SALT LAKE CITY -- On June 5, the Air Force group Tops in Blue visited Primary Children's Medical Center and influenced the clinical results of at least six patients, said Lillieth Grand, music therapist. Those statistics were just the ones she happened to be watching at the time -- there were probably positive effects for many more, she said.
The Air Force vocalists exhibited their flexibility and adaptability when asked to vary from their standard songs. Not that the group's renditions of "Our Song," "Follow That Dream," "From This Moment," "Dream Girls," and spontaneous requests for "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and a musical version of the ABCs weren't uplifting and entertaining enough, the singers offered up a soothing rendition of "Over the Rainbow," Hawaiian-style for the Infant NCU area and a surgical recovery unit where quieter songs were needed. When one patient asked for "Amazing Grace," the group members paused to gather themselves and offered up the hymn in harmonious tones and soothing melody. They also enthusiastically offered up "Happy Birthday" to another request.
Members of Tops in Blue are full-time active duty Air Force members and are given one-year permissive duty to participate in the group's preparations and touring. This stop didn't require the usual set up and tear down of staging and equipment which they do themselves. The group gives 135 regularly scheduled performances every year on average and is often asked to give impromptu and last-minute concerts such as this day's morale-boosting tour of the children's hospital.
When Naomi Keen, vocal lead for "From This Moment," stopped between sets to talk for a moment about her experiences with Tops in Blue, she revealed she hadn't started out thinking of herself as a singer.
"I was a bit shy and timid," Keen said. She was encouraged by her senior non-commissioned officer to audition for Tops in Blue. Keen had been asked to perform the national anthem for Air Force events after she had joined a choir while she was in technical school. With her NCO's support, she sent in a tape as required for auditioning.
The Air Force Entertainment staff reviews all tapes submitted and select 60-80 contestants to compete at the Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest. Contestants compete through an extensive series of interviews and auditions for the opportunity to become a member of Tops In Blue. Keen first made the group in 2006 and then auditioned again this year in her quest to become more involved in the management and leadership opportunities. "Now I can talk to anyone about how wonderful this program is," she said.
There are nine male and nine female vocalists in the group this year. Ten band members play an integral role in the productions, and a full staff of technicians backs them up. Tom Edwards directs the program based out of Lackland, Air Force Base, Texas, and has been doing so for the past 38 years. "Our time on the bus is when we review our performances," Keen said, as she described life on the road as a member of the group.
"Our time on the bus is when we review our performances," Keen said, as she described life on the road.
For this visit to the hospital, the vocalists performed a capella, while another group sang at the nearby George H. Wahlen Veteran's hospital in Salt Lake City.
The children at the hospital didn't take long to become fans. One young patient had been approved to leave and was clearly charmed by the visitors and a musical number dedicated solely to her.
After the entertainers' tour, a debriefing was held where the music therapist mentioned the clinical results and explained in greater detail: "I saw two oxygen rates raised, three heart rates lowered and one patient sit up in bed," she said. The patient last mentioned had just recovered from a medical procedure and needed to move some more -- so that was a very good thing.
Grand is very clear about the necessity for training to become a music therapist. "I adapt everything in the moment for the patient," she said,
Music therapy, an evolution in connecting two areas of interest, has shown promise in helping patients. Primary Children's Medical Center currently has one full-time music therapist and two interns.
Grand also emphasized that the group's visit was beneficial for the staff. "It's a very stressful job," she said.
This group of young vocalists, just beginning the first stages of their tour, singing and entertaining -- gave something and got something in return -- the satisfaction of knowing they had been somewhere they had been needed. They also got a big chance at seeing what their entertainment could do for someone else.
Keen probably said it best, when she said earlier that she wanted to tell everybody how wonderful Tops in Blue is. "When you see how we affect the troops and uplift their spirits, and support the members -- it's a nice feeling," Keen said.
Grand encourages anyone interested in the field of music therapy to contact her at lillieth.grand@imail.org or to visit www.musictherapy.org, a Web site which gives more information on the field and the training required.