MUSIC THERAPY

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever imagined that music can heal you? Have you ever thought that your favorite
music isn`t just a hobbie?

People are able to heal and improve their quality of life through the power of music. Being
made by humans for tens of thousands of years, music has the ability to move us. And in this
case, it can heal. Think about your personal experiences with music. How has it moved you in
the past? Does it currently better your life? For most of us, music is a key part of our daily lives.
From folding laundry to working out, music can help us increasing overall enjoyment and
motivation. Or in other cases, music can promote total relaxation. Think about how moving
some songs can be, instantly impacting the way we feel. Now, think what happened when this
powerful effect is part of a therapy. Using music, people are able to promote, restore and
maintain all aspects of their health. This includes physical, emotional, psychological and even
spiritual areas.

Today I want to talk you about that, about how the music therapy works and how it may help
you.

BACK GROUND

Music therapy can be traced back to ancient Greek. Music has been used as a healing
implement for centuries. Apollo was the ancient god of music and medicine. Aesculapius,
another Greek god, cured diseases of the mind using song and music. Plato said that music
affected the emotions and could influence the character of a person. Aristotle taught that
music affects the soul and described music as a force that purified the emotions. Aulus
Cornelius Celsus advocated the sound of cymbals and running water for the treatment of
mental disorders. Also, music therapy was practiced in biblical times, when David played the
harp to rid King Saul of a bad spirit. As early as 400 B.C., Hippocrates played music for mental
patients.

In the thirteenth century, Arab hospitals contained music-rooms for the benefit of the
patients. The rise of an understanding of the body and mind in terms of the nervous system
showed the emergence of a new wave of music therapy in the eighteenth century. The works
on the subject stressed the power of music over the nerves.

In the nineteenth century, books of music therapy often argued that the stimulation of the
nerves caused by music, could directly improve health. However, Music therapy as we know it
now, began in the aftermath of World Wars I and II, when musicians would travel to hospitals
and play music for soldiers suffering from war-related emotional and physical trauma.

DEFINITION

So, according with that, what can we understand as music therapy?

Music Therapy is a health treatment in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to
approach physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the
strengths and needs of each patient, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated
treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Therapists use
music therapy in a variety of ways, including having people sing along to the music, meditate
and relax while music plays and conduct various exercises and movements with music as the
catalyst.

Music therapy is based on the ability of music to stimulate all areas of the brain. Within one
study, researchers developed a new method that allowed them to see how the brain processes
different aspects of music. For the first time, the researchers revealed how various neuronal
networks are activated while we are listening to music. From emotion to motor function,
creativity to memory, we are now learning the complexity of music and how it affects us. So,
music is pretty awesome, we all know that. But how can it benefit our health?

BENEFITS

Music therapy has important benefits. It can be used for a wide range of ailments, including
pain, autism, mood disorders and much more. Since this therapy isnt invasive, it is often highly
effective. Its even able to reduce ones reliance on pharmaceutical medications.

With the emotional and structural qualities of music, patients are able to improve their
communication, personal development, learning, self-awareness and interaction. Through
musical involvement in the therapeutic context, patients abilities are strengthened and
transferred to other areas of their lives. Also, Research in music therapy supports its
effectiveness in many areas such as: physical rehabilitation, increasing people's motivation to
become engaged in their treatments, providing emotional support for patients and their
families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings.

Other examples of music therapy benefits are

It helps people to regain their speeches after suffering brain damages.
It helps older adults to lessen the effects of dementia.
It helps children and adults to reduce asthma episodes.
It helps hospitalized patients to reduce pain.
It helps children who have autism to improve their communication abilities.
It helps premature infants to improve sleep patterns and increase weight gain.
It helps people who have Parkinsons disease to improve motor function.
It supports positive heart health

If you are scared of try this treatment, there are a few important facts about it and music
therapists that you may know:
Music therapists must have a bachelors degree or higher in music therapy, including
1200 hours of clinical training.
Music therapists must hold a credential, which protects the public by ensuring
competent practice and requiring continuing education.
Music Therapy is health profession based on evidence and strong research.
Music Therapy degrees require knowledge in psychology, medicine, and music.

Well, Music therapy is not just listening music or plays an instrument. Its about to improve the
life style of a person. I hope you have understood the principles, benefits and interesting
information of music therapy and, maybe, you can try it in the future.