Have you ever have one of ‘those songs that get stuck, playing over and over in your head.” Well, I have had a song stuck to my head since shadowing Jennifer Miller on Thursday and have found that when a song gets stuck in your head is called an ‘earworm.’ Seriously!
In Psychology Today, David J. Ley Ph.D., posted on May 10, 2015, that “researchers found partial support for the theory that earworms occur as a result of the Zeigarnik Effect, in which our minds get stuck on incomplete mental processes. This theory suggests that our brains can get “hung up,” when we hear an incomplete song that we do not know well. Because our mind can’t “put the song away” and finish it, it gets stuck like a needle on a record, or as in “Groundhog Day,” playing the same unfinished snippet on nonstop repeat.”
I keep hearing Jennifer strumming her guitar, her soft voice singing Bob Marley’s song, Three Little Birds. I’ve never heard the song before Thursday, but I remember a very short version of it since I heard it several times. There was a message in the lyrics that stuck and it said:
“Don’t worry about a thing, ‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right. Singin’: “Don’t worry about a thing, ‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right! ” Rise up this mornin’, Smile with the risin’ sun, Three little birds Pitch by my doorstep Singin’ sweet songs Of melodies pure and true, Sayin’, (“This is my message to you-ou-ou: “)
I am sure that Jennifer sung a longer version, but all I can remember is the above chorus, I was busy looking at each child’s and young adult smile or gurgle during this song, busy seeing the emotion of the parent at seeing their child react to the song surely made a strong impact on me. The song made a child laugh and the parent seem wistful and joyous, all at once…none of these children were healthy, they had chronic illnesses or combination of a chronic illness plus either a physical or mental disability and unfortunately in some cases all of the above. I looked at the blood pressure monitors and noticed the readings lower as Jennifer sang or just strummed her guitar.
Jennifer had seen many of the children and young adults before, they had been in the hospital the previous week, or she has been seeing them for months, she made notes in their charts after each session, noting if there was a twinkle in the eye that was never there before, or if a smile was formed with an understanding of what was being said. Were instructions followed? She recorded many things in her patient files I’m sure.
Am I worried, that Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds ‘earworm’ will remain stuck in my head? The answer is No, I am glad to have this earworm, it reminds me how blessed my family is and that the Music Therapists like those from Music Sweet Music are able to provide a calming atmosphere to the child and parent on an otherwise busy and hectic day.