My Book Ⅰ
Written by Hiroyuki Ikeda
［No.35］ “ I was saved by music.” 11/12/2013
I have introduced you to 102-year-old doctor Shigeaki Hinohara in my previous blog and in the newspaper the other day, he wrote under the heading “ I was saved by music in my childhood.” He lectured to music therapists working in hospitals and facilities for the elderly and talked about the encounter in his youth with music.
Dr. Hinohara was disappointed because he got nephritis at the age of 10 and the attending physician ordered him to ban movement for half a year. One day, he decided to learn piano so his mother asked an American missionary pianist to teach piano lessons. Four years later, the teacher returned to the U.S.A, and so he had to study by himself after that. When he was at the age of 11, his mother had convulsions in uremia and lost consciousness, so the family doctor came for house calls at night and stopped the attack with an injection and saved her life. Hinohara was moved by this doctor’s treatment and he decided to be a doctor. Although he was supposed to be recuperating for one year due to tuberculosis after enrolling at Kyoto University, he practiced noting the melody of songs on his white notebook music paper and asked his sister to play the gramophone so he could listen to it. It helped him to be able to compose himself after that struggle with illness. His understanding of music deepened and at last he gained a command of the choir. Because there was music, he became positive. He thought if he felt better, he’d want to enjoy music more. Dr. Hinohara experienced such a mysterious power of music in his young age.
In recent years, music therapists have been spiritual exchanges with their patients in hospitals and facilities, and they are encouraging patients. I don’t think there are so many therapists still. When my mother was admitted to a nursing facility, she received music therapy by piano and therapy of animals with dogs. I remember that a long time ago my mother smiled when she was contacted by her music therapist to sing with her.
Music saves people, even more so in the case of illness. You can get the feeling that you will be saved. I also believe in the power of music. The power of music, the power of life, is a major force. Dr. Hinohara gave such a lecture at Japan Society of Music Therapy.
I agree with his words.
The Day Nov. 11, View From My House
