Dr. Abraham Kocheril, chief of cardiac electrophysiology at the Carle Heart Center in Urbana, Illinois, claims he has found signs that harp music might help sick hearts beat more normally. The theory is based partly on work by Dr. Ary Goldberger of Harvard Medical School, showing that varied rhythms created by healthy hearts are similar to note patterns in classical music.

“People know that music relaxes you. We’re just trying to get more medical validation,” said Kocheril’s harpist and co-researcher, Dr. Jennifer MacKinnon, 35, a Chicago internist. She took up harp-playing at age 10 and, as a child, used to play for patients of her father, also a physician.

Some enthusiasts believe the harp has special healing qualities, and Kocheril said resonant vibrations from live harp music may be particularly effective at regulating quivering heart rhythms.

This article appeared in Making Music Magazine (July/August 2006).