Music for many is like a medicine. People hear music to let go of their worries and rejuvenate. In fact a lot of people keep a playlist for happy memories to relive them whenever they feel down and low. In this article, we will talk about music therapy which uses the healing property of music.
Music therapy is a full-fledged profession that uses a variety of music to improve the quality of life off the patients. It is always said that music transcends space and time and therefore it doesn’t come as a surprise that music is an art form enjoyed by everybody throughout the world. Music therapy has evolved through a number of research articles and studies that studied the in depth properties of music and its ability to heal people through its therapeutic properties. A lot of study also shows that music can aid modern medicine and help heal the person rapidly. A study conducted on little kids showed that the kids who listened to music while having an IV inserted did not feel distressed at all in comparison to other kids who did not. As such it is imperative that we discuss the untapped benefits that this kind of therapy can have on us and use it to further advance our medical profession.
People of all age have been found to benefit from this therapy. Infants, Young kids, teenagers, youth and event older person have been known to benefit from music therapy. People with old age ailments like alzheimer’s and parkinson’s and substance abuse disorders along with people who experience chronic pain as well as women in labour benefit from it. Musical therapists are medical professionals who study the effects of music on patients and have completed an approved music therapy program. They design an effective music program that takes into consideration the person’s mental well being, physical fitness, social and communicating abilities along with some cognitive skills. Through this acquired data set they chalk out a suitable program based on clients needs and improvise upon it. This form of therapy is known as receptive music therapy. Another kind of music therapy known as Active music therapy involves the person in making songs and music by involving them throughout the process. Song writing, lyric discussion, imagery, performances and learning and follow up are some stages of active music therapy.
It is often considered that people who have been involved in music or display creative tendencies can benefit from music therapy. However, studies show that people who do not display music abilities can also benefit from it. Also, it is often considered that mild, slow music helps people heal and it is the only type of music that promotes healing. This is also a myth as various issues associate to a different genre of music and helps heal it. All kinds of music are effective in different patients. It is just that the right music oriented to help the patient and the outcome required determines the right music for the patient.
