T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital at Erlanger became the 229th hospital in the United States to host Songs For Kids Tour during the nonprofit’s year-long journey to enrich lives through music.
Songs For Kids Foundation, Inc. was founded in 2007 with a goal to bring music to children’s hospitals and special needs camps through live interactive concerts, hospital bedside performances and the Songs For Kids Records songwriting and recording program.
Earlier this year, two artists from the foundation began a tour across the United States, covering 25,000 miles and bringing music to over 200 children’s hospitals in over 180 cities.
“We wanted to do something massive,” said Josh Rifkind, Songs For Kids musician. “Our goal is to bring music to all people.”
It is a known fact in the healthcare industry that music can be used as a treatment for patients of all ages. Singing, playing an instrument or even listening to music can calm high levels of anxiety or fear, helps the patient focus on another avenue for communicating and expressing themselves and facilitates movement and physical rehabilitation.
The Songs For Kids Tour hopes to impact thousands of hospitalized children and their families as the foundation continues to grow its vision and commitment for national service.
The artists know they have made a difference by the exciting feedback from the patients and staff members.
“The majority of families and staff have asked us to come back,” said Sanjay Kothari, Songs For Kids musician.
But the musicians will have to come back some other time. They have 11 more hospitals to go before the tour ends next Friday.
For more information on Songs For Kids, visit www.songsforkidstour.org.