Songs from a Window: End-of-Life Stories from the Music Therapy Room

This book is an emotional 'tour de force'. I cannot recommend it highly enough for anyone interested in music therapy, the human condition and the fragility of our mortality. One of the patients was our handsome son-in-law and reading Bob's account of their sessions together was very tearful and brought back the enormity of his loss and the gulf he left behind. His Magnum Opus, his dying gift to his wife and daughter, was a CD of his songs recorded by Bob in his hospice studio. After loss life goes on and his daughter, the image of her father, is also musical and composes her own music on her father's Yamaha organ -she has also dabbled with guitar and oboe. Buy this book!

Ordered it for next day delivery and my wife immediately started reading it and within 24 hours has read it from front to back. She describes the book as telling the journey of the author as he provides comfort to those having end of life palliative care. His is a special job which he has done with a lot of kindness and comfort for many years. Not expensive to buy the paperback which I highly recommend but a kindle option also available

This is an inspiring book of stories about remarkable people facing the end of their lives - teaching us of life, death, love, hope, mystery, forgiveness and reconciliation and so much about the possibility of living until you die. We learn about the alchemy that takes place when words and music come together in songs created in the therapy room and how doors and windows that have been sealed shut are opened. It's a book to ponder on with stories that have relevance, depth and resonance for everyone.

Bob has helped countless people, myself included. He writes with honesty, truth and love. Death is probably the last taboo that our voyeuristic society has fully addressed. Let's hope we all have someone like Bob to guide us toward it.

This book is a lot of things. It shows the true variety in human's and human nature, and how no one seems to want to die in the same way. How simple conversation, and creativity in music, can aid in bringing closure to a life.The book is well written and exceptionally easy to read. If you enjoy Irvin Yalom's style, this is similar, but updated into a more modern format and feel and I am sure that this book will be of great enjoyment and benefit to you.

An absolutely beautifully written book.Thank you so much for dedicating part of the book to my greatly missed cousin.My family found it incredibly emotional to read and took us back to a very dark time in our lives. But your memories of Caspar also made us remember what a beautiful person he was and how much your music therapy helped him.Thank you Bob.

This is a lovely collection of very individual stories about people, who with the authors help; find much needed expression through music and lyrics at arguably the most difficult time of their life. It gets under your skin! I read it in two sittings as needed to take a breather from the sadness but obvious richness of their journey's with the author's interventions. Tugs at your heart strings and makes you want a 'Bob' when the time comes.

This is an emotional and heartfelt memoir of a man who brought joy to many people at the end of their lives. My mother was lucky enough to have had this experience and we, as a family, are eternally grateful to Bob for what he brought into her life. This book speaks to us all. It reminds us about the importance of compassion and humility and the power of the human spirit. Beautifully and accessibly written - a gem.