Gentle Beginnings: Empowering Parents in the NICU Through Music Therapy
Dr. Friederike Haslbeck shares her powerful work with preterm infants and their families in neonatal intensive care. With over 20 years of clinical, teaching, and research experience, Dr. Haslbeck discusses how music therapy can create space for bonding, intimacy, and healing during fragile beginnings. She explains how music supports both infant regulation and parent empowerment—highlighting cultural sensitivity, individualized pacing, and the transformative impact of shared musical moments. Dr. Haslbeck also introduces her innovative songbooks designed to extend musical care beyond hospital walls and into everyday life.
Resources
Haslbeck, F. B., Schmidli, L., Bucher, H.U., & Bassler D. (2021). Music is life—follow‐up qualitative study on parental experiences of creative music therapy in the neonatal period. International Journal of Environmental Research Public Health, 18(12), 6678. Https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126678
Haslbeck, F.B. (2018). Wiegenlieder für die Kleinsten. Ausgewählte Lieder von Eltern für Eltern frühgeborener Kinder (Ed.) [Lullabies for the tiny ones. Selected songs from parents for parents of premature babies]. ISBN: 978-3-033-06451-5. http://shop.fruehgeborene.de/Wiegenliederbuch
Haslbeck, F. B., Legler, B., Frei, M. (2021). Mit dem Oktopus ins Liedermeer [With the octopus into the sea of songs]. ISBN: 978-3-033-08841-2. https://shop.fruehgeborene.de/epages/es742420.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es742420/Products/%22Singbuch%2005%22
About The Interviewee
Dr. Friederike Haslbeck is a music therapist, researcher, and lecturer based in Zurich, Switzerland. With decades of experience in neonatal music therapy, she specializes in empowering parents to use their voices and music to foster connection, co-regulation, and developmental growth with their preterm infants. Contact: friederike.Haslbeck@usz.ch
Suggested Citation
Kern, P. (2025, May 1). Gentle beginnings: Empowering parents in the NICU through music therapy [Audio podcast]. imagine. www.imagine.musictherapy.biz