Music Therapy and Social Skills

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Good Morning!

 

Music Therapy and Social Skills

 

Music is a magical medium and a very powerful tool. Music can delight

all the senses and inspire every fiber of our being. Music has the

power to soothe and relax, bring us comfort and embracing joy! Music

subtly bypasses the intellectual stimulus in the brain and moves

directly to our subconscious. There is music for every mood and for

every occasion. Music Therapy is incorporated in a number of areas of

medicine. Some of these include labor and delivery, oncology, pain

management, physical rehabilitation, and pediatrics. Music Therapy

has been shown to have influences on the immune system, blood

pressure, heart and respiratory rates, and pain perception.

 

Many cultures recognize the importance of music and sound as a

healing power. In the ancient civilizations of India, the Orient,

Africa, Europe and among the Aboriginal and American Indians, the

practice of using sound to heal and achieve balance from within has

existed for many years. The Tibetans still use bells, chimes, bowls,

and chanting as the foundation of their spiritual practice. In Bali,

Indonesia, the echoing gamelang, gong, and drum are used in

ceremonies to uplift and send messages. the Australian Aboriginal and

Native American shamanists use vocal toning and repetitive sound

vibration with instruments created from nature in sacred ceremony to

adjust any imbalance of the spirit, emotions or physical being.

 

Psychiatric disorders can often impair social interaction and social

skills. Music therapy can provide opportunities for safe group and

individual musical experiences, address how people interact with

their environment and examine how they affect their environment.

Music can encourage social interaction among patients. The

interaction may take the form of talking about thoughts and feelings,

contributing to group experience, cooperating with others or

responding to others' needs. Interpersonal interaction can take place

through music listening techniques lead by the music therapist (Thaut

& Smeltekop, 1990).

 

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk LMT, MT-BC, CA

Peacefulmind.com

Alternative medicine and therapies

for healing mind, body & spirit!