Healing Through Music

.... a music library

Many members of the GSI Support Group have dealt with their post-diagnosis blues and depression by listening to music. While some members have reported that soothing music like the classics and ‘easy listening’ calms them and gives them a sense of peace, others have claimed that more upbeat music gives them an emotional lift.

We are pleased to announce that GSI has implemented a music therapy program called “Healing Through Music”. A library has been established and listmates can request CDs of their preferred musical genre to ease their anxiety, fear, depression, or simply ease their or their caregivers’ boredom. This library is not intended to be simply a source for free CDs, but a source for acquiring musical therapy of appropriate type to make dealing with the disease a little easier.

These CDs are offered free, and return is not required, although once they’ve ‘fulfilled their mission’, you may return them to us so others can benefit from their use. The only requirement is that you have a CD player. Our library does not include vinyl (LPs) or tapes.

To Request Music

A form is provided below to request music from the GSI library. You can ask for the musical style you prefer and will also have an opportunity to have us contact you if you need suggestions on what might help you emotionally ‘heal’. We obviously can’t have every artist in our library but giving some of your artist preferences will help us match your musical tastes with what our library contains.

MUSIC REQUEST FORM ( send this information as an e-mail to gsi@gistsupport.org )

Please send me music from the GSI “Healing Through Music” library.

My name and home address are: ______________________________________________________

The style of music I prefer is ________________ , ________________, or _____________________.
Some of my favorite vocal or instrumental  performers in the past have been ____________________, _______________________________, or ___________________________________.

I need advice on what I should be listening to or learning more about ‘therapeutic’ music. Please contact me at email address ________________________________.

To Donate Music CDs

Should you have an abundance of your own music on CD format and you would like to donate them to “Healing Through Music”, they will be welcomed and used appropriately for other members’ benefit.

Please observe the following guidelines should you wish to donate:
1. All incoming CDs should be commercially made, not copies, complete with liner notes or booklet.
2. Only music that would be reasonably considered therapeutic should be donated. That category, as explained above, could be the soothing strains of Montovani or Yanni, or the exciting big band sound of Glenn Miller, Count Basie or Woody Herman.

If you are aware of a source of a large-scale CD donation, such as estate sale leftovers, radio station music library purges, or benevolent record shop owners, please be advised that there are tax benefits available to large-scale donors based on GSI’s non-profit (501 c3) status.

Please mail or ship the donation to GIST Support International in care of:

Robert Spiegel
13340 NE 52nd Court
Anthony, FL 32617

You will receive a letter confirming your donation as a charitable gift.