Continued Exploration in Music Therapy

 The Miracle of Healing through Music

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is a progressive discipline in medicine that utilizes various aspects of music to promote both physiological and psychological healing. "Those who become certified music therapists are accomplished musicians who have deep knowledge of how music can evoke emotional responses to relax or stimulate people, or help them heal"(Merz 2015). During a session, a music therapist determines which form of music would best suit their patient's needs based on their mental or physical ailment. Music therapy sessions can happen many different ways in a patient's room. These include creating, listening, singing or moving to music, which is why some therapists use a variety of instruments in just 1 session (Santos-Longhurst 2020). Having access to different instruments gives the therapist the ability to either excite and activate their patient's body or relax and soothe it. Through numerous studies, researchers have found substantive evidence that musical interventions can play a health care role in settings ranging from operating rooms to family clinics (Santos-Longhurst 2020).

How Music Therapy Heals:

Music has the power to not only enhance quality of life but also promote recovery and when delivered as treatment by a music therapist, the benefits are remarkable. In addition to using instruments and sounds that encourage relaxation and stress relief, therapists also use vibroacoustic therapy to promote healing in their patients. Vibroacoustic therapy is a progressive treatment which involves producing vibrations from low frequency sound that is then directly applied to the body through speakers or headphones. This form of music therapy was tested on patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. The results of the study showed music therapy alleviated both physical symptoms of trembling and the mental symptoms of forgetfulness. Researchers are hopeful this therapy along with listening to select forms of music will continue to help improve other symptoms from diseases including fibromyalgia and Alzheimer's. Lee Bartel, PhD is the leader of a vibroacoustic therapy study on Alzheimer's patients and states that Parkinson's, fibromyalgia and possibly even Alzheimer's disease involves the disorientation of rhythmic brain activity. Bartel concludes, "Since the rhythmic pulses of music can drive and stabilize the disorientation of rhythmic brain activity, we believe that low-frequency sound might help with these conditions"(Novotney 2013 ).

What Can Music Therapy Heal?

Music therapy has been scientifically proven to help heal and promote health in a number of mental and physical diseases. Some of the mental disorders music therapy can help heal include anxiety, depression, Post traumatic stress disorder, dementia, autism, and other behavioral and psychiatric disorders.  One of the remarkable ways music therapy can restore and improve quality of life is found when it is applied to patients who are diagnosed with dementia. "Because the ability to engage with music remains intact late into the disease process, music therapy can help to recall memories, reduce agitation, assist communication, and improve physical coordination"(Merz 2015). Another application of music therapy, which involves both mental and physical healing, can be found after a patient has surgery and is experiencing pain. Clinical trials found that patients who listened to music either before, during or after an invasive procedure reported less anxiety and discomfort as well as a reduced need for sedatives and opioid painkillers afterwards. Music therapy has also been found to help restore loss of speech in people who have suffered brain trauma, for example, through stroke. "Because singing ability originates in the right side of the brain, people can work around the injury to the left side of their brain by first singing their thoughts and then gradually dropping the melody"(Merz 2015). Music therapy in fact is so amazing we are finding that it works on a micro level in the human body as well. Studies show that music therapy increases the production of immune cells, improving the function of the body's immune system (Novotney 2013).

Examples of Music Therapy Sessions:

This video demonstrates a group music therapy session for patients with mental disorders. The music therapist uses vibration and rhythmic engagement to balance disharmonic brainwave patterns, which relieves about 95% of the patients' painful symptoms. 

Music Therapy: Group Music Pain Model -October 4, 2018, USA

This video introduces the Ukulele Kids Club. Ukuleles are provided to music therapists as well as children at different hospitals to reduce anxiety by creating a relaxed environment. This generous club provides the instruments used by music therapists to reduce patient anxiety thereby enhancing the clinician's ability to provide quality patient care. This club also gives children the joy of being able to have an instrument of their own.

Ukulele Kids Club - May 28, 2019, USA

This is an example of what a music therapist would use for a patient with psychiatric or emotional needs. The key signature of the song is the main focus since it determines the mood of the song. This music therapist explains how she would play a song with a slow, mellow timbre in a minor key to match how the patient is feeling.

Music Therapy & Emotions for Depression, Stress & Mental Health Issues - YouTube-May 25, 2011, USA

Music therapy is a progressive adjunct therapy in the healthcare spectrum. Utilization of musical therapy continues to expand as it helps alleviate the symptoms found in many physical and mental disorders. Finally, this form of therapy should be integrated into nearly every holistic patient care plan. Like many other holistic forms of medicine such as acupuncture, dry needling, and massage therapy, music therapy should become a billable service for insurers. This would not only help legitimize this medical art but also encourage people to make it a career choice. 

Sources 

Merz, Beverly. "Healing through Music." Harvard Health, 5 Nov. 2015,        

Healing through music - Harvard Health

Santos-Longhurst, Adrienne. "The Uses and Benefits of Music Therapy." Healthline, Healthline Media,

Music Therapy: What Is It and How Does It Work? (healthline.com)        

Novotney, Amy. "Music as Medicine." Monitor on Psychology, American Psychological Association, Nov. 2013, 

Music as medicine (apa.org)