Nostalgic Melody
Virtual Hymn MusicIan Service
Ocarina Hymn Music
The Ocarina is a vessel flute with a sweet, soft and ethereal sound. I think it pairs beautifully with the classic Christian hymns many of us grew up with. Hymns have deep, comforting, and encouraging lyrics, and their simple arrangement allows everyone to sing and remember them more easily.
Whether people acknowledge it or not, Music has Power, and God uses music as a means to unite His children and cause miracles to happen. We see trumpets being used to tear down Jericho’s walls (Joshua 6:1-21), we see David playing his lyre/harp for King Saul and his tormenting spirits fled (1 Samuel 16:14-23), we see Elisha requesting a minstrel in a time of distress, and God’s presence descending while they played (2 Kings 3:15), we see Paul and Silas singing praises in prison when a miraculous earthquake happened and set them free (Acts 16:25-26), and many more examples.
If you have a loved one who is seeking the comfort and encouragement of beautiful spiritual hymns, I would love to play for them and minister to their souls! I expand more on my mission with this service in this article!
MAny Mental & Physical Benefits
Music is more than just sound, To the elderly, hymns are often dear to their hearts and brings great comfort and joy. Music in general is a wonderful form of entertainment, but can also help their mental health, cognitive function, and physical well-being. Not to mention, help them draw close to God! The listener is free to listen, sing along, or even dance!~
For hospice patients, music aids in reducing pain, anxiety, and blood pressure, while fostering comfort and connection in the final stages of life. It can even help stabilize breathing during the final stages of life. Music also helps reduce loneliness, fear, and depression, while encouraging spiritual reflection and emotional closure.
Elevates Mood
Music elevates your mood by triggering widespread brain activity that releases feel-good chemicals, reduces stress, and engages deep emotional memories. “A music playlist that gradually moves from uncomfortable emotions to comfortable ones can be a healthy coping strategy and facilitate a positive mood change.” (Source 1 | Source 2)
Relieves Pain & Anxiety
Music reduces pain by triggering the release of natural painkillers in the brain, lowering stress hormones, and competing with pain signals for cognitive attention. Music distracts the brain from physical discomfort, making tasks feel less demanding and allowing for sustained focus. Listening to relaxing rhythms lowers your heart rate and decreases cortisol (the stress hormone), shifting your nervous system into a recovery state. (Source)
Improves Memory
Music improves memory by engaging multiple, diverse neural networks across the brain at once, including areas responsible for emotion, motor control, and auditory processing. It acts as a powerful cognitive and emotional anchor, stimulating the hippocampus and amygdala to help lay down new information and unlock vivid, long-term autobiographical memories. Frequently listening to music or playing an instrument may help lower the risk of developing dementia. (Source 1 | Source 2)
Dementia/Alzheimers Support
Musical interventions have been shown to decrease a patient’s agitation and improve communication and caregiver relationships. Dementia can be cured by music therapy and music-based intervention (nonpharmacological intervention) rather than by medication. Music and art can enrich the lives of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Both allow for self-expression and engagement, even after dementia has progressed. (Source 1 | Source 2)
Motivates & Energizes
Listening to upbeat or favorite music triggers the release of dopamine in the brain’s reward center, which produces feelings of pleasure and directly boosts drive. Rhythmic beats and tempos align with and regulate the body’s autonomic nervous system. This can increase heart rate, elevate energy levels, and reduce the perception of fatigue. On this Reddit thread about Nursing Home Gigs, one person commented “When the music therapist would come, for that half hour these people who were nonverbal and basically vegetating in a chair would snap out of it and sing along. It’s one of the most remarkable things I’ve ever seen to this day.” and someone else replied “I’ve had experiences like that, with people singing and dancing along and showing signs of life and exuberance.”
Increases COnnection
Music increases connection by acting as a biological and social glue, triggering the release of neurochemicals like oxytocin (for trust) and endorphins (for bonding) in the brain. Shared musical experiences, such as singing or listening together, align brainwaves and lower interpersonal barriers, creating an instant sense of empathy and belonging. (Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3)
Spiritual Healing & Assurance
Music helps Christians spiritually by anchoring their minds in biblical truth, harmonizing their hearts to feel what they know, and cultivating spiritual fruits like peace and joy. It bridges the gap between head knowledge and heart faith, creating a sacred space for prayer, lament, and community. (Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3)
Hospice/Palliative Care
“Music therapy can be used throughout the entire care process, from diagnosis and treatment, through palliation, during hospice, when the patient is actively dying, and during bereavement. It can assist the patient in dealing with bodily symptoms, emotional impacts, social challenges, and spiritual concerns. Physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, tension, and pain have been proven to be helped by music therapy” (Source). Hearing is usually the last sense to go, so you can ensure your loved ones are comforted in their last moments.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16
One-On-One Live Hymn Music
$50 for 30 Minutes
Available through Zoom, Facebook/Messenger, WhatsApp, and Microsoft Teams.
Acoustic (Ocarina-Only) Music. No backing tracks as multiple sources of music lowers sound quality.
100% deposit required at time of booking. Full refund available if cancelled 48 hours before appointment.
PIck Your Hymn Setlist
I’ve listened and browsed through hundreds, possibly thousands of Christian songs. I have settled on 62 that have wonderful, theological messages, while still sounding lovely on my instrument. I have divided these songs into 5 playlists based on their feel or genre. Each setlist has 14-16 songs, allowing me flexibility to play what I feel is needed during the session. Regardless of the playlist you choose, you are free to swap songs with ones from another playlist if you would enjoy those more.
Each session also comes with ONE FREE HYMN of your choice from outside this list. I know we all have our beloved hymns that comfort or encourage us the most, so as long as you can find the sheets to the song on Hymnary.org, I would be happy to learn it in time for your session. Requests may be rejected if the song is outside of my instrument (Low A to High F) or is a little too complex/difficult to play well.
Traditional
Here are songs every Christian seems to know as they are in almost every hymnal.
-Amazing Grace
-Abide With Me
-Come Thou Fount
-Great Is Thy Faithfulness
-He Leadeth Me
-I Need Thee Every Hour
-I Surrender All
-Jesus Paid It All
-Just As I Am
-Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
-Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling
-Sweet Hour Of Prayer
-The Old Rugged Cross
-There Is A Fountain
Melancholic
Slower, more meditative hymns to process emotions and draw closer to God
-Abide With Me
-Amazing Grace
-As The Deer
-Draw Me Nearer
-Great Is Thy Faithfulness
-Give Thanks
-I Have Decided To Follow Jesus
-I Need Thee Every Hour
-I Surrender All
-Just As I Am
-My Shepherd Will Supply My Needs
-Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
-Softly And Tenderly Jesus Is Calling
-The Old Rugged Cross
Joyful
When you want to feel happy and praise God, these are the hymns for you!
-A Shelter In The Time Of Storm
-Brethren, We Have Met To Worship
-Glory To His Name
-Jesus Loves Even Me
-Jesus Paid It All
-Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
-Love Lifted Me
-O, How I Love Jesus
-O! Say, But I’m Glad
-Sweet By And By
-Take The Name Of Jesus With You
-There Is A Fountain
-Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
-When He Cometh
CCM/Contemporary
Hits that topped charts and are sung in modern churches. Simple and sweet lyrics so you can sing along!
-10,000 Reasons (Matt Redman)
-Above All (Lenny LeBlanc/Michael W. Smith)
-All I Have Is Christ (Sovereign Grace Music)
-Alpha and Omega (Israel & New Breed)
-As The Deer (Martin Nystrom)
-Been So Good (Elevation Worship)
-Give Thanks (Henry Smith)
-Goodness of God (Bethel Music/Cece Winans)
-Here I Am To Worship (Tim Hughes)
-His Mercy Is More (Matt Boswell/Matt Papa)
-Holy Forever (Chris Tomlin)
-How Great Is Our God (Chris Tomlin)
-In Christ Alone (K. Getty/Adrienne Liesching)
-Open The Eyes Of My Heart (Paul Baloche)
-Worthy Of It All (Cece Winans)
-You Are My All In All (Dennis Jernigan)
East Asian CCM/Hymns
This blog was created to promote East Asian Music, so here’s a playlist with beautiful hymns and contemporary songs from China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Philippines!
-Come Holy Spirit – 聖霊よ来たれ (City Harvest Church)
-Flowers – 花も/꽃들도 (MEBIC/NCM2 Choir)
-Give Thanks – 大いなる方に/거룩하신 하나님/獻上感恩 (Henry Smith)
-God’s Love Now – 主の愛が今/주의 사랑이 지금 (Kawameki)
-Grace – 은혜/恵み/恩典 (Son KyungMin)
-Jacob’s Blessing – 야곱의 축복 (Soriel)
-Jesus, I’m In Love With You – 慕い求めます/더 원합니다 (Takafumi Nagasawa)
-Let Me Stay – 能不能 (Stream Of Praise)
-Lord’s Hand – 주의 손에 나의 손을 포개고/主の手に我が手を重ね (You Eun Sung)
-Many and Great (Ricky Manalo)
-Mission – 사명/使命 (Lee Kwon-hee)
-Peace – 平安 (Stream Of Praise)
-Still – 静まって知れ Still/주 품에/安靜 (Hillsong)
-What The Lord Has Done – 약한 나로 강하게/弱さをつよく (Reuben Morgan)
-You Sit On The Throne – 你坐著為王 (River Of Life Church)
-Your Love Will Never Leave Me – 你的愛不離不棄 (River Of Live Church)
"But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him." 2 Kings 3:15
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR THIS SERVICE?
1. Fill out this form. It will provide me with your contact information, the information of the client receiving the service, your preferred playlists, and available times.
2. I will e-mail back within 2 business days to discuss details, confirm information, and finalize a date.
3. You will make your deposit/payment via Ko-Fi. Direct PayPal and e-transfer (Canada) is also an option.
4. Once payment is received, appointment will be confirmed either via email or Google calendar.
5. If required, you will receive an appointment link at least 24 hours before the appointment.
6. Set your client up on a phone, tablet, or laptop at least 10 minutes early. I will also be on early to ensure mics and headphones are working, and to introduce myself to the client beforehand.
7. Enjoy the show!!
HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE FOR YOUR SERVICES?
My service costs $50 for 30 minutes, no extra costs. The $50 includes the songs from your preferred playlist. Song swaps (choosing to switch a song from your playlist for a song in another playlist) is also free. You are also allowed 1 FREE optional song of your choice from anywhere else, as there is bound to be a song that is close to your or their heart that isn’t on my list.
Other additional songs will cost $5 each for traditional hymns (if sheet music can be found on Hymnary), or $10 for contemporary songs (as I would have to learn these by ear). I will do my best to play any Christian song asked of me; however, I may have to reject a request if the song has a much wider range than my instrument can play, or it is too difficult for me to play well.
WHEN ARE YOU AVAILABLE? WHAT’S YOUR SCHEDULE LIKE?
I work from home and have a pretty flexible job, so I am available almost anytime Monday to Friday. Saturdays are my day of rest, but I am willing to play for a good cause. Sunday mornings, I go to church, but am generally free the rest of the day. Of course, personal plans may arise, but once we have made arrangements, I will work around that appointment. I will not cancel unless for emergencies.
HOW MUCH ADVANCED NOTICE DO YOU NEED?
In general, I would like to book and confirm the appointment at least 3 days in advance, more if you are asking for newer songs. However, because I have memorized these songs in advance, I am still able to take a client if it is booked 24 hours in advance.
WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?
Bookings cancelled more than 48 hours before the appointment is eligible for a full refund. Bookings cancelled less than 48 hours before are still eligible for a 50% refund. No-shows are not eligible for a refund. I am willing to reschedule if an emergency happened and I am informed within 48 hours after the appointment. Otherwise, a new appointment and deposit will be required. If the client passed away before I got to fulfill my order, I will also give a full refund as a gift of compassion.