French Horn Player Brings Healing Music to Patients and Visitors of Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center

Music has the unique ability to draw us in and spark our imagination by stimulating our minds and calming our moods. In the clinical setting, music therapy often has significant impacts on patient recovery, specifically reducing cortisol (stress hormone) and enhancing the body’s endorphins (“feel-good” hormones).
At St. Mary Medical Center or SMMC volunteer Julie Spacht, a retired engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, has volunteered for more than a year by playing the French Horn for people entering the hospital. She hopes that her soothing music will help distract people from the pains and stresses they may be experiencing.

Julie Spacht began volunteering at Dignity Health in January 2020.

“I started shortly after retiring and was there a total of three weeks before all volunteers were sent home in an abundance of caution,” she recalled.
“Since I am stationed outside and able to socially distance, it was deemed safe for me to return sooner than most. During my volunteer shift, I set up in the grass area right next to the hospital entrance and play the French horn for anyone coming or going,” said Julie.
Her beautiful music is well received, often acknowledged by clapping or someone commenting from afar. Julie tries to play uplifting songs, fully aware of music’s power.

“Sometimes I play songs that have a recognizable tune, but that people may not know the lyrics to … the melody alone is enough to evoke feelings of comfort and nostalgia.”

Julie knows this from experience. Her mother was hospitalized several years ago and she still remembers the pianist that was performing in the general lobby while she waited, saying she found the music lovely and very soothing.

“I remember thinking ‘now there’s something I can do for others, too,’” Julie said.

Photo caption: Julie Spacht plays a lullaby to welcome and congratulate the Delamora Valdivia family and their new baby girl, Maria Ivette, who was born Jan. 21, at Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center.