WELLTUNED: WHERE MUSIC & EDUCATION MEETS HEALTH & WELLNESS
WellTuned is Vegas City Opera’s innovative music-centered wellness program that harnesses the transformative power of music to support emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being. Designed for vulnerable youth, individuals on the autism spectrum, and non-verbal participants, WellTuned provides a safe space for healing, self-expression, and personal growth. Backed by scientific research, the program uses music to enhance emotional regulation, reduce anxiety, and boost self-esteem.
WellTuned: A Musician’s Perspective on the Transformative Power of Music
As a musician and educator who has spent a lifetime immersed in the world of music, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact that music can have on individuals—especially vulnerable youth, those on the autism spectrum, and non-verbal individuals. Vegas City Opera's WellTuned program is a testament to the undeniable, transformative power of music, providing a safe and creative space where students can experience healing, expression, and personal growth.
In just our first year, WellTuned has served over 67 students, and the measurable outcomes speak for themselves. Students have demonstrated improved emotional regulation, increased self-esteem, and even enhanced cognitive abilities. As we look to expand WellTuned to new partners like Child Haven and The Embracing Project, we are excited to see these benefits reach even more young people in need.
The growing body of neurological research now confirms what musicians and educators have known for generations—music is a powerful tool for wellness. It influences brain development, calms the nervous system, regulates breathing, and fosters emotional connection. For over a decade, Vegas City Opera has been a champion of these benefits, using music to transform lives. Now, in an era where science is catching up to what we have always known, WellTuned is poised to become an even more vital part of our community's health and wellness landscape.
Looking ahead, the next stage of WellTuned is to extend this program into hospitals, prisons, group therapy sessions, rehabilitation centers, and other facilities where traditional medical and wellness programs can be enhanced. Music offers a foundational, deeply resonant tool to recalibrate the frequency of pain and self-doubt into empowerment and freedom. It provides a bridge from isolation to connection, from anxiety to calm, and from despair to hope. Research has shown that music can enhance the resiliency of patients after surgery, accelerating recovery, reducing the need for pain medication, and fostering a sense of well-being. It has also been found to significantly decrease symptoms of depression, offering a non-invasive, universally accessible form of emotional support.
Whether calming the mind, energizing the body, or restoring a sense of personal agency, music has the power to transform lives in ways that traditional medical interventions often cannot. By introducing WellTuned into these settings, we can offer a transformative approach to healing, using music not just as art but as a pathway to resilience, recovery, and renewed hope.
This is my passion, music as medicine. - Ginger Land-van Buuren