Swan Songs: Music for the heart, from the heart
"Thank you all again for the incredible gift you gave to (our patient) today! It was obvious how much your music meant to her. She was so intently focused on you all during the performance and had the biggest smile afterwards."
— Fran Kincaid, LMSW Hospice Social Worker
By Claire Levine
Jim Friscia remembers the first time he heard music performed for a hospice patient.
“About 20 years ago, a friend was in care at Hopewell House. She had a favorite musician in town,” who Jim contacted about providing a private concert.
“We gathered a group of friends and family members on the patio of Hopewell House. It was an amazing experience and a profound moment for everyone who was there.”
Years later, he met a musician named Christine Albert, the CEO of an organization called Swan Songs in Austin. Swan Songs arranges performances for people who are terminally ill. And he had a strong memory of the Hopewell House concert. That meeting inspired him to extend the program to Portland.
Robert Meade with recipient Jeff Capps
Today, Swan Songs Portland is an established non-profit organization affiliated with the original Austin Swan Songs. It’s an extraordinary group, touching the lives of individuals and families at a time when many feel a need for support. It is directed by a volunteer board of eight and supported by many other volunteers.
Swan Songs Portland arranges musical performances for people in the last months of their lives. Musicians go to wherever the person is staying – in their own home, in a nursing facility, an adult foster home or a stand-alone hospice like Hopewell House.
Requests come from hospice volunteers, chaplains, social workers and others working closely with an individual and family. The patients choose what type of music they would like to hear – from string quartets to 80s cover bands to old blues and new country.
Swan Songs has started a database of Portland area musicians interested in playing in a hospice setting. Most are classical musicians, but the organization is reaching out to expand the number of people and type of genres represented. And they are committed to fulfilling individual requests.
For example, the first patient Swan Songs Portland served wanted a visit from a mariachi band, a musical style considerably harder to find here than in Austin. But Jim and his colleagues made it work.
Swan Songs Portland relies on non-musician volunteers for a variety of tasks, including serving as a liaison to the family and hospice workers or helping at fund-raising events. Interested? Swan Song would love to hear from you!
Join Swan Song at the second of a series of bi-monthly Swan Songs Portland benefit concerts at Artichoke Music!
On Thursday, July 17th, they have a very special performance with the Los Angeles-based power-folk duo Thee Holy Brothers!
Acknowledging the professionalism of local musicians. Swan Songs pays its musicians! In addition to recognizing the emotionally healing power of music, the Swan Songs founders also recognize how undervalued musicians are.
So, Swan Songs is committed to compensating musicians who are willing to open their hearts to patients in a hospice setting.
“We want a professional level of musicianship, and we don’t take that lightly,” Jim said. But musicians also must be comfortable in challenging situations.
Swan Songs musicians are happy to interact with family, staff and patients. And they can’t be put off by playing to a person in a hospital bed or who may not be responsive. “They have to be okay with that,” Jim said.
They need to be prepared to experience a range of emotions that ultimately make these visits so rewarding.
Jim encourages musicians who are interested in visiting hospice patients to apply here.
Karyn Ben recipient.
Fundraising. Swan Songs Portland is a low-overhead operation, sharing a website and other costs with the Austin group. Its major expense is paying musicians for their work.
Swan Songs Portland welcomes contributions from the community. Many people who have seen friends and family members in hospice appreciate the great care and sweetness of that experience – so here is a way to pay it forward. Swan Song Portland also is looking for opportunities to partner with local businesses for special programs or underwriting.
Portland residents have a great opportunity to hear excellent music on behalf of a great cause by attending quarterly fundraising concerts at the nonprofit Artichoke Music, 2007 SE Powell in Portland. The next one will be on July 17 and will feature Thee Holy Brothers, an amazing duo touring from LA.
To learn about this and other fundraising activities as well as more about Swan Songs Portland, visit their website - swansongs.org/portland or sign up for its newsletter.
The JWF welcomes Swan Songs to Portland. The Jeremy Wilson Foundation considers Swan Songs to be an organization of kindred spirits.
Both are about the spirit of music, the spirit of healing, and recognizing that regardless of circumstances, it’s the caring that counts.
Please help us welcome Swan Songs Portland.
