A Year of New York Music
Children’s Cancer Association launched JoyRx Music bedside live services in New York City in October 2024, and since then, we’ve been finding our groove in this vibrant, extraordinary city. As such an inherent home to music, New York City has long been the hub for musical movements — and we’re ready to start our own in hospital rooms across the city.
Since launching at the end of 2024, we’ve focused on our learnings from pilot launches to better refine and expand our service delivery in New York. In the little over a year since we launched, we’ve expanded to new sites, reached more hospitalized children, and engaged with healthcare staff to create moments of joy for young patients.
JoyRx Music Specialist Spencer Grubbe (center) and JoyRx Music Senior Manager Elke Downer (center-right) met with part of the child life team at Maimonides Children’s Hospital during launch day.
In November 2025, Maimonides Children’s Hospital in Brooklyn officially transitioned from Digital Live to Bedside Live, becoming our third live site in NYC.
“It was energizing to be on the ground for the launch,” said Elke Downer, JoyRx Music Senior Manager, who travelled to New York to support training and program launch.
(Elke is an expert when it comes to the power of music. Check out her recent guest blog discussing the impact virtual music has for hospitalized kids!)
“I also had the pleasure of shadowing and supporting Spencer, our new NYC-based music specialist, as he began providing service,” she said. “Being present for the launch of Bedside Live at Maimonides Children’s Hospital was especially powerful, marking their first day of in-person music services after a year of partnering with JoyRx Music through our Digital Live program. I’m excited to see how JoyRx Music continues to grow and deepen its impact across this new market!”
Elke and JoyRx Music Specialist Spencer kicked off the morning by sharing swag and pastries with hospital staff, then were introduced to the team by Child Life Manager Alexis.
Spencer performs environmental music at an outpatient clinic.
“Many staff were already familiar with Digital Live and were so excited to see live music sessions starting onsite,” Elke said.
“Thank you for providing this service to our families,” the child life team shared after the launch. “It really brings a smile to everyone’s faces!”
In addition to the Maimonides launch, Elke visited three additional New York City partner hospitals to meet with child life and program staff, tour the facilities, and join JoyRx Music Specialist Spencer for music services.
“It was incredibly meaningful to finally meet the hospital staff in person after working together remotely for more than a year.”
Elke and Spencer had some truly incredible sessions, both bedside and in the clinics.
And in January 2026, we celebrated the service launch of in-person music at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, the largest hospital in Central Harlem. While not a new location for us, it is another site transitioning from Digital Live services to Bedside Live.
During his weekly Thursday sessions, Spencer will provide music services across inpatient units, the PICU, the NICU, and outpatient clinics. Launch day was action-packed, including staff meet-and-greets, music cart setup, and nine music sessions serving fifteen patients across multiple units.
When asked what his experience has been like so far as a JoyRx Music Specialist, Spencer had this to share:
“I am grateful to get to serve at and experience so many different live sites. There are a lot of areas in each hospital, and since it’s just me out here, I get to see them all every week! I have provided mini-lessons, helped children sing when they are feeling down, and facilitated their first experience with an instrument. Plus, I learn lots of songs from practicing and from the kids! It takes a lot of energy but gives back just as much and more. I’m excited to see where the journey takes me!”
Spencer and Ace have a jam session in the clinic at the Brooklyn Hospital Center.
And the kids have been keeping Spencer on his toes. Popular requests from the children he plays music for include songs from K-Pop Demon Hunters (particularly “Golden” and “Soda Pop”).
“They get stuck in my head for a while,” he said with a laugh.
Also, as an “oldie” but a goodie, he says that kids have been requesting the Pokémon theme song. As always, crowd-pleasers include Beatles songs and songs from various Disney movies.
“My favorite song to perform is ‘Under the Sea,’” he said. “The kids always dance along, and the parents usually sing the words, too! It’s a great song to get everyone involved.”
In our 2025 fiscal year, JoyRx Music served nearly 5,000 children in New York across our different music delivery methods, including 223 live music sessions at the Brooklyn Hospital Center and the Children’s Hospital at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. We expect the number to increase in our 2026 fiscal year, driven by increased service and the addition of live service at Maimonides Children’s Hospital in Brooklyn and NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem. As of now, we’re at 91 percent of our goal to provide music to 500 kids across our live sites this fiscal year.
Overall, the launch of in-person services is thanks to the work and efforts of JoyRx Music champions such as our New York City Leadership Council; our corporate, creative, and music partners; and friends throughout the city and throughout the Northeast.
With an estimated 21 percent of the kids served by JoyRx Programs living in the Northeast region, we are grateful for the opportunity to meet demand in New York City. We expect the numbers to continue to grow as we focus our efforts on meeting children where they are — in a vibrant, musical city that we are proud to call home!