The Healing Power of Music

[Guest guest]

Good Morning!

 

The Healing Power of Music

 

Music Therapy utilizes music and music related activities to modify

ineffective learning patterns, help to promote emotional, mental,

social and physical growth and to develop non-musical goals. Music

Therapy works as a creative, flexible and sometimes spontaneous means

of utilizing the appeal of music to help people of all ages and

abilities. Music Therapy is an established health care profession

that uses music and " techniques " in order to address physical,

psychological, cognitive and social behavioral patterns. Music

Therapy can positively affect children and adults alike. Music

Therapy can make the difference between isolation and interaction and

has been proven in situations such as:

depression, anger, pain, autism, stress, grief, loss, time

management, motivation, growth, change, procrastination and improving

communication

 

Therapeutic Characteristics of Music:

Music can be characterized by how it heals. The way music fires the

neurons in the brain to the tempo it is played, helps bring into play

the characteristics that bring the biggest healing benefits to an

individual. Although the power, range and effectiveness of music as a

healing tool has many variables, there are certain traits that are

Universal.

 

1. Music captivates and maintains attention, stimulating and

utilizing many parts of the brain.

2. Music is adapted to, and can be reflective of, a person's ability.

3. Music structures time in a way that we can understand.

4. Music provides a meaningful, enjoyable context for repetition.

5. Music sets up a social context by setting up a safe, structured

setting for verbal and nonverbal communication.

6. Music is an effective memory aid.

7. Music supports and encourages movement.

8. Music taps into memories and emotions.

9. Music and its related silence, provide nonverbal, immediate

feedback.

10. Music is success oriented. People of all ability levels can

participate.

 

 

Music as a Healing Power

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.

 

The Priests of ancient Egypt knew how to use vowel sounds to resonate

their energy centers or chakras. There is a direct link between

different parts of the body and specific sounds. Such a technique

appears extremely old, yet healing through sound goes back even

further at least as far back as Atlantis where the power of sound was

combined with the power of crystal.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit

 

 

References

1. Aldridge, David. Music Therapy Research and Practice in Medicine

from Out of the Silence. 1996

2. Aldridge David, Brandt G, Music therapy and Alzheimer's Disease.

British Journal Music Therapy. Vol 5. p.28-36 1991

3. Donaldson, F.O., Playing By Heart: The vision and practice of

belonging. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc. 1993

4. Finnema E, Droes RM, Ribbe M, Van Tilburg W, The effects of

emotion-oriented approaches in the care for persons suffering from

dementia: a review of the literature. Internation journal geriatric

pyschiatry. 15(2); 141-161 2000

5. Gaston, E.T. (1968). Man and music. In E.T. Gaston Music in

therapy. London: Collier-Macmillan.

6. Gfeller, KE. (1990). Music as communication. In R.F.Unkefer (Ed.)

Music therapy in the treatment of adults with mental disorders:

Theoretical bases and clinical interventions. New York: Schirmer.

7. Gfeller, K.E. & Thaut, M.H. (1999). Music therapy in the treatment

of mental disorders. In W.B. Davis, K.E. Gfeller & M.H. Thaut (Eds.)

An introduction to music therapy theory and practice. Boston: Mc-Graw-

Hill College.

8. Harish, John M and Eagle, Charles T. " Elements of Pain and music:

The Aio Connection. " Journal of the American Association for Music

Therapists, 7:15-27. 1988

9. Jensen, B. (1999). Music therapy with psychiatric in-patients: A

case study with a young schizophrenic man. In T. Wigram & J. De

Backer (Eds.) Clinical applications of music therapy in psychiatry.

London: Jessica Kingsley.

10. Mullooly, Virginia, Levin, Rona, F. & Feldman, Harriet R. " Music

soothes post-op pain and anxiety. " American Journal of Nursing, 1988.

11. Sears, W.W. (1968). Processes in music therapy. In E.T. Gaston

Music in therapy. London: Collier-Macmillan.

12. Thaut, M.H. & Smeltekop, R.A. (1990). Psychosocial and

neurophysiological aspects of music therapy interventions. In

R.F.Unkefer (Ed.) Music therapy in the treatment of adults with

mental disorders: Theoretical bases and clinical interventions. New

York: Schirmer.

13. The Tao of Music: Sound Psychology. John M. Ortiz Ph.D, Samuel

Weiser, Inc. (1997)

14. Thompson, J.F. " Music in the Operating Theatre. " British Journal

of Surgery, 82:12. 1586-1587. 1995:

http://www.pain.com/painscripts/Pain Search.dll?2

15. The Cross Roads Institute:

http://www.crossroadsinstitute.org/eeg.html

 

 

Further Reading

 

Cassity, M.D. & Casssity, J.E. (1998). Multimodal psychiatric music

therapy for adults, adolescents and children: A clinical manual. St.

Louis, MO: MMB, Music.

 

Tyson, F. (1981). Psychiatric music therapy: Origins and development.

New York: Wiedner & Son.

 

Unkefer, R.F. (1990). Music therapy in the treatment of adults with

mental disorders: Theoretical bases and clinical interventions. New

York: Schirmer.

 

Wigram, T. & De Backer, J. (Eds.) (1999). Clinical applications of

music therapy in psychiatry. London: Jessica Kingsley.