May I please suggest you run a short “why”-themed article?
Out of the tens of thousands of suitable and appropriate music choices for its phone system our local GP Putneymead Practice bizarrely plays one of the saddest, most sorrowful pieces of music associated the world over with pain, suffering, loss, death and funerals - Beethoven's “Moonlight Sonata” (Piano Sonata No. 14).
Putneymead Practice is quite a large practice catering for thousands of local residents, and to make an appointment or to get through to a receptionist on its phone 020 8788 0686 one has to listen to this music, often for quite a long time.
Whilst undoubtedly it is a great classic, it is surely inappropriate for people calling a GP practice, particularly if they are very ill, sometimes terminally ill, or if they are really suffering with a particular condition or are in pain or if they are depressed.
Certainly such music would not help – it really is a no-brainer that something more appropriate, neutral, in Major key should be played on the phone system of a GP practice.
I am not suggesting happy and joyful, but just neutral, not something inducing doom and gloom.
When I raised this with them, they suggested I take time off work to attend their meeting where I could propose a different music piece and take part in a vote.
I declined – I do not think I should be taking time off work in an effort to replace inappropriate music at my GP practice. Its partner Karen Harris got offended and waxed lyrical about my tone instead of just changing the inappropriate music - end of.
There are countless other music choices of different genres better suited than Moonlight Sonata (some suggestions are classical: Bach's Pachelbel's Canon in D major or any part of the Brandenburg concerto, any part of the 12 Concertos of Tomaso Albinoni, practically anything by Mozart, The Flower Duet from Léo Delibes's Lakmé (BA's ad); jazz - Chet Baker, Miles Davies, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzerald, Frank Sinatra; modern neutral electronica: Jon Hopkins "Opalescent").
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