Home > News > Media Coverage

Media Coverage

DIGITAL PIANO DONATION KEYS INTO MUSIC THERAPY
AT THE JOSEPH M. SANZARI CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
March 3, 2006
Nancy A. Radwin 201-996-3765

When you think of a hospital stay, you generally don’t think the experience will involve entertainment. However, pediatric patients at The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) can tell you there are fun times — music therapy, art therapy, and dance/movement therapy is provided by creative arts therapists dedicated to helping the children cope with and adjust to all of the stresses involved with their illness.

Thanks to Hope for Henry Foundation (HFHF) and The Jacobs Music Company in Philadelphia, and Frank & Camille’s Keyboard Center in Paramus, pediatric patients at The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital are now able to experience a new Yamaha Clavinova piano. Patients recently participated in a demonstration of the high-tech features of the instrument during a dedication held in The Creative Arts Room of The DON IMUS-WFAN Pediatric Center for Tomorrows Children at HUMC. Whether or not they know how to play the piano didn’t matter as it offers many easy-to-use features such as “follow lights.”

With the help of “Starlight Disks,” children were transformed into pianists the minute their fingers touched the keyboard. Concert pianists in the making lead guests onto the “Titanic” and took a fun trip down memory lane as everyone sang along to “Follow The Yellow Brick Road.”

“In the pediatric setting, music therapy taps into the healthy part of a child and helps to define the child by what they can do as opposed to what they can’t do,” said board-certified music therapist, Suzannah Scott-Moncrieff, MA, MT-BC, of The Tomorrows Children’s Institute for Cancer and Blood Disorders (TCI) at The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at HUMC. “Music is a familiar medium for children of all ages and developmental levels. It provides a safe and effective means through which children can communicate their needs and express their feelings.”

“We are grateful to our friends at Hope For Henry Foundation, as well as to Jacobs Music Company,” said Joel A. Brochstein, M.D., director of The Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at HUMC. “Words can’t describe how much we appreciate this generous gift, though I tend to believe the music coming from our Creative Arts Therapy Room will continue to sing their praises for many years to come.”

“We are just delighted Jacobs Music has partnered with us in our efforts to fill kids’ recovery time with fun and entertainment,” said Laurie Strongin, founder of HFHF, as she watched the children enjoy the piano. The foundation was established in 2003 to honor the legacy of Henry Strongin Goldberg, who died at the age of seven from Fanconi anemia, a rare, fatal genetic disease. HFHF is dedicated to improving the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses and has provided TCI pediatric cancer patients at The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital with carefully chosen gifts such as DVD players, digital cameras, and Gameboys® since May of 2005.

“I learned about The Hope for Henry Foundation when a family member was being treated for cancer. I was just inspired by the organization,” said Bob Rinaldi, senior vice president of Operations at Jacobs Music Company. “Going through treatment is such a stressful time. Music reduces stress. It’s nice to be able to give something to the children that they can look forward to and enjoy.”

TCI, part of The Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, is an outstanding pediatric cancer and blood disorders program that combines all the elements of world-class medicine, cutting-edge research, an expert and comforting staff, and compassionate care for children and adolescents . HUMC is a full-voting member in the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI), the non-profit association that speaks on behalf of children's health needs and their caregivers. NACHRI is the foremost organization in the nation for children's hospitals. In 2000, the medical center received state designation as an official New Jersey Children's Hospital. The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital was twice selected as one of the top 25 Children’s Hospitals in the country and the top- ranked Children’s Hospital in New Jersey by Child Magazine.

To learn more about The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, please visit www.humc.com.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Josephine Perez, 14, of Dumont, is the first pediatric patient at The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) to play the new Yamaha Clavinova Digital Piano recently donated by The Hope for Henry Foundation and Jacobs Music Company in Philadelphia. Suzannah Scott-Moncrieff, MA, MT-BC, of The Tomorrows Children’s Institute for Cancer and Blood Disorders (TCI) at The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at HUMC, discovers the unique features of the high-tech instrument with Josephine.