Healing with Music
If music be the food of health, play on. Music has an almost magical power over human minds without a doubt.
Even as far back as the days of Aristotle, Music Therapy has been used. As the title suggests, Music Therapy is the use of music for therapeutic purposes.
In the modern world, music for therapy came to the fore when musicians played for war veterans to cure them of physical and emotional trauma. Since many of the patients responded well, nurses and doctors began requesting the services of musicians for therapy.
Soon enough, music therapy, backed by statistics and scientific testing, became well known for it’s healing abilities. In 1944, The State of Michigan created a program for music therapy.
Trained therapists in musical therapy will diagnose a patient through studying the physical health, social functioning and cognitive skills that the patient responds to. Once assessed, the trained professional creates musical sessions for the patient.
The music sessions are created based on the patients’ needs and responses to songs, lyrics, imagery, and performances.
Those that benefit from music therapy vary in age and symptoms. Young children with learning disabilities to the elders with Alzheimer and other age related issues are able to use music therapy to aid in their conquest.
Professionals in the music therapy industry are found in places like drug and alcohol programs and nursing homes. Even schools will sometimes have a professional adapt to music therapy.
Patients and clients of music therapy need not have any musical ability to benefit from these sessions. Despite what some may believe regarding the need to be musically inclined.
It is important for the professionals to know the background and history of a patient to fully assess what music will and will not help.
You do not need to be sick to benefit from music therapy. Even the healthy can make use of music sessions as it helps to reduce stress and has even been known to improve productivity.
In hospitals, music therapy is used to alleviate pain and is often used in conjunction with anesthesia or pain medication. A question that is often raised is why use music if anesthesia does the same thing? Music helps because it dissolves emotional barriers and elevates the patients mood.
Music also counteracts depression, calms and even sedates patients. In a nutshell, music helps reduce muscle tension and brings on a deep and satisfying relaxation.
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