In 2014, Dr. Laurence Furr became a Certified Clinical Musician through the program Harp for Healing. This program was founded by the harp therapy pioneer Laurie Riley. Additionally, in 2016, Laurence became a Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner through the International Harp Therapy Program, founded and directed by Christina Tourin. He is on the Board of Advisors for Andrew Schulman's Medical Musician Initiative. Harp for Healing and IHTP programs are both accredited by the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians.
Listen: Thanks to a generous grant from the JPS Foundation, we are delighted to have Laurence Furr, Ph.D. Certified Clinical Musician, playing for JPS patients 10 hours each week. Dr. Furr visits patients referred by JPS staff, and offers 15 to 20 minutes of calming music. Therapeutic music is customized for each patient’s unique situation – some sessions are with the Celtic harp; others are with a Native American flute.
Posted by JPS Health Network on Friday, March 27, 2015
Music has been used as a healing force for centuries. Music as therapy goes back to biblical times, when David played the harp to rid King Saul of a bad spirit. As early as 400 B.C., Hippocrates, Greek father of medicine, played music for his mental patients. Aristotle described music as a force that purified the emotions. In the thirteenth century, Arab hospitals contained music-rooms for the benefit of the patients. In the United States, Native American medicine men often employed chants and dances as a method of healing patients. Music therapy as we know it began in the aftermath of World Wars I and II. Musicians would travel to hospitals, particularly in the United Kingdom, and play music for soldiers suffering from war-related emotional and physical trauma.
Dr. Furr works as a therapeutic musician at JPS - John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. As a Certified Clinical Musician and Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner, he plays at the bedside of patients in every department and unit of the hospital. His primary time is spent in Surgery, ICU, Trauma Unit, Critical Care Units, Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit, Emergency, and Oncology. He plays both Celtic harp and Native American flute in these 20 minute sessions. Therapeutic music has been shown to slow down and equalize brain waves; affects respiration, heartbeat, and blood pressure; reduces muscle tension and improves body movement and coordination; and can regulate stress-related hormones and boost immune function. He also works as a therapeutic musician for Vitas Hospice - playing for patients in the Inpatient Unit located at Baylor All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth.
Dr. Furr works as a therapeutic musician at JPS - John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. As a Certified Clinical Musician and Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner, he plays at the bedside of patients in every department and unit of the hospital. His primary time is spent in Surgery, ICU, Trauma Unit, Critical Care Units, Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit, Emergency, and Oncology. He plays both Celtic harp and Native American flute in these 20 minute sessions. Therapeutic music has been shown to slow down and equalize brain waves; affects respiration, heartbeat, and blood pressure; reduces muscle tension and improves body movement and coordination; and can regulate stress-related hormones and boost immune function. He also works as a therapeutic musician for Vitas Hospice - playing for patients in the Inpatient Unit located at Baylor All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth.
