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ABOUT MUSIC AND MUSIC THERAPY

By Robert Lowden, ACC, DMA

Introduction

In order to fully comprehend the words, music therapy, we must first understand what it is, and secondly, what it’s all about. Music therapy is the use and application of music to cure, alleviate, or stimulate various senses. It is familiar from ancient mythology and has been increasingly implemented in the treatment of physical as well as mental handicaps and emotional disturbance, although there is little theoretical work to explain its effectiveness. Although the healing powers of music are attested from ancient times and in numerous cultures, the scientific understanding of such powers remains limited. If we had lived in Greece about 2000 years ago, we would have looked to music and musicians, along with physicians, for our total health care needs. The nature of musical perception itself remains imperfectly understood. Nevertheless, music has been found useful in working with people with a variety of disorders. Its clinical use has been used in the treatment, although not exclusively, of mental illness or mental deficits, or some type of mental disability.

Music therapy may include singing, playing musical instruments, dancing, clapping, using rhythm instruments, which all help to establish lines of communication. Of the various elements of music, it is RHTYHM that is acknowledged to be the vital therapeutic factor by virtue of its power to focus energy and to bring structure into the perception of temporal order.

Music is definitely an expressive vehicle for the release of emotional tension, bypassing difficulties of speech and language. Not only the person with Alzheimer’s, but the general nursing home population, as well, may benefit from its use. Therapy uses singing, various musical instruments such as bells, xylophone, piano, autoharp, as well as a variety of rhythm instruments.

Difference Between Music and Music Therapy

There is a difference between music therapy, music education, music lessons, recreation & entertainment. There are some similarities however; music therapy has specific treatment goals and approaches. Although residents can benefit from listening to an entertainer’s performance, they are simply assimilating sounds to which they’ll either enjoy or not enjoy. Music therapy goes beyond just having a person listen to different selections, and has them become an active participant, incorporating a holistic approach; that of listening and doing. Visit the American Music Therapy Association website for more information on Music Therapy and the qualifications of a Music Therapist.

The Benefits of Music and Music Therapy

We all know the power of music. Recreation Departments offer a variety of music programs to provide residents the opportunity for relaxation, cognitive stimulation, socialization, reminiscence, mental stimulation, and quality of life. Music programs are instrumental to a well-balanced program of activities and can be adapted to meet the individual needs and interests of residents with varying functional abilities in a variety of health-care settings. There are many benefits to music programs and music therapy such as:

• Increased socialization
• Enhanced self esteem and mood
• Decreased behavior problems
• Increased communication
• Increased physical abilities
• Increased endurance
• Improved motor coordination
• Increased attention span
• Increase opportunity for creative-expression
• Enhanced quality of life

Many residents I have worked with were seen tapping their feet, getting up to dance in time to the music, clapping their hands, singing, vocalizing, stomping their feet, etc. One particular resident, afflicted with ALS, participated by tapping one finger on the control of her battery operated wheelchair!

In addition, many of the residents had some degree of dementia or Alzheimer’s. They would use their hands and rhythm instruments, such as maracas, tambourines, and drums, and often times, keep the beat and rhythm! At first I thought that maybe it was just their intuitive instincts that kept the beat on target. However, I purposely would change the tempo of a song, and noticed that the shift in meter was also being felt and noted aurally by the residents, who in turn would change the beat to fit the tempo of the song. Once again, it reflects back to RHYTHM being acknowledged to be the vital therapeutic factor by virtue of its power to focus energy and to bring structure (meter and tempo) into their perception.