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The tragic events of September 11 have had an enormous impact on us in the United States - decreasing our sense of safety and increasing our awareness of vulnerability. National security, possibilities of terrorism, and the war in Afghanistan dominate the news.¹ This is my sense of what is occurring from my home in Louisville, Kentucky, far away from New York City and Washington, DC, where the attacks occurred. I am not intending to reflect what things are like closer to where the tragedies took place. Things in these cities are, I believe, much more immediate and personal.

Music has played an important role in our healing process as we have dealt with these events, and it seems to me that awareness of the importance of music in our society has been increasing as a result of these and other events. My perception of increasing awareness of the importance of music is one reason that I decided to write about this topic.

One of the more visible uses of music following September 11 was the singing of patriotic songs. "God Bless America," a traditional and well-loved song by Irving Berlin, was one of the more obvious examples. Just a few days after the tragedy, members of the U.S. Congress stood on the steps of the Capital and sang this song. It was widely publicized as an example of both patriotism and unity - the unity being an issue because, in our two-party system, the two parties often oppose one another. In the music therapy groups that I conduct, "God Bless America" was a favorite song to request for several weeks after the tragedy.

Another use of music was shared by Dorit Amir in her recent Voices Fortnightly Column, "What is the Meaning of Music Therapy These Days?" She reported on an e-mail from Edith Hillman Boxill and Maria Elena Lopez-Vinader, Co-Directors of Music Therapists for Peace, sent on September 21, which reported: "Moments after the attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Center, Music Therapists for Peace went into action, mobilizing music therapists in NY to give service to traumatized people. On Saturday, September 16th, music therapists, musicians, and friends of MTP gathered to make immediate plans to go into schools, community centers, child day care centers, churches and synagogues to offer their services. The work took place in several schools." Music also had an important role, I am sure, in numerous ceremonies and services that have been held to honor people who were killed or injured in the events of 9/11, both individually and collectively.

Many people on the Music Therapy ListServe to which I belong shared their uses of music during these difficult times. The majority of the people who belong to this ListServe are from the U.S., but some of the participants are also some from around the world. I was struck with how many ways people used music, the range of types of music that they used, and - while it was not a surprise - how important music was in helping people deal with all of the difficult emotions that arose at this time.

The National Public Radio system similarly asked listeners to share music that they had turned to during this time for grieving, healing, and solace. I was enriched by hearing much of the music that listeners suggested and also by hearing of their awareness of the power of music in their lives. (Michele Forinash, in her Fortnightly Column for Voices, wrote of similar uses of music. She said: "The public classical radio station that I listen to here in Boston, Massachusetts, has made a point of playing music that listeners have specifically requested and identified as music they felt was healing. Apparently many, many listeners have responded and have used these requests as a way to both listen to music that is meaningful to them as well as a way to share this music with many other unknown, grieving listeners.")

A number of people composed songs around that time, some of which were produced and are now for sale. The local television station in my town often features people who were moved to write music honoring those who died or music that commemorates those events. Many of these artists are donating a portion of the profits from their sales to victims of 9/11. There were also a number of benefit concerts by well-known musicians in the months following September 11, all for victims of the tragedy. These musicians used their talents and their music to raise money to help others. I am sure that many benefits have also happened more locally and been presented by less well-known musicians.

Several aspects of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan have received a lot of attention. The treatment of women has been the most notable, but the abolition of music has also received attention. It seems that, by noting and discussing what it meant or would mean not to be able to play and hear music, there has been additional attention to the importance of music in everyday life.

Music censorship also occurred much closer to home. The description below came from a website: "Following the September 11th terrorist attacks, Clear Channel Communications, the largest owner of radio stations in the United States, release(d) a list of more than 150 'lyrically questionable' songs that stations may want to pull from their playlists. Few songs portray explicit violence, but most have metaphoric themes that ring a bit too close to the tragedies." (http://ericnuzum.com/banned/y2k.html#clear) I have listed below a relatively short sampling from the long list of songs that were included (http://www.f---edcompany.com/extras/clearchannel_email.cfm):

The Beatles "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"

The Beatles "Ticket To Ride"

The Beatles "Obla Di, Obla Da"

Bob Dylan/Guns N Roses "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"

Paul McCartney and Wings "Live and Let Die"

Billy Joel "Only the Good Die Young"

Drifters "On Broadway"

Peter and Gordon "I Go To Pieces"

Peter and Gordon "A World Without Love"

Elvis "(You're the) Devil in Disguise"

Elton John "Rocket Man"

Jerry Lee Lewis "Great Balls of Fire"

Santana "Evil Ways"

Louis Armstrong "What A Wonderful World"

Peter Paul and Mary "Blowin' in the Wind"

Peter Paul and Mary "Leavin' on a Jet Plane"

Rolling Stones "Ruby Tuesday"

Simon and Garfunkel "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Happenings "See You in September"

Carole King "I Feel the Earth Move"

Hollies "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"

Don McLean "American Pie"

Buddy Holly and the Crickets "That'll Be the Day"

John Lennon "Imagine"

Bobby Darin "Mack the Knife"

Blood Sweat and Tears "And When I Die"

Frank Sinatra "New York, New York"

Creedence Clearwater Revival "Travelin' Band

The fact that this list had been distributed caused much debate and discussion. I believe that the suggestions were often ignored and may have even been withdrawn. But it is disturbing to me and others that this attempt to restrict people's ability to listen to music occurred here in the U.S.

The multiple uses of music and the reactions to attempts to restrict it have reaffirmed my belief in the power of music and, as happens also in other situations, my knowledge of music as a powerful tool. It seems that, as music has been so widely used, others are also acknowledging its power. Certainly people's shock at the Taliban's prohibition of music and of the attempted censoring of music on radio stations reflected a sense of the importance of music in our lives.

Our U.S. music therapy organization, the American Music Therapy Association, and the Recording Academy^® are sponsoring an initiative to use music therapy in dealing with the tragedy of the World Trade Centers, and it is on this very positive note that I would like to end this column. From the AMTA website (http://www.musictherapy.org/):

The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), with the support of the Recording Academy^®, has committed to providing grief and other counseling through music therapy throughout the New York City metropolitan area in response to the events of September 11, 2001.

The New York City Music Therapy Project is directed by Andrea Frisch, MA, MT-BC. The Project is designed to ameliorate stress and develop coping mechanisms using music and music therapy interventions for children, rescue workers, families and others. Qualified professional music therapists from New York City and across the country will organize programs and services that will include song-writing, music-assisted relaxation, music listening, individual and group music therapy, and other experiences to help those affected by the tragedy.

The Project will run from November 2001 through March 2002 and will reach children and adults throughout the New York City metropolitan area. In addition to the work of Andrea Frisch, music therapists and music therapy students from across the country are expected to participate in this project. To date, over thirty (30) music therapists and five (5) colleges and universities and other music therapy groups have responded to the call to action.

The Project will include a research component in addition to the direct services. AMTA plans to a multi-site research design to gather pre and post treatment data on music therapy programs and interventions. It is hoped that the research will contribute to the current literature on the response to and treatment of trauma and the role of music therapy.

Numerous partners are working with AMTA to make this important project a reality. The New York City Mental Health Association and Board of Education, the Council of Senior Centers and Services, and the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services have been instrumental in identifying need, making referrals, and providing access to program sites. Beth Abraham Health Services/Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, Beth Israel Medical Center, Music Conservatory of Westchester - The Music Therapy Institute, and New York University and Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy will provide direct music therapy services and training utilizing their staff and facilities.

Finally, this project would not be possible without the support and vision of The Recording Academy, President & CEO Michael Greene, and Vice President Kristen Madsen. AMTA greatly appreciates their commitment to the power and benefit of music therapy.

This application of music therapy is truly exciting and a wonderful way of sharing the skills of music therapist in helping to deal with this tragedy.

References

Nuzum, Eric (2000). A Brief History of Banned Music [online] Ericnuzum.com. Available at: http://ericnuzum.com/banned/y2k.html#clear [Accessed 9 Feb. 2002]

American Music Therapy Association (2001). AMTA and the Recording Academy Bring Music Therapy to the Heart of Ground Zero. AMTA Website Available at: http://www.musictherapy.org/ [Accessed 9 Feb. 2002]

Amir, Dorit (2002). What is the Meaning of Music Therapy These Days? [online] Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy. Available at: http://www.voices.no/columnist/colamir140102.html [Accessed 9 Feb. 2002]

Clear Channel's List of Songs with Questionable Lyrics. [online] F---edCompany.com. Available at: http://www.f---edcompany.com/extras/clearchannel_email.cfm [Accessed 9 Feb. 2002]

Forinash, Michele (2001). I Am Grateful for Music." [online] Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy. Available at: http://www.voices.no/columnist/colforinash221001.html [Accessed 9 Feb. 2002]

Notes:

1) As I write this in early February, there are reports that surveys indicate that people are now more concerned about the economy than about terrorism. So, whether it is wise or not, our national awareness may be moving away from these issues. On the other hand, the great majority of our news coverage continues to focus on these events.

How to cite this page

Wheeler, Barbara (2002) Reflections on the Importance of Music in Dealing with the Tragedies of September 11. Voices Resources. Retrieved January 15, 2015, from http://testvoices.uib.no/community/?q=fortnightly-columns/2002-reflections-importance-music-dealing-tragedies-september-11