Is there anyone you know who doesn’t have a strong emotional attachment to music?
It’s almost unthinkable.
That is why, during my days at ISRO projects in Sullurpeta in Andhra Pradesh, my Tamil friend used to play Tamil songs on the office car FM radio and told me, “Music knows no language.”
Even if you can’t sing or play an instrument, you can definitely come up with a list of songs that bring back fond memories and lift your emotions.
Through singing, playing instruments, writing songs, or listening to music, a patient’s discomfort can be reduced, they can express themselves without using words, and they can relax.
Do you know that surgeons have long played their favourite music in the operating room to ease tension and that allowing patients to listen to music has been related to better surgical outcomes?
Music therapy has become increasingly important in all aspects of recovery over the last few decades.
Music therapy is a new field with a lot of potentials.
Certified music therapists are usually talented musicians with a thorough understanding of how music may elicit emotional reactions in people to help them rest, stimulate, or heal.
They use this information, as well as their acquaintance with a wide range of musical styles, to locate the right kind of music to help you get through a difficult physical rehab session or guide you into meditation.
And they can locate music in any genre you want, whether it’s Pop, Hip-hop and Rap, Rock, Dance and Electronic music, Latin music, Indie and Alternative Rock, Classical music, or K-Pop.
For thousands of years, music has been a component of human life.
Experts have discovered instruments dating back over 40,000 years, implying that people’ urge to express themselves or communicate through music is a long-standing one.
Music’s therapeutic usage began in the twentieth century, following the end of World War II.
Music therapy was first mentioned in a 1789 piece titled “Music physically considered.”
Medical research into music’s therapeutic properties grew in the 1800s, and by the 1940s, institutions were offering music therapy programmes.
One of three men who pioneered the use of music as a therapeutic tool, E. Thayer Gaston, had arranged and promoted the practice so that it would become a widely acknowledged form of therapy.
There are now numerous music therapy organisations worldwide, and music therapists work in private practice, education, and social services.
The anguish experienced by children and teenagers with cancer and other illnesses can be incomprehensible and devastating.
It doesn’t matter how much medication they are given; sometimes it isn’t enough.
- Improved respiration
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved cardiac output
- Reduced heart rate
- Relaxed muscle tension
- Music therapy can help relieve pain and reduce stress and anxiety for patients, resulting in physiological improvements.
This type of therapy has been demonstrated to have a substantial impact on a patient’s perception of treatment effectiveness, including pain reduction, relaxation, breathing rate, and anxiety decrease.
There is a process for dealing with pain management using music therapy, according to Professor Suzanne Hanser, EdD MT-BC at Berklee College of Music.
It is based on a cognitive behavioural model of treatment, which proposes that dysfunctional patterns may be replaced with new thoughts, feelings, and physical states.”
The music alone cues the response over time.
The music therapy approach is intended to accomplish various goals:
You’re probably aware of how stress affects us.
Stress has a number of different effects on your body.
• Headache
• Muscle tension or pain
• Chest pain • Fatigue
• Upset stomach
• Sleep issues are all common side effects of stress.
Stress has a variety of consequences on your mood.
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Lack of drive or focus
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Irritability or anger
•Sadness or sadness are some of the common impacts of stress on your mood.
Common stress-related behaviours include:
• Overeating or undereating
• Angry outbursts
• Social withdrawal
Who doesn’t want to be stress-free?
What is the most effective treatment?
Of course, music is one of the most effective stress relievers.
Music is frequently linked to moods, and some songs can elicit a wide range of emotions, including happiness, serenity, energy, and relaxation.
If you enjoy Indian beautiful music, this Kumar Shanu song from the Hindi film Mr.Ashiq will instantly lift your spirits.
“All forms of music may have therapeutic advantages,” according to Psychology Today, “but music from one’s own culture may be most effective.”
The five internal organ and meridian systems are thought to have corresponding musical tones in Chinese medical philosophy, which are utilised to promote healing.
The forms of neural stimulation elicited by different types of music vary.
Classical music, for example, has been shown to provide ease and relaxation, whereas rock music may create discomfort.
The therapeutic effects of music may be achieved in part by raising the pain threshold.”
Some of the impacts of music that help to explain the effectiveness of music therapy are as follows:
# Waves in the brain
- Studies have shown that music with a strong beat can cause brainwaves to resonate in time with the beat, with faster beats boosting sharper concentration and alert thinking and slower beats supporting a quiet, meditative state.
- Furthermore, research has shown that the change in brainwave activity levels brought on by music might help the brain shift speeds more easily on its own as needed, implying that music can have long-term effects on your mood, even after you’ve stopped listening.
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# Breathing and heart rate
- As brainwaves change, other biological functions shift as well.
Changes in music can also affect those governed by the autonomic nervous system, such as respiration and heart rate.
This can include, among other things, slower breathing, a slower heart rate, and the activation of the relaxation response.
- Music and music therapy can assist to mitigate or prevent the negative consequences of chronic stress, promoting not only relaxation but also good health.
- State of Mind • Music can also be utilised to promote a more optimistic mindset, which can aid in the prevention of depression and anxiety.
The positive or cathartic themes that can be expressed in the lyrics, as well as the uplifting sound of music, can all lead to a new mental state.
- This can help prevent the stress reaction from wreaking havoc on the body, as well as maintain creativity and optimism levels high, which can lead to a slew of other advantages.
- Additional Advantages
- Music has also been shown to have a variety of other health advantages, including lowering blood pressure (which can lessen the risk of stroke and other health problems over time), increasing immunity, reducing muscle stress, and more.
- It’s no wonder that music is seen as a crucial tool to help the body keep (or become) healthy, given its many benefits and significant physical consequences.
Another fantastic application of music therapy is in the post-surgery care of children.
Listening to music and audiobooks is a feasible alternative to medication for lowering post-surgery pain in children, according to a study conducted by Northwestern University and Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
Long ago, attempts were made to link the eight main emotions in Indian theatre to the basic notes in Indian music. Sadaja, rishaba, gandhara, madhyama, panchama, dhaibata, and nishada are the notes, while sringar (love), hasya (laughing), karuna (compassion), vira (heroism), raudra (wrath), bhayanaka (fear), bibhatsa (disgust), and adbhuta are the moods (wonder). Simply feel the feelings while listening to your favourite song to lift your spirits.
Conclusion:
Music, first and foremost, aids in the relaxation of our agitated minds. People have become increasingly irritated and frustrated as a result of their hectic work schedules.
As a result, people are becoming more aggressive and combative, which leads to serious health issues such as depression.
People’s mounting fury is soothed by music, which also serves as a stress reliever.
Music also counteracts negative behaviour and leaves us feeling refreshed and relaxed.
Various types of music, such as classical, pop, and hip-hop, alter our perceptions and attitudes toward life.
As a result, music has had a significant impact on our mental processes.
Furthermore, music is a reflection of our society’s culture.
Every country has its own distinct musical culture.
Songs are written in a variety of languages around the world.
People become more comfortable with diverse languages and cues by listening to different regional tunes.
To summarise, music has had a significant impact on our way of thinking.
After listening to music, people become more positive and less sensitive to mental illness.
In addition, music plays an essential role in preserving our society’s culture and traditions.
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