Healing Harpist and/or Pianist

Rocky Mountain VA Medical Center - Aurora Musicians

07 Oct 2024

Rocky Mountain VA Medical Center - Aurora

Musicians

Harpist

1

The successful candidate for this position will be a 1099 contractor with Music Ministry International and be responsible for the following:

1. Title of Project. Healing Harpist and or Pianist for the Rocky Mountain VA Health Care System (VAHCS), community event locations, and via telehealth (audio and/or video).

2. Background. VHA recognizes that spiritual and pastoral care must be integrated into the total program of health care provided to veterans and made available to all patients and, in limited circumstances, to their immediate family members (caregivers) who desire such care. Such care often includes the support of music of various types to support spiritual well-being and health of Veterans receiving care and their family members.

In accordance with VHA Handbook 1111 (1), Spiritual and Pastoral Care Procedures:

“In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7301, VA provides a complete medical and hospital service for the medical care and treatment of Veterans. VA includes spiritual and pastoral care as part of this care and treatment for Veterans. The type and extent of spiritual and pastoral care provided must be commensurate with the needs, desires, and voluntary consent of the individual Veteran. VA medical facilities Directors are responsible for maintaining a Chaplain Service and sufficient staff employed to ensure that patients’ diverse spiritual health care needs are met. Clinical chaplains (see definition paragraph 3.b.), as the subject matter experts in spiritual and pastoral care, must be employed at each VA medical facility to develop and implement a program which:

- Ensures every patient’s constitutional right to free exercise of religion.

- Provides opportunities for religious worship, sacramental ministry, pastoral counseling, and clinical pastoral care; and

- Protects all Veterans from proselytization (see definition paragraph 3.l.) from any source while in a VA medical facility.”

Whereas music is a vital part of worship and is spiritually uplifting to patients and families while inpatient at the medical facility, the Musician will be schedule to be available, by request, to provide uplifting harp (other instruments with approval) music at various patient care locations in the medical facility.

3. Non-Personal Services. This is a non-personal service contract to provide musician services. The Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the musician service provider performing the services herein. Such service provider shall be accountable solely to the musician who, in turn is responsible to the government.

4. Scope of Work. The musician shall provide all resources necessary to accomplish the deliverables described in the JOB DESCRIPTION, except as may otherwise be specified. The musicians shall provide music and instrumental support (primarily harp; other proposed instruments require prior approval by the Chief Chaplain Service) for Church Services, Memorial Services, other special services. The musician will play harp and other musical instruments on medical wards to calm patients and support spiritual well-being and promote the healing process. The musician will play music in hospital common areas, on medical units or outpatient areas and in patient rooms to

promote calm and spiritual wellness for individuals and the general population. The Musician will have contact with outpatients, inpatients, families and staff during contract performance.

5. Performance Period. The period of performance will be up to five years.

6. Place of Performance: Services may be rendered on-site at any facility within the Rocky Mountain VAHCS catchment area, community event locations, or using telehealth (audio and/or video) technology. (The primarily location services will occur is the Rocky Mountain VA Medical Center (VAMC)

7. Hours of Operation. Normal operational hours of OVAHCS facilities are Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 4:30pm; except weekends and Federal Holidays (see Table 1 below) or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government directed facility closings. If any of the above falls on a Saturday, then Friday shall be observed as a holiday. Similarly, if one falls on a Sunday, then Monday shall be observed as a holiday.

8. Musician Work Hours. As scheduled to support needs of patients and scheduling of special events or Chapel worship services.

9. Performance will be monitored by the Chief of Chaplain Service or their designee to ensure it adheres to all standards of practice listed in paragraph 4.

10. Musician Requirements. The musician will need to be familiar with and proficient at playing music on the harp or piano/keyboard instruments.

10.1. Musicians shall provide musical and instrumental support for weekly Sunday Worship Services as well as other Worship Services designated by the Agency.

10.2. Musician shall plan and prepare musical selections that support the weekly lessons and readings.

10.3. Musician shall provide musical selections for meditation times before and after the services and at other times of meditations scheduled.

10.4. Musician shall be available as required and shall be scheduled by the Chief of Chaplain Service or their designee. In the event the Musician is unavailable for a specific service, they shall communicate specific non-availability timeframes to the Chaplain Service as soon as possible, but not later than 3 days after being notified of the initial planning for an event.

10.5. Musician shall be able to adapt to the worship styles and demands from different Chaplains.

10.6. Musician shall play harp (other as may be approved) music in Clinical wards and other locations around VA Rocky Mountain Main Chapel.

The musician shall play harp music in patient rooms as requested by Veterans and staff to provide opportunity for calm and promote whole health and holistic healing.

10.7. The musician is responsible for all costs for travel to and from the worksite.

10.8. The qualified Musician is the only person required to perform the task listed herein.

10.9.   Has the ability to work closely with clergy, medical staff, & patients.

Interested Candidates are requested to forward their resume together with three references from individuals who can attest to the candidate’s good work and steadiness.  Candidates who do not possess the specific attributes/qualifications in section "10. Musician Requirements." above need not apply. This is a part-time position with compensation based on budget and the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications. 

Apply directly at: https://music-ministry.jobsoid.com (scroll down to “Rocky Mountain VA”) to expedite your application.  Your application requires providing reference information for (3) individuals including one priest or pastor who can attest to your abilities as they relate to this job posting.  References must include: name, title, organization, relationship to you, email address (necessary field) and phone number. Depending on security software, candidates are requested to monitor spam folders for further application communications from MMI.