Music, Art & Storytelling

Music Program

Rady Children's Music Program began in 1995. Thanks to philanthropy, the program remains one of the most valuable tools in our healing environment. We receive consistent and enthusiastic praise from patients, their families and our staff, all of whom have enjoyed and shared in these performances.

Our performers play throughout the Hospital, including the Medical/Surgical unit, the Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units, the Orthopedic and Rehabilitation unit, the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Bernardy Center, and Alexa's PLAYC.

Our Music Program currently consists of:

• Jose Smith, harpist. Jose's harp music is very calming. Jose interacts with patients and their families, inviting the patients to try strumming his harp and asking for requests.
• Sundiata Kata, musician. Sundiata puts on an African drum presentation, educating patients through stories and music. He lets them play instruments that he gathered from all over the world.
• Guitarist Karl Anthony and singer Jeanne Anthony. They go room-to-room, entertaining patients with their music. Karl sings and Jeanne signs the songs in American Sign Language to the patients. They teach these to the families.
• Harpist Carolyn Worster. Carolyn carries her small harp to play for patients in all our inpatient units as well as some outpatient clinics. Her soothing music creates a tranquil environment for patients and families.
• Music Therapists through MusicWorx of California. MusicWorx is a clinical training site for degreed music therapists working toward national board certification. The therapy they provide helps in relaxation, child development and coping skills.

Art Program

Rady Children's understands that through artistic expression, children cope better and heal faster. Our Art Program includes a visual artist and volunteers with the ARTS program.

Our Art Program includes:

• Eduardo Parra, artist. Eduardo does one-on-one art projects with patients, as well as group art projects in the activity rooms. He teaches patients new ways of expressing themselves through art.
• ARTS mentors. Rady Children's partners with San Diego-based, ARTS (A Reason To Survive). ARTS' volunteer mentors bring art supplies to the Hospital and offer different arts each week during bedside visits and playroom activities. The program also offers other art-related activities through workshops for siblings and special events.
• Art Cart. Volunteers supervise the Art Cart and provide diversionary art projects to patients and their families waiting in the Sam S. and Rose Stein Emergency Care Center waiting area.

Many of the art projects completed by patients in this program are on display in cases around the Hospital.

Storyteller Program

Rady Children's Storytellers Program began in 1996. The storytelling sessions help our patients and their families take their minds off the clinical setting and their treatments. The program plays a pivotal role in the healing process at Rady Children's.

Our Storytellers are:

• Linda Whiteside. Linda is bilingual, fluent in Spanish, and has a deep understanding of Mexican culture. She tells stories (from books and folk tales she knows from Mexico and South America) at patients' bedsides.
• James Lucas and Patti Christensen. This storytelling team visits various Child Life playrooms, waiting areas and patient rooms, entertaining patients and their families with fun and dramatic stories. They sometimes team up with Sundiata's music program.
• Sarah Saulter. Sarah specializes in complex stories told bedside to patients and delights all with her expressive tales. She also tells stories for children at Alexa's PLAYC.

In addition to our staff storytellers, volunteers read stories to patients at bedside. Throughout the years, there have been many volunteer storytellers who worked in waiting rooms and lobbies of the Hospital and clinics.

 
Alan Quezada (left) and Ivan Garcia (with mom, Delia) are transported away from their room in our Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and onto a magical adventure, thanks to storyteller Linda Whiteside. Linda, part of Rady Children's Healing Arts Program, customizes her stories for each patient, telling tall tales in both English and Spanish.