Song Created by Mothers of the Mother-Baby Intensive Outpatient Program is Featured During Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project

The Mother-Baby IOP mothers worked individually and collectively to create the lyrics, style of music, and tempo.

WASHINGTON - At the end of May, one of the Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program's artists-in-residence, Tamara Wellons, represented MedStar Georgetown University Hospital at Carnegie Hall in New York City by singing a song created by patients using criteria set out by the Carnegie Hall Lullaby Project. The Mother-Baby Intensive Outpatient Program, under the direction of Dr. Aimee Danielson, founder and director of the Women’s Mental Health Program at MedStar Georgetown, collaborated with the Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program for over a year to bring the power of music creation to pre-and postpartum mothers. The Mother-Baby IOP mothers helped create the lyrics, the style of music, and tempo. Watch Tamara's wonderful performance here.

Dr. Aimee Danielson explains the science behind music in promoting healing from mental health conditions, “Several studies show that music therapy can significantly reduce symptoms of both depression and anxiety in perinatal women. The Lullaby Project aims to strengthen the bond between parent and child, promote emotional well-being, and create lasting memories through music. Musicians work with the parents to express their hopes, dreams, and love for their children through songwriting, even if the parents don’t have any prior musical experience.”

The Lullaby Project, a project of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, pairs new and expecting parents and caregivers with professional artists to write and sing personal lullabies for their babies, supporting parental health, aiding childhood development, and strengthening the bond between parent and child. Beyond the personal impact, the project has also been found to support early childhood development, promote parental mental health, and foster a sense of community. The Lullaby Project operates in various communities and healthcare settings across the U.S. and internationally.