Glossary

The maximal amount of pressure change in a wave (related to loudness)

A heightened state of physiological reaction in response to emotional stimulation.

Practitioners that only utilize live music and have no other goal than addressing a patient’s immediate needs to provide a healing environment.

The primary sensory organ of the auditory system that is responsible for recognizing the various frequencies of complex sound waves and transmitting this sensory information to the brain

The method of collaborative work with and through groups of people linked by geography, interests, or similar situations. Community engagement has the potential to bring about changes to improve community health (“Chapter 1: What is Community Engagement”, 2015).

The burnout or secondary traumatic stress (STS) one may experience when caring for those who are sick or traumatized (Peters, 2018).

The combination of numerous simple sound waves that define the shape of more natural sound waves

A glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that mediates various metabolic processes and whose levels in the blood may become elevated in response to physical or psychological stress; a key measurement in psychobiological and music-related research for anxiety

The capability to express, control, and be aware of one’s emotions in personal and interpersonal settings.

The support and care given to one who is dying (U.S. Department, 2017a).

“The study and systematic recording of human cultures” (“Ethnography”, 2020).

The number of compressions per second (related to pitch).

The use of a small harp as a bedside instrument with the intention of supporting the recipient’s goal of healing.

Care associated solely with end of life care in any setting including a home, nursing home, or inpatient hospital (U.S. Department, 2017b).

A special unit within the hospital system that provides continuous monitoring and treatment of seriously ill patients that are in need of special equipment and services. It can also be the case for pre- or postoperative time periods where patients are recovering from surgical procedures.

Responsible for long-term storage or personal, factual, and habitual information that can be consciously and unconsciously recalled

The musical/clinical modality that unites music and medicine in end of life care

Board-certified health professionals trained to use music therapeutically to assess, establish and meet clinical goals, and evaluate outcomes.

Musicians that work in healthcare settings to enhance the patient experience and care for caregivers through passive or active creative process.

A testimony of related events presented to either listeners or readers in a logical sequence, told by a narrator who either directly takes part in that experience, or who only observes the events. A story is a synonym of narrative. (“Narrative”, 2018).

The brain’s ability to grow and reorganize synaptic networks.

The use of breathing support administered through a face mask or nasal mask. It is termed "non-invasive" because it is delivered with a mask that is tightly fitted to the face, but without a need for tracheal intubation.

Aims to improve a patient’s quality of life and treat a patient’s diagnosis (U.S. Department, 2017b).

An active and engaging form of music that is tailored to the preference of patients as familiar and comforting, provided by live performance with vocals and/or instrumentals as opposed to recorded music that is given either through radio or electronic device.

The time for one wave cycle to complete (inversely related to frequency)

Very short-term storage of sensory information that can later be used by the brain

Responsible for the short-term storage of information and works with working memory to process information from sensory and long-term memory for later execution of certain responses or functions

Speech or text communication that includes a social element (“What is Social Discourse?”).

The process of writing lyrics and the music or melody to songs (“Songwriting”, 2020).

The educated and conscious use of the energy of sound to reach identified goals and promote wellness in the human system including the expansion of consciousness.

Traveling longitudinal waves arising from changes in pressure in a medium

The unique qualities associated with a particular sound source and is related to specific shapes of that source’s complex sound waves

The interface between the outer and middle ear that vibrates according to incoming sound waves in order to transmit these waves to the middle and inner ear

“the state of being happy, healthy, or prosperous” (“Wellbeing”, 2020), closely related to mental health: “… a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community” (WHO qtd. in “What is Wellbeing”, 2020).