Scales to Scalpels: Doctors Who Practice the Healing Arts of Music and Medicine [Hardcover]

Lisa Wong (Author), Robert Viagas (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2012

The incredible story of the Longwood Symphony Orchestra that reveals the remarkable interplay between music and medicine.

You may have read about the Longwood Symphony orchestra (LSO) in the paper or heard them on your favorite radio station. But the LSO is not just any orchestra. it began in 1982 with a group of talented Boston-area physicians, med students and health-care professionals and has since flourished under the leadership of violinist Dr. Lisa Wong, who became president of the LSO in 1991. The orchestra is now a proud, extraordinary group of musicians with fans around the globe.

In Scales to Scalpels, Dr. Wong and Robert Viagas chronicle how the musical acumen of these physicians affects the way they administer healing and, in turn, how their work affects their music. What cognitive and emotional shifts occur when a surgeon transitions from the chaos of the ER to the discipline of the orchestra rehearsal studio? What’s it like to make a house call to a poor neighborhood in the morning and then play trumpet in a jazz group that night? Does music heal the doctors the way the doctors heal their patients? How does practicing the art of music transform the art of practicing medicine? 8 pages of black & white photographs

Editorial Reviews

Review

“All congratulations to the Longwood Symphony Orchestra for making the connection between music and medicine so visible and palpable.  Following Dr. Albert Schweitzer's 'reverence for life' philosophy, Dr. Wong and each of her L.S.O. colleagues serve humanity on so many levels.” (Yo-Yo Ma )

“I was impressed by the breadth and creativity of the program and the astonishing finesse. But this was neither the BSO nor the New England Conservatory. It was the Longwood Symphony Orchestra.” (The Wall Street Journal )

“Music nurtures, supports, sustains and empowers every aspect of human existence.  How natural a companion, then, is music to our medical healers and the art they practice.  Dr. Wong's absorbing narrative provides a loving window into the lives of medical professionals where healing and music dance in radiant harmony.  An inspirational must-read for all who seek lives of joy and contribution. ” (Mark Churchil, Dean Emeritus, New England Conservatory and Director of El Sistema, USA )

About the Author

Dr. Lisa Wong is an associate in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and maintains her own private practice in Boston’s South Shore. She is the president of the Longwood Symphony, a board member of young Audiences of Massachusetts and helped start “Bring Back the Music,” which revitalized in-class instrumental music instruction in Boston public schools.

Robert Viagas founded and managed Playbill.com, Theatre.com and Broadway Television Network, and is the editor of Playbill Books. He is the author or editor of fourteen books and lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pegasus (April 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 160598177X
• ISBN-13: 978-1605981772
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #973,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Musical Genres > Classical > Orchestral Songbooks

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Really interesting connection between music and medicine April 10, 2013

By Poppy

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Fabulous book about an orchestra in Boston area whose musicians are all doctors or at least in the medical field. A sensitive, discerning view into the lives of these talented performers. You will learn why these doctors spend many, many hours practicing and why their music helps them become more compassionate medical providers. Many of them had to choose between a promising musical career and the medical world. Very cleverly written. I use the book as a gift for someone who understands the gift of music.