Healing Soundscapes im Krankenhaus

Abstract

Hospitals increasingly becoming a focus of public interest as places of health promotion. With regard to a conducive acoustic environment design, music therapists can work closely with other professional groups to ensure that appropriate quality criteria and measures are developed. With reference to current research, the article derives the need to improve the aesthetics of hospital environments and positions the topic of research in the field of healing environments. It then introduces the concepts and approaches of Soundscape, Atmosphere, Environmental Music Therapy and Ambient Music, which essentially shape the interdisciplinary teaching and research project Healing Soundscapes. Healing Soundscapes aim to develop Musical Soundscape Interventions for specific hospital areas that positively affect the atmosphere. In the process, computer-aided generative musical compositions are played over loudspeakers. The concept of Healing Soundscapes is discussed, previous research is summarised and its further development is outlined.