Finding Inspiration Series: Music Therapy

[Guest guest]

Good Morning!

 

Finding Inspiration Series: Music Therapy

 

My 'Finding Inspiration' series was written out of a need that comes up in my

practice, most often in Spring and Fall. I feel we all need a bit of

enlightenment now and then to help us move forward. Finding

motivation through inspiration can be the spark which sets you on your

way!

 

Music Therapy is the prescribed use of music and music related techniques to

assist and motivate a person towards specific, nonmusical goals. Music

therapists use their training to effect changes in the cognitive, physical,

communication, social, and emotional skills.

 

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.

 

Vibrational Tuning

 

Vibrational medicine, which validates that everything in the Universe is in a

state of vibration and the frequency at which an object or person most naturally

vibrates is called resonance.

 

The human ear can detect a minimal range of vibration between 20 to 20,000

cycles per second (cps) or Hertz (Hz). A standard measure of frequency is Hertz,

abbreviated Hz. It means " cycles per second. " Compare this to the vibrations

dolphins or even mice can detect, which is up to 100,000 (cps) and you realize

how much more of our " Universal Symphony " we are missing out on.

 

The rate at which something vibrates, determines how dense it is and how we

perceive it to be.

 

Therefore, different things vibrate at different rates or frequencies. These

things can be perceived as either sound, light or color or solid matter. There

is even a " hum " to the Earth. Known as the Schumann Resonance. The

lowest-frequency (and highest-intensity) mode of the Schumann resonance is at a

frequency of approximately 7.8 Hz. This particular frequency just so happens to

be associated with the Alpha waves in our brain, which are most associated with

our meditative state. " When your alpha is within normal ranges we tend to also

experience good moods, see the world truthfully, and have a sense of calmness.

You can increase alpha by closing your eyes or deep breathing or decrease alpha

by thinking or calculating.

 

The human energy field is a symphony of sound, frequencies and energetic matter.

From our auric field and Chakra centers, bones, and organs in the body, all

possess a different resonant frequency. When an organ or part of the body is

vibrating out of tune or non-harmoniously, it is called " dis ease " or disease. A

body is in a healthy state of being when each cell, each organ creates a

resonance that is in harmony with the whole being.

 

Vibrational medicine is based on the idea that all illness or disease is

characterized by blockage in the channels on some level, either in nadis,

meridians, arteries, veins, or nerves When there is a blockage, the organ in

question stops vibrating at a healthy frequency and thus it results in some kind

of illness. So, through sound and light, one can break up, dissolve and release

these blockages that initiate in our light or etheric body. Ultra sound has been

used medically for almost two decades as a diagnostic tool by pediatricians

while the baby is in the very early stages of fetal development. More recently,

ultrasound is being used to cleanse clogged arteries. Ultrasound works on the

same principle of light equals sound and tone equals radiance manifesting in

form.

 

 

Entrainment

 

Musically, entrainment invloves the " merging with, or synchronizing to, the

pulse of the music " .(7) This principle is related to the isomorphic principle

which states that one's mood should be matched to the mood of the music and then

gradually moved into the desired direction. The principle of entrainment is

universal. Appearing in chemistry, pharmacology, biology, medicine, psychology,

sociology, astronomy, architecture and more. The classic example shows

individual pulsing heart muscle cells. When they are brought close together,

they begin pulsing in synchronicity. Another example of the entrainment effect

is women who live in the same household often find that their menstrual cycles

will coincide.

 

The entrainment process is quite evident in music. It is possible to have

rhythmic entrainment, melodic entrainment and dynamic entrainment. Entrainment

music has the potential to (1) resonate with the listener’s feelings, (2)

transform negativity into positivity, and (3) promote a state of liveliness or

serenity. Certain sounds, in specific sequence can help bring the listener from

one place to another.

 

Entrainment is the tendency of two oscillating bodies to lock into phase, so

that they vibrate in harmony.

 

The following are great tools for entrainment:

 

Music Therapy Tools

 

1. Affirmations One of the many things that sets musical affirmations apart is

that the music and text represents an integration of words, rhythm, voice and

melody. Using this type of affirmations will give you the power to think

positively, to remove the barriers to prosperity, minimize stress and create

pathways to love and confidence. Today's non-stop, high-stress world means our

minds are constantly in the beta (unreceptive) state, where the mind's mental

energy fires neurons at random. Musical affirmations will return your mind to

the alpha (receptive) state, a state where the neurons fire in harmony. Where

the positive message of the affirmations can be absorbed effectively by the

conscious and subconscious mind due to the power enhancing affects of a musical

accompaniment.

 

2. Mind Quieting: A disciplined mind is a free mind. Gain control over your

thoughts and you maintain control over your life. Retrain your mind and you

regain your freedom. Calming the mind is a behavioral technique used to

interupt, minimize and eliminate " psychological noise " . Obsessive, repeatitive

thoughts, anxiety and fears are all apart of negative, self-destructive patterns

that can benefit from the power of music and mind quieting.

 

3. Breathing : Breath is life! Exchange of electrons. Flow of energy. Air is the

primary nutrient. Survival without it is measured in minutes. It is so important

that you do it without thinking. Your breathing is the voice of your spirit.

It's depth, smoothness, sound, and rate reflect your mood. If you become aware

of your breath and breathe the way you do when you are calm you will become

calm. Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing. With

the addition of music and it's rhythm, the " musical breath " can even help

stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive

disorders. Fall into the rhythm of the music and breathe. Focus on your

breathing and the music.

 

4. Mantras : No one can fully explain the mystery of mantras. Their magical

sounds help heal physical imbalances, relax the mind, quiet the emotions, and

open the heart. They stimulate, activate, motivate, and rejuvenate. Mantras can

help you dance or sleep, laugh or cry, make love or meditate, turn tedious

housework or heavy exercise light-hearted fun. They can help you forget someone

or find someone. They are designed to remind us that love, laughter, and inner

peace are our birthright. They help us go beyond borders, realize our potential,

and celebrate the power of love. Mantras offer increased flexibility and

strength while they gently expand your consciousness, and help you experience

love, compassion, and inner peace.

 

5. Chanting : Chanting begins with an invocation - a prayer, a group OM, or some

small line of remembrance that connects everyone to a higher source. To learn

chanting has a healthy strengthening effect on the mind; it develops

concentration, patience and determination. So, almost any word group - or even

sounds - can be used although the emphasis should be on goodness. Try repeating

the word 'love' a thousand time over. Creating a connection to Self is the goal

of chanting, and the process is meant to be inclusive and fun.

 

6. Toning : Toning with your own voice can improve health, greatly reduce

stress, release negative emotions, strengthen immune system, increase energy,

improve self-confidence, enhance memory & creativity, transform relationships,

accelerate natural healing help you ascend to new dimensions of reality. Toning

is the basis process of " letting go " of basic, natural sounds to attain a sense

of balance, harmony and centering. Some examples of natural toning include:

yawning, moaning, crying, sighing or screaming. The release of these natural

tones result in the harmonizing of emotions, mind and body.

 

7. Drumming Research has shown that drumming can actually strengthen the immune

system, create a calming focus and is even hypnotic. A steady rhythm on the drum

connects us to the heart. The healing effects have been shown to improve

conditions of Alzheimers, autism, trauma and emotional disturbances.

 

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit