Connecting to a Patient’s Inscape
My name is Crystal and I'm an Inscape musician. I do music pop-ups and bedside visits. I mostly play the guitar and sing, and work with other musicians.
Musician Crystal Livermore plays in a waiting room at a local health provider. Photo: Laura Purcell
I've been with Inscape for about four years. And in that time there have been a lot of experiences I've had, visiting patients, who may have been feeling very stressed or possibly, depressed and down about their situation. It's been an absolute privilege to be able to share with them their favourite songs or even just some relaxing music.
And also some of the experiences I've had with patients, particularly those with dementia, have been quite interesting to see how music can help to bring someone out of a memory they might be stuck in, or a particular mood. Music has definitely helped to facilitate a conversation, even if it's just in the background. It has helped patients to focus on something different from perhaps a bad memory they may have been stuck in.
And having that musical background has just helped ease the conversation.
“Having music and art is invaluable in a hospital situation, where people are in a place that is very disconnected from nature, from their homes, and to bring in a sense of the outside world and also people’s inner world. Their Inscape.”
Crystal Livermore plays for a patient during a bedside visit at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Photo: Inscape Tas
Having seen the difference that Inscape provides to patients in the hospital, providing that opportunity to engage with music and art in a time when people are going through the hardest moments, it's become clear to me that it's important to keep that going. And donations are the main way that we are able to do that.
“When I first started with Inscape, visiting patients and carrying my guitar around the hospital, at first I felt a bit out of place and a bit unsure about, being in this position, surrounded by medical professionals. However, over the last few years, I’ve realised what a difference it makes and how very, very valuable to a lot of patients.”
Musician Crystal Livermore. Photo by Laura Purcell
Creativity in Care. This #AusArtDay on 23 October, you can support artists shaping the future of Australian arts. Your donation - big or small - helps Inscape Tasmania create the future of care. Inscape’s artists bring calm, joy and connection into hospitals through music, art and storytelling. Your gift helps expand residencies, reach more patients and families, and ensure creativity remains at the heart of healing in Tasmania.
Learn more and Donate: www.inscape.org.au/ausartday
Inscape is a registered charity and is supported by private philanthropy and government grants which support Tasmanian professional artists and musicians to deliver creative programs with patients, families and staff in Southern Tasmanian hospitals.
#CreativityInCare #CreativeAustralia
