Volunteer Opportunities

Ben Taub Hospital is a public community trauma center at the Texas Medical Center specializing in acute and psychiatric emergency medicine. MusicMDs members can play music for patients individually in their own rooms, as well as in the larger setting with 10-20 patients, nurses, and staff. MusicMDs members at Ben Taub can also perform at the traumasurgical ICU and the occupational therapy observation area, often used for group activities! If you're looking for a more diverse, community-oriented musical volunteering experience in a busier ER setting, Ben Taub is a great option to sign up for!

The Village at Southampton is a retirement home near Rice Village that offers assisted living and memory care services. MusicMDs members perform for 10-20 residents and staff in a common area. If you volunteer here, you will perform multiple pieces for the same audience, giving you an opportunity to really get to know the residents. In this relaxed, interactive environment, you can ask the seniors if there are any classics or older popular songs that they would like to hear! MusicMDs will visit The Village at Southampton for special holiday events.

Houston Methodist Hospital is a quaternary care facility at the Texas Medical Center specializing in inpatient/outpatient healthcare. At Houston Methodist, MusicMDs members can either play in the lobby or perform live, one-to-one music for the patients in the comfort of their own rooms. A piano is available for use in the lobby! MusicMDs members will primarily be working with inpatients or within the intensive care unit at Houston Methodist. This is most like your conventional hospital volunteering setting with a more relaxed environment and our oldest partnering institution!

Omega House, a sanctuary for those facing life-threatening illnesses, embodies a mission of providing comfort, solace, and dignity to its residents. Music healing plays a pivotal role in fulfilling this mission, serving as a powerful therapeutic tool. Volunteers here can perform for patients in rooms, or they can play in a common area. The uplifting nature of music contributes to creating a nurturing environment where residents can find moments of tranquility and healing. This is a relaxed environment and requires no onboarding. *Warning* There are cats here (for those who may have allergies).

The heart of CarePartners is to bring caring volunteers together with families in need of support. Programs are complimentary to caregivers and those suffering from memory loss or other challenges of aging. MusicMDs members come in on Fridays from 2-3:30pm and play in a common area.  Much of their care is for the vulnerable elderly and individuals with Alzheimer's or related dementia. This location has a piano, and is great for anyone who wants a more relaxed way to interact with residents and bring music into care homes.   
 

Houston Hospice is an independent, nonprofit hospice located in the Texas Medical Center. It provides quality end-of-life of care for patients with terminal illnesses, and serves patients of all ages. Here, MusicMDs members can choose a floor of the hospice to perform on, either individually or in groups. The staff is very welcoming and are always looking for ways to provide holistic pain management and emotional support to their patients — the musical connection that MusicMDs creates is one such example. If you are interested in providing music and comfort to patients battling end-stage illnesses, this will be an incredibly meaningful experience for you.

Symphonies for Seniors is an online volunteering program that virtually shares the gift of music with residents of nursing homes and hospices. This opportunity allows for MusicMDs members to brighten the days of residents who cannot have visitors. You can play classical pieces, pop tunes, or anything in between! Video performances are enjoyed by seniors in hundreds of nursing homes in 25 states and Canada. For more information about how to submit performances, please refer to the "Resources" tab.

 Would you like to get to know the people you perform for better? On select days which will be communicated through email, MusicMDs members will also get a chance to interact with patients through painting and arts and crafts during and after the music performances. This is a great opportunity to spend quality time with the patients. It is with great pleasure that we get to work alongside Paint 4 Strength this year!