What is a Music Vigil?
(Vigil: to watch over). In a music vigil for the dying person, the trained music-thanatologist watches over the patient with a comforting attentive presence, and offers supportive assistance when required through the use of live prescriptively played music (voice and harp). The music is continually adjusted in the moment for the complex changing needs of the patient.

What Happens?
The cultivation of comforting silence is an essential ingredient in the vigil also. The intention of the music vigil is that the offering becomes a balm to the emotional, spiritual and physical needs of the patient. The ingredients of a loving presence, skillfully played supportive music and the development of comforting silence most often brings peace and assists the dying person in the letting go.

Who Else Benefits from a Music Vigil?
The family members, loved ones and carers are often profoundly affected by the experience also …”for (my husband) and for me, your music sessions were a most precious time, and I will treasure those memories..” Thank you also for playing at the funeral..your music was an important feature of it…(Name withheld).

What is Required of the Patient?
Music vigils are always offered live at the bedside of the patient. The prescriptively played live music being adjusted in the moment to the continually changing needs of the patient. The patient is not required to respond in any way, only an invitation to let go into the music is offered. Music vigils are appropriate at the very end of life when death is imminent. During the period when the onset of death has been foretold, a series of therapeutic music sessions may be an appropriate option.