Modbury.
But the 67-year-old self-taught harper is not on her way to perform in a concert, but to a more intimate recital in the palliative care ward of Modbury Hospital.
Hospital volunteer Glenyss has been playing the hand-made instrument – dubbed Cerys – in the ward for six years.
She was inspired to play for patients after watching an an episode of television series Australian Story episode about Peter Roberts, Australia’s only fully qualified music thanatologist – a field that unites music and medicine in end-of-life care.
“I then went to one of Peter’s courses in Melbourne and was really inspired,” said Glenyss, who had to give up playing the piano when she developed repetitive strain injury in both hands.
Peter uses a technique called “entrainment”, where the harpist matches the music and rhythm to the patient’s breathing and other “white noise” in the room.
This was the starting point for Glenyss, who doesn’t sing when she plays but does sometimes takes requests.
“I had already bought a Celtic harp and taught myself and then a friend of a friend who works in the hospital’s palliative care volunteering program suggested I get in touch and offer to play there. And they have been so supportive ever since.”
Glenyss admits being “scared stiff” the first time she played her harp in the ward, but she is now a firm favourite with staff, patients and their families as the gentle tones of the stringed instrument wash over the clinical hums and buzzing noises.
“I approach the people as people, not patients, and come in a different capacity – and I think this is appreciated,” she said.
“The idea is to help bring them peace and to help them sleep.”
Glenyss said the music not only helps the patients but those left behind.
“And the sound of the harp is soft and not intrusive and I can play a wide variety of music on it from classical and Celtic to folk and even Danny Boy and Waltzing Matilda.”
Glenyss said many people assume it must be sad playing in a palliative care ward. “But I get to bring peace and something positive into their lives, and I feel blessed to be able to do this.”
She recalls a patient named Klaus, who had been in a coma since entering the ward.
“I was playing an Irish piece called Slane. which is also used for singing the hymn Be Thou My Vision O Lord of my Life, when the patient – a musician himself – opened his eyes, smiled and said the word ‘beautiful’ to his wife ... (It) remains one of my dearest memories of my time at Modbury.”
No visit is ever the same. Recently she was joined for an impromptu recital with a flautist who was in visiting a friend. “She had come to play some Christian music for her friend, and luckily she could sight read, so we played together.”
Glenyss now also plays at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
She said her inspiration is Jesus, “who taught us that we are to share our gifts with others and I think it is the most rewarding thing I can do”.
Glenyss is one of more than 60 volunteers providing more than 8000 hours of service each year to hospice patients and those in the community through the hospital’s palliative care volunteer program.
Details, (08) 8161-2499.
- NATIONAL Palliative Care Week runs from May 21-28 and this year focuses on aged care.
For a list of events being organised around the state – www.pallcare.asn.au
