Studies have proven the therapeutic value of music, humor and laughter in the healing process. Our mission is to bring comedy and music to the residents and care givers at various institutions, including schools, community centers, hospitals, drug and alcohol treatment centers, various disease support groups, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, and to any venue which promotes healing and recovery. We will strive to provide these facilities with musicians and comedians to lift both the spirit and soul and help heal the afflicted.
The idea of music as a healing influence which could affect health and behavior is as least as old as the writings of Aristotle and Plato. The 20th century discipline began after World War I and World War II when community musicians of all types, both amateur and professional, went to Veterans hospitals around the country to play for the thousands of veterans suffering both physical and emotional trauma from the wars. The patients' notable physical and emotional responses to music led the doctors and nurses to request the hiring of musicians by the hospitals.
Laughter produces endorphins, our body's natural painkiller. Laughter improves immune function. Hearty laughter is literally good for the heart, because when we laugh it causes our blood vessels to dilate. Laughter and humor are powerful tools, helping people cope and get through threatening situations. Looking at life's situations with a sense of humor and laughter provides perspective and helps keep things in balance.
It is scientifically proven that both music and comedy will:
- Stabilize biorhythms
- Improve the immune system
- Lower blood pressure
- Stabilize blood pressure
- Energize the body
- Calm and soothe the body & mind
- Bring back happy & comforting memories
- Distract from pain
When my mother suffered a massive stroke in1993 at the age of 53 she was not able to speak and was suffering from dysphasia. We found that although she could not speak she was able to sing and music provided both a form of therapy and a source of joy in a rather bleak time. I asked a friend with his band to visit at the rehabilitation facility and I was able to see both the elevated emotional and therapeutic value it brought to both the staff and the patients, a truly cathartic experience. I myself after suffering a traumatic brain injury in February 2006 and spending months in both the hospital and a rehabilitation hospital felt that music was a major part of my recovery and laugher a great coping tool. It reminds me of a song (Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes) sung by Jimmy Buffett "If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane."
We need corporate sponsors, marketing specialist, promoters and publicist, doctors, nurses, therapist, rehabilitation specialist, volunteers, hospital administrators, artists, musicians, disc jockeys, comedians, humorist, entertainers and a spokesperson /personality to champion our cause. We would like for a photo journalist/documentary film maker to document the effectiveness of this program. We would like to hold benefits, fundraisers, dance parties, concerts, dinners, telethons, walkathons, auctions, art shows, and both phone and email campaigns for donations to raise funds and awareness. Our goal is to provide the musicians and comedians free of charge to the above mentioned facilities.
We would like to hold seminars for care givers, nurses, and therapist on how to use comedy, humor and music effectively when taking care of their patients, loved ones, and their families.
We are looking to form a Nonprofit 501(c)(3) Organization
Lee Green
President
Music and Comedy Cures
(845) 362 8664