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On the Breath of Song: The Practice of Bedside Singing for the Dying
Hallowell, founded by Kathy Leo of Vermont, is a hospice choir connected to Brattleboro Area Hospice. Hallowell has served as a model for many other hospice choirs formed as part of this growing movement. Kathy continues to co-lead workshops in the practice of bedside singing for the dying. She also works part time as a care coordinator for Brattleboro Area Hospice. Prior to her work with the dying, Kathy was a midwife and childbirth educator.
238 pages, Paperback
Published November 8, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 2, 2017
Full disclosure - the author is my sister.
That being said, the writing in this book is wonderful - very lyrical and poetic.
This is written as a guide book of sorts for people who are engaged in or thinking about getting involved in the hospice-related activity of bedside singing. While there is advice and guidance sprinkled throughout the book, the real value comes from the stories she shares of the groups experiences at various bedsides.
For those of us not involved in this practice, the stories still provide some thought provoking ideas about end-of-life experiences and how society views death. While I was obviously aware of what my sister and her group have been doing, I had no insight into the actual singing experience until now.
That being said, the writing in this book is wonderful - very lyrical and poetic.
This is written as a guide book of sorts for people who are engaged in or thinking about getting involved in the hospice-related activity of bedside singing. While there is advice and guidance sprinkled throughout the book, the real value comes from the stories she shares of the groups experiences at various bedsides.
For those of us not involved in this practice, the stories still provide some thought provoking ideas about end-of-life experiences and how society views death. While I was obviously aware of what my sister and her group have been doing, I had no insight into the actual singing experience until now.
August 2, 2018
A moving book indeed. I was in tears many times. Recommended by Kate Munger, founder of Threshold Choirs -- there are more than 100 Threshold groups around the world. I have been in the Charlottesville Threshold Singers since 2007. (Visit www:CharlottevilleThresholdSingers.org to find our website and see a couple stories I've written about our group.) We sing to hospice patients and others in need of comfort, strength, and peace.
It's a unique calling. The author is a long-time member of the Hallowell Singers, and this book centers around their hospice singing with deathbed stories and some pointers on the "hows" of this sort of serving a community.
Most helpful for me were the statements about there being no wrong way to sing in these situations, even if things seem less than smooth or easy. A touching and useful little book. With some pictures.
It's a unique calling. The author is a long-time member of the Hallowell Singers, and this book centers around their hospice singing with deathbed stories and some pointers on the "hows" of this sort of serving a community.
Most helpful for me were the statements about there being no wrong way to sing in these situations, even if things seem less than smooth or easy. A touching and useful little book. With some pictures.
June 24, 2017
As a hospice chaplain these past five years, I have been deeply moved by the impact bedside sings have on "my" patients and their families. I have also been blessed to officiate at funerals where Hallowell has given their musical gift to mourners. Especially with that background, it was a delight to read this book. Kathy Leo's insightful, gentle soul is so very present in her writing. I am grateful for the window into her world.
April 17, 2018
When I first bought this book I was not singing in a hospice choir and was not ready for it. From the stories to the suggestions of ways to talk with people, this book is very helpful to those involved in hospice singing work. My favorite phrase was - vigil singing provides a space for grief to rest.
July 10, 2017
I'm in a choir that sings for hospice & palliative care patients so this book was valuable to me in that another choir's experiences were added to mine. a well-written guide to singing to and for the dying
December 23, 2024
A beautiful description of and reflection on bedside singing.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews