A group of terminally ill patients at a hospice in New York are being serenaded by an unlikely group of musicians – the Threshold Choir, an all-female ensemble that sings to those on their deathbeds.
The choir's unique approach to music therapy involves singing specific words and phrases directly into the ears of dying patients, with the aim of providing emotional comfort and alleviating pain. By placing a speaker near the patient's ear, the singers can deliver intimate, gentle melodies that are tailored to each individual's needs.
The project, which was sparked by the choir's director, Mary McDonald, in 2008, has resulted in thousands of hours of music being sung to patients across the globe. It is believed to have a profound effect on those receiving it, with some reports suggesting that it can even slow down the dying process.
In one remarkable case, singer-songwriter Julia Fordham was invited by hospice staff to visit a patient who was terminally ill and in immense pain. Fordham sang directly into his ear, delivering words of comfort and reassurance, before the patient passed away surrounded by loved ones. The following day, Fordham received a message from the patient's family expressing their gratitude for her intervention.
This remarkable story highlights the power of music to transcend physical boundaries and provide solace in the face of mortality. For those involved with Threshold Choir, it is a labor of love – one that provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment to help ease the suffering of others.
The choir's unique approach to music therapy involves singing specific words and phrases directly into the ears of dying patients, with the aim of providing emotional comfort and alleviating pain. By placing a speaker near the patient's ear, the singers can deliver intimate, gentle melodies that are tailored to each individual's needs.
The project, which was sparked by the choir's director, Mary McDonald, in 2008, has resulted in thousands of hours of music being sung to patients across the globe. It is believed to have a profound effect on those receiving it, with some reports suggesting that it can even slow down the dying process.
In one remarkable case, singer-songwriter Julia Fordham was invited by hospice staff to visit a patient who was terminally ill and in immense pain. Fordham sang directly into his ear, delivering words of comfort and reassurance, before the patient passed away surrounded by loved ones. The following day, Fordham received a message from the patient's family expressing their gratitude for her intervention.
This remarkable story highlights the power of music to transcend physical boundaries and provide solace in the face of mortality. For those involved with Threshold Choir, it is a labor of love – one that provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment to help ease the suffering of others.
. Its so beautiful but also super sad at the same time, you know? Makes me appreciate music therapy even more than I already did 
. They should get some recognition for this, its not every day you see somethin thats so selfless and caring in a world thats always tryna be hard on people 
. Its amazing what music can do when its used like that. 
I mean, don't get me wrong, it's super heartwarming and all, but do we really need to share every single detail about it on the public platform? It feels like every other thread is getting flooded with similar feel-good stories. Can't we just have a dedicated section for charity news or something? 
This way we can avoid overwhelming our main threads and actually see some of the more interesting stuff that's posted.
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It's also been found that 70% of patients experience less pain when exposed to calming music, with some even reporting reduced anxiety and depression! 
It just goes to show that music has the power to bring people together and provide comfort when we need it most 
I'm totally blown away by this Threshold Choir project! It's like they're using their voices to be Jesus' disciples in The Last Temptation of Christ 
Seriously though, this is such a beautiful way to show humanity and compassion - it's like they're taking it from The Notebook 
where Noah gives Allie a love letter in her hospital room. These women are angels with microphones 
!
I mean, can you think of anything more beautiful than using your voice to make someone's last moments on earth just a little bit brighter? It's like, we're always talking about how music has healing properties, but this is next level. The Threshold Choir is literally changing lives and providing comfort to people who need it most. And the fact that it's an all-female ensemble singing directly into patients' ears just shows you how much love and care goes into every single performance. It's not just about singing pretty melodies, it's about creating a sense of calm and peace in those final hours. I think we could all learn from this kind of selflessness and compassion 
But at the same time, if it can provide comfort and alleviate some of that suffering, then I'm all for it. The fact that it's been happening on a global scale now is crazy... 10,000+ hours of music sung to patients worldwide? That's just wild.
The way they tailor the music to each person's needs is genius. I've heard of some of these stories before, but it never gets old. There's something so intimate and special about this kind of care. I'm actually thinking of volunteering with a hospice organization now 
. This kind of love and compassion is what makes life worth living, you know? 
! It's like, can you imagine being able to sing directly into someone's ear when they're at their most vulnerable? 
... i can only imagine how therapeutic that must be for both the singer and the patient... music has always been my thing too, but this takes it to a whole new level 
i've always loved layout and structure in things, but this story just goes to show how beautiful and simple yet powerful it can be when done right 
They're basically singing directly into people's ears to calm them down, but what about the intention behind it? Are they trying to control someone's last thoughts or something? 
It's all a bit too convenient for my taste. And what about the fact that some patients start to "pass away" soon after, just so they can get that therapy session out of the way? Coincidence? I don't think so... 