Jim McGaw is hoping to prove an old cliche: Music can help soothe a savage beast.
Twice each week, Dearing resident Jim McGaw drives to an oncology practice in Augusta where he spends time playing his hammer dulcimer in treatment rooms for patients undergoing cancer treatments.
"It's a blessing to see the patients get relaxed," Mr. McGaw said. "The treatment is a tense situation and not very pleasant. And I try to make it as pleasant as possible."
At Medical Oncology Associates on Walton Way, Clinical Leader Cheri Ashley said Mr. McGaw's repertoire of music is one segment of the whole healing composition. Ms. Ashley said the oncology practice consists of treatment rooms that have a calm color scheme and style.
"The patients take naps or just sit and listen, or they can read or knit or do whatever," she said. "But they enjoy the music in the background. And we want them to relax as much as possible."
The oncology practice, which includes Drs. Steven Shlaer, Donald Townsend and Silvana Bucur, also has a massage therapist to help patients relax. And another musician, harpist Nell Morris from Augusta, plays music there one day each week.
"And they both play very lightly so it's not overbearing," Ms. Ashley said. "We're just so fortunate to have them, and I think it says a lot for our practice that they would make provisions for that. Not everything is about revenue, and our doctors do care very much about the environment here, and it makes a huge, huge difference."
Mr. McGaw, who is an award-winning composer and a retired music teacher of 22 years from Dearing Elementary School, said it sometimes depresses him to walk into the practice and see the large number of cancer patients.
"They have a lot of patients," he said. "But when I think about it, if you have cancer, you couldn't be in any better place than there. They take good care of you."
Mr. McGaw said he plays for the same patients most of the time, and he especially connects with the older men whose wives are receiving treatments. He said they frequently "crack jokes on each other" to help relieve stress.
"I don't think people realize that when one person is sick, the whole family is sick," he said. "It's not pleasant to know that the outcome is not good. ... It hurts me to know what they are going through. ... They say my music helps them, and they are very complimentary. A lot of times they say, 'we sure are glad you are here today,' and it's a good feeling."
The hammer dulcimer is a musical instrument with strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. The musician strikes the strings with a small mallet held in each hand. Mr. McGaw has recorded several CDs of his music, which is traditionally "jigs and reels," but said he plays more soothing pieces for the therapeutic music.
"I actually went one day when he was scheduled to play, and I thought I'd just stay and listen to him, and I loved it. I just loved it," Ms. Morris said.
Ms. Morris, who is a certified clinical musician, said she normally takes a Celtic harp with her because its smaller size makes it easier to transport. In addition to playing at the oncology practice, Ms. Morris plays for the Medical College of Georgia healing arts program, for memorial services at MCG's Children's Hospital and for hospice patients through Trinity Hospital. When she was first asked to play therapeutic music, Ms. Morris said she was a realtor, and didn't want to give up time from work.
"And after a while, the idea just wouldn't go away," she said. "And so I quit my job, and away I went. ... It's just something that is on my heart. And I felt like the harp music would be soothing and comforting and relaxing for the patients. ... There's a lot more to it than just going in there and smiling and playing music. ... It's definitely a ministry."
PHOTO:
1) mcgaw1 -- cutline: Local musician Jim McGaw plays the hammer dulcimer during March's Taste of Thomson event. Mr. McGaw plays his dulcimer regularly for cancer patients.
