Live Christmas Music Fills Hallways At Intermountain Medical Center

MURRAY, Utah – The month of December features holiday music in stores, offices, homes, cars, and about anywhere else you go – including hospitals.

For most people, it’s music that makes them happy, and in a hospital, many people could use some happiness.

Hospitals are places where we’re supposed to relax and get better. Even still, though, life can be stressful.

“It’s scary, you know? It’s scary,” said Cheryse Naso while sitting in the lobby of Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.

She was worried about her grandfather, who was recovering from hip surgery and won’t be able to be home this Christmas.

“You want it to be just Christmas trees and lights and fun, but it’s not always like that,” she said.

After a slow walk through Building 5 on the IMC campus, her demeanor changed. She stopped and smiled at a woman playing the piano.

You could see the stress in her face just melt away.

We wanted to see if Christmas music on a piano really helped people in stressful situations. So, @IntermtnMedCtr in Murray let us in to see for ourselves. Whoa. @KSL5TV at 6. #KSLTV pic.twitter.com/ryGg3DVddY

— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) December 22, 2018

“I love music. It brightens your day, and just brings light to your heart,” said Naso.

Note by note, key by key, the sound of Christmas music being played on a piano filled the hallways and lobbies of the hospital.

“I love that song for one thing and this is really positive. It’s a positive thing for a lot of people,” said Naso.

It was easy to see how much of a difference it made as people walked by.

“Music is a great calming influence,” said Blair Kent, CEO of Intermountain Medical Center. “We think it’s a great thing to add to our patients and to the community.”

Dozens of volunteers have signed up to play the piano and other instruments at different times during the day.

Retired nurse Jane Wilde said she loves when it’s her turn to play.

“I have had people come up and say it’s so nice to have a piano here in the hospital,” said Wilde. “I love music and I know the power of music.”

It’s a power strong enough to make holidays in hospitals a little better.

“I think, especially at Christmas time, everyone just tries to find whatever opportunity they can to do just a little bit to help someone else feel better,” said Genae Christensen, who also volunteers to play the piano.

Christensen is a managing nurse who helps with heart and lung surgeries.

She said knows how stressful it can be for patients and family members who are facing an emergency situation.

“Music has this awesome ability to de-stress whatever it might be,” she said. “When people listen, when people have the opportunity to hear music, it just creates a whole different tone for the room.”

Sometimes, feeling better at a hospital isn’t just physical.