Music is medicine for hospitalized babies and children

8/1/2025

The music therapy program at Banner Children’s medical centers helps address the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive needs of our youngest patients – from fragile babies to school-age kids and teens—through music. Part of Sarra Erb’s role as a board-certified music therapist at Banner Children’s at Desert involves singing to sick and premature infants in the NICU. Erb is specially trained to use her melodic voice to soothe them along with a calming touch to counterbalance the occasional poking and prodding necessary for lifesaving or life-sustaining treatment.

The program’s impact extends to all members of a patient’s family as they witness the joy and calming effect music brings in the hospital setting. For terminal patients, Sarra even creates heartbeat recordings using a digital stethoscope to give families after the patient passes. She can also add a song on top of the heartbeats. The chosen song is typically significant to the family, making these audio files priceless possessions that offer comfort during bereavement.

The music therapy program and the digital stethoscopes are sustained entirely by charitable gifts to the Banner Health Foundation. Support the Banner Children’s music therapy program. Under gift designation, select Music Therapy/Sophie's Place - Banner Children's at Desert.