Health & Fitness
Zooming Music: St. Mary's Hospital Brings Holiday Cheer to Patient Rooms via Zoom
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Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, December 19th 2025 at 23:54 GMT by abc7NY- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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Zooming Music: How a New Jersey Hospital Is Bringing Holiday Cheer into Patients’ Rooms
During the height of the pandemic, many hospitals across the United States were forced to shut down their usual community‑wide events and shift to virtual platforms. While the transition was necessary for safety, it also meant that patients, many of whom were in isolation or on long‑term wards, were cut off from one of the most universally soothing experiences—live music. In 2020, a team of musicians, nurses, and administrators at the St. Mary’s Hospital in Hackensack, New Jersey, answered the call. They launched a program called Zooming Music, a holiday‑focused initiative that brings professionally‑performed concerts into patients’ rooms via the video‑conferencing app Zoom. The result? A ripple of joy that has touched more than 500 patients, visitors, and staff members during the 2023 holiday season.
From a Pandemic‑Born Idea to a Winter Tradition
The program’s roots are firmly planted in the pandemic’s social‑distancing requirements. The first Zooming Music event, held in December 2020, was a simple, one‑song performance by a local community choir. “It started as a test run to see if the hospital’s Wi‑Fi could handle it, and it turned into something we all needed,” said Dr. Emily Torres, the hospital’s Director of Music Therapy. Within months, the project expanded to include a full repertoire of holiday classics, from “Silent Night” to “Jingle Bells,” and even a surprise rendition of “Feliz Navidad” that left staff wiping tears from their eyes.
The program’s format is straightforward yet carefully curated. Each week, a volunteer or paid musician—often a graduate of the New York Philharmonic or a local high‑school orchestra—sets up a small stage in the hospital’s dedicated music room. A high‑definition camera and a sound‑shielded microphone capture the performance, which is streamed live to patients’ rooms via Zoom. Nurses coordinate with patients, ensuring that each one has the necessary tablet or laptop, and they help them navigate the interface so that the music can be enjoyed without technical hiccups. The program is also accessible to patients’ families who wish to watch the performances from home, bridging the hospital–home divide during a time of travel restrictions.
A Healing Power That Goes Beyond the Notes
While the primary goal of Zooming Music is to lift spirits during the holiday season, the hospital has documented measurable health benefits that echo the well‑established link between music and healing. In a survey conducted by the hospital’s Research Department, 87 % of patients reported a “significant improvement in mood,” and 73 % said they felt “more connected to their family and friends” after the concert. “It’s not just about the music itself,” says Nurse Maria Alvarez, who has overseen the program since its inception. “It’s the sense of normalcy it brings—patients see familiar faces on the screen, hear a familiar tune, and feel less isolated.”
The program also supports the hospital’s broader initiatives around mental health and pain management. Patients with chronic pain, for example, have reported a decrease in pain levels during and after the concerts, as measured by the Visual Analog Scale. The hospital’s pain management team has noted a temporary reduction in opioid usage among patients who participate in Zooming Music during the holiday period. While more rigorous studies are needed, the anecdotal evidence is encouraging and aligns with research from the American Music Therapy Association, which identifies music as a “low‑risk, high‑reward adjunct to conventional medical treatment.”
Community Partnerships and the Power of Volunteerism
Behind the scenes, Zooming Music thrives on partnerships with local arts organizations and a network of dedicated volunteers. The Hackensack Symphony Orchestra sponsors the program’s inaugural performance, while the New Jersey Music & Arts Foundation provides equipment donations, including wireless speakers and high‑quality microphones. “The community’s response has been overwhelming,” says Thomas Greene, President of the New Jersey Music & Arts Foundation. “They understood that this was more than entertainment; it was a lifeline.”
Volunteer musicians are often retirees who have found a new purpose in the hospital setting. “I’ve played the violin for 30 years,” says Sarah Kim, a 68‑year‑old volunteer who has performed with the program every holiday season since 2021. “Playing for these patients gives me a sense of fulfillment I haven’t felt since my last concert in 1999.” The hospital has formalized the volunteer process through a brief training module covering hospital etiquette, patient privacy laws, and basic technical troubleshooting. This professional approach ensures a seamless experience for patients and a safe environment for volunteers.
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Reach Beyond Holidays
Although Zooming Music began as a holiday‑only project, the hospital leadership has begun to envision a year‑long offering. Dr. Torres outlines plans for “seasonal concerts” that coincide with major holidays such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, as well as a summer series featuring light‑hearted music. The hospital’s IT department is already working on a dedicated streaming channel, ensuring that patients will not need to juggle multiple apps.
In addition to expanding the concert schedule, the program is exploring collaborations with mental health professionals to incorporate guided meditation and mindfulness sessions led by musicians. “We’re essentially building a full audio‑visual therapy suite,” explains Dr. Torres. “By integrating music with other modalities, we can create a holistic healing experience that supports both the body and mind.”
A Model That Others Can Follow
Zooming Music has caught the attention of other New Jersey hospitals. A spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Health said that the program “provides a blueprint for how technology can be used to bring community resources into the hospital setting.” The program’s success has prompted the state to allocate a modest grant to help other facilities establish similar initiatives. “We’re excited to see how other hospitals can adapt the model to meet their unique patient populations,” says the department’s Director of Health Innovation, Linda McDermott.
The ABC 7 NY feature on Zooming Music also highlighted the personal stories of several patients. One featured patient, James Lee, an 84‑year‑old heart‑transplant recipient, described how hearing a choir sing “Ave Maria” made him feel “like I’m on a Sunday service again.” His daughter, Anna, said that watching the performance from her own apartment, which had been restricted for months, was a “miracle.” Such testimonials underscore the program’s profound impact on patients’ quality of life.
Conclusion
From its humble beginnings as a one‑song Zoom test run, Zooming Music has evolved into a cornerstone of patient care at St. Mary’s Hospital in Hackensack. By leveraging technology, community partnerships, and a commitment to patient wellness, the program not only spreads holiday joy but also provides tangible health benefits, fostering a sense of connection and hope in a time that can otherwise feel isolating. As the hospital looks to expand the initiative beyond the holiday season, Zooming Music stands as an inspiring model for other healthcare institutions seeking to weave music, community, and technology into their therapeutic tapestry.
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