Musical Rounds is an initiative dedicated to cultivating human connection through live music and storytelling in the context of serious illness. Its mission is to cultivate human connection through live music and conversation for those with serious illness, to research this impact, to create community among music medicine professionals, and to engage the public on the importance of the healing arts.
The program began as an IRB approved research study conducted across three Bay Area hospitals, where musicians met with patients and their loved ones at the bedside to record life stories and create personalized, improvised musical soundtracks reflecting those narratives. These recordings were returned to families as legacy projects, and with consent, some are now being shared publicly to deepen understanding of the human experience of illness.
Building on this work, Musical Rounds now focuses on public engagement, research, training, and community building to elevate the role of the healing arts in medicine.
