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Early Years Music

Music as Medicine for Babies and Young Children

Music as Medicine for Babies and Young Children in Hospital

Music as Medicine for Babies and Young Children - photo of mother and child playing the glockenspiel smiling at each other

A Look at the Science

Music as Medicine: The Research

When a child is admitted to hospital, it can be a time of deep stress and uncertainty, for the young patient, their family, and even the clinical staff around them. At OPUS Music CIC, we’ve long believed in the power of live music to support health and well-being, especially in the hospital environment. But belief alone is not enough, we also turn to science to back our work. Increasingly, medical research supports what we see every day: music can have measurable, beneficial effects on babies and young children in hospital, helping to reduce stress, ease pain, improve physiological stability, and support family bonding.

Music Supports Physical Recovery in Neonates

Studies have shown that music can positively impact premature infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). A landmark study published in Pediatrics demonstrated that live music interventions, such as lullabies sung by parents or musicians, can help regulate infants’ heart rate, improve feeding behaviour, and support better sleep patterns Loewy et al., 2013. These physiological changes can support faster recovery and reduce the need for medical interventions.

As one Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse at Royal Derby Hospital described after a session with OPUS musicians:

“The baby I was caring for during the music playing increased his oxygen saturations to 100% and so I could turn the oxygen he was receiving down by 3%. He looked so relaxed!”

Reducing Stress and Pain in Children

Music has been shown to reduce stress hormone levels (like cortisol) in hospitalised children, improving their ability to rest and recover. A systematic review in The Cochrane Library found that music interventions can significantly reduce pain and anxiety during medical procedures in children Bradt & Dileo, 2011. It helps create a soothing environment that supports emotional well-being alongside physical healing.

In the words of one young OPUS listener:

“It made me feel very happy – Aged 8”

Enhancing Diagnostic and Clinical Procedures

Music’s calming influence doesn’t just help the patient feel better; it also supports medical staff in carrying out essential tasks. For example, one cardiographer from University Hospitals Leicester told us:

“I was on the Neonatal Unit this afternoon to get an ECG from a baby. The baby was upset by hiccups which adversely affected the ECG trace. The musicians offered to play and, miraculously, after about 30 seconds of music, no exaggeration! The baby went to sleep and I was able to obtain a good quality result.”

These small but significant moments show how music can facilitate better clinical outcomes by lowering distress and increasing patient cooperation.

Supporting Families – Not Just Patients

Hospitalisation impacts the entire family, particularly when it involves young children or babies in critical care. Music can offer emotional support and moments of connection when words aren’t enough. Research in Frontiers in Psychology highlights how music-making in healthcare settings strengthens family bonds, reduces parental anxiety, and creates positive shared experiences Haslbeck & Bassler, 2018.

This was echoed by a parent who experienced live music from OPUS musicians while in hospital:

“Last week I had an amazing and unexpected experience. Whilst in the hospital extremely tired and emotionally drained, OPUS turned up with their music and gave me the strength I needed to carry on.”

Another parent shared a memory they will never forget:

“It was just the most beautiful moment, and will be a lovely memory we treasure forever. Holding my 24-week baby’s hand and listening to the gentle music. I cannot express how precious that was for us, thank you so much.”

Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

At OPUS Music CIC, we are committed to embedding music into healthcare not as entertainment, but as a vital part of care. Live music in hospitals is non-invasive, cost-effective, and evidence based. It uplifts, calms, and heals. From tiny premature babies to school-aged children and their families, the benefits are real and lasting.

If we can offer one moment of relief during a difficult day, or help lower oxygen support, or enable a successful ECG, we believe it’s worth every note.

Learn More

If you are interested in bringing live music into your healthcare setting, then please get in touch.

Let’s keep making music that matters.

 

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“Can we sing another song?”

Working in Derby Children’s Hospital with Nick Cutts and Rich Kensington today we played our way along the upper wards in the morning. We met a young patient who was so relaxed and open about her music and singing, she just couldn’t get enough of making music with us.

We started with “Yellow Bird” as an instrumental piece and then a sung song. The patient and another friend in hosptial were both offered a shaker instrument to join in with – which they both did with great joy in their faces – sometimes fast, and then slow, and then stopping to listen to the music on its own.

I smiled at the patient and asked if there was anything that she liked to sing – to which the answer was certainly “yes”. She said her favourite was “The Wheels on the Bus”. Oh great we know that one – and we sorted out which verses we could cover. This young patient, lying on her back for medical reasons, unable to sit up, joined in and led the song, thinking of new different verses with Mum’s help. Her voice was quite confident and happy and clear, such that a group of doctors standing nearby on their rounds, stopped and looked up from their work.

“Can we sing another song?” came her voice, at the end of that one…..we decided on Five Little Speckled Frogs, and encouraged her to help with the counting. She was not quite so confident with the words on this one, but none-the-less made every effort to join in with us.

She then became interested in my violin and I moved around the other side of her bed and showed her the instrument. She plucked the strings with such care and sensitivity. Then I explained how to touch the bow, and with Mum’s hand on one end of the bow, hers in the middle and mine at one end, we drew the bow back a forth across the D string.

“Can we sing another song?” she asked, whilst still bowing the D string on the violin…..Twinkle Twinkle in D major of course, worked really nicely. She played so gently and sang the words at the same time.

So lovely to meet this young patient – to listen to her voice and share those musical moments. The fact that we were in hospital did not really matter – the fact that she was lying down didn’t seem to hinder her participation and indeed, leadership in the music.

We did indeed sing another song.

Story, Rhythm and Rhyme Evaluation Report

Derbyshire County Council Logo OPUS musicians have been involved in a year-long project, supporting the development of music and story-making for early years children and their families in library settings across Derbyshire. The project was hugely successful, with many libraries continuing to deliver practice beyond the project. The project was managed and supported by Derbyshire County Council with funding from Youth Music. The full evalution report has now been published. Story Rhythm and Rhyme Evaluation Report.

Early years music-making in Derbyshire

From September 2010 to July 2011, OPUS has been engaged in a programme of music-making and training, based in library settings in Derbyshire. This work has seen OPUS musicians working alongside library staff and storyshaper Jules Damassa to create unique music and story ‘events’ in the libraries, engaging young children and babies in engaging music and stroy activities. This work has also seen OPUS musicians delivering training to library staff, many of whom are now continuing to deliver this work in partnership with parents.

An evaluation report from the project will be available soon with a link posted here.