Ruth Vasey, 92, and Olivia Meyers, a staff nursing assistant, use plastic tubes called boomwhackers during a music therapy session Wednesday night at Butler Memorial Hospital. It was the program's final session of the summer.

BUTLER TWP — Chronic illnesses and lengthy hospital stays can cause a buildup of stress and anxiety, but a program at Butler Memorial Hospital aims to sooth ailing patients with music.

Music therapy sessions, a service offered by the hospital's palliative care program, teach patients how to use music intentionally as a way to relax and get their mind off their troubles.

Led by music therapist Kate Eberle-Cotter, the final music therapy session of the summer was held on Wednesday evening on the top floor of the hospital's tower unit.

Eberle-Cotter, assisted by the palliative care director, Dr. Kathy Selvaggi, and social worker Jenna Rhodaburger, began the session by passing out “boomwhackers,” or hand-sized colorful plastic tubes.

She instructed the 10 patients who attended to strike the instruments together or tap them on their wheelchairs or knees to certain rhythms as they used deep breathing exercises.

The patients breathed in for four beats with the boomwhackers, filling their lower torsos with air, then exhaled for four beats.

She explained the “power of pause” to the patients and encouraged them to slow their mental pace and concentrate on relaxation as they performed the breathing exercises.

Next, Eberle-Cotter encouraged the patients to select one of 20 or so hand-held percussion instruments, rain sticks or wind chimes.

The patients were instructed to think of things they would like to let go — like worry, concerns and problems out of their control — as they inhaled deeply.

Upon exhaling, the patients were to play the instruments in any way they liked while letting those problems and concerns go with the air that escaped their lungs.Eberle-Cotter then played and sang “ (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay,” and “Over the Rainbow,” and the patients were encouraged to sing along and accompany her with their hand-held instruments.The patients were deep-breathing with their eyes closed, concentrating on their instruments, or singing along with Eberle-Cotter.She said any song a patient finds soothing can serve as a “container” for their feelings or even physical pain as they breathe and enjoy a tune.“There can be some real healing in that container,” Eberle-Cotter said.She then told the patients to think of a place where they would like to be as she played “Over the Rainbow.”“If we allow ourselves three to five minutes to have a personal pity party, we can release some of these things,” Eberle-Cotter said, “but we can't stay there.”The group also used the hand-held instruments to create a thunderstorm, building slowly at first, then reaching a crescendo before gradually slowing their instruments until the “storm” was over.She asked the patients how the simulated storm paralleled their journey through illness.“It gets a little rough sometimes,” said one patient.“Sometimes the rain and storm is what produces those beautiful flowers,” Eberle-Cotter responded.Shirley Wallace said the musical therapy session was very entertaining and fun.“It lifted my mind off all my problems,” she said.

Wallace already had chosen her song to relax her and allow her to mentally escape her condition.“I like 'Rainy Night in Georgia,' ” she said.Wallace said she would recommend music therapy to anyone who finds themselves admitted to the hospital.“It's always dull in hospitals, and it lifted my spirits,” she said of the session.Ruth Vasey, who proudly announced she is 92 years old, enjoyed the session and will be using the breathing techniques once she goes home.“I thought it was inspiring,” she said. “It's something to take your mind off your troubles.”Vasey wished the session had included her favorite hymn, “I Come To the Garden Alone,” which she began singing softly to herself.“I think (music therapy) will be a benefit to the patients at the hospital,” she said.Selvaggi has attended almost every music therapy session. She said it has benefited many of the patients who have attended.“One man said, 'It gets me out of my room with four walls, and I get to engage with other people,'” she said.The program began last year at Butler Health System's Crossroads Campus, but was moved to the hospital because Selvaggi wanted to include inpatients.Community members were invited to the sessions, she said.“Even if we help one person, it's worth it,” she said.

Above, Kate Eberle-Cotter leads a music therapy session at Butler Memorial Hospital on Wednesday. At left, participants in the program can choose from a variety of instruments during the session. Music therapy is a service offered by the hospital's palliative care program. It teaches patients how to use music as a way to relax and get their mind off their troubles.

Patients have their choice of instruments for music therapy at Butler Memorial Hospital