MUSIC THERAPHY
I. Music.
a. What Is Music?
Maybe we will answer it with saying the detailed mechanics about music, like instrument, rhythms, chords, tempo, notes, harmony, bass, and melody. But it will be hard to answer ‘What is it for?’ , the simple answer is music is something enjoyable, it make us feels good. We could expand on this a bit and say that music creates emotions or interact with the emotions we already feel.
It makes us want to dance or sing. It makes us feel happy or sad, inspired or uplifted. It affects our mood in all kinds of infinite ways.
Music is a universal language.
b. Music is different things to different people
According to Ian Skelly, author of the article ‘Beauty Speaks’, above all things “music has a transcendental significance that is captured in the beautiful patterns of Nature and architecture – a kind of ‘frozen music’.
Mark Kidel, author of ‘Conversations and Crossroads’, music can bridge cultures in a universal ‘conversation’ that is beyond intellect or reason, but which is heartfelt.
Brian Eno said that music brings the joy of unexpected and beautiful sound, and to singer/songwriters like myself: music ( and singing in particular ) takes us to a world apart: a world beyond self and ego; a place of emotion that touches the soul.
II. Music for simulation
a. Music and Stress Relief
How to use music in your daily life?. You can use music in your daily life and achieve many stress relief benefits on your own. One of the great benefits of music as a stress reliever is that it can be used while you conduct your regular activities so that it really does not take time away from your busy schedule. Music provides a wonderful backdrop for your life so that you can find increased enjoyment from what you’re doing and also reduce stress from your day.
b. Mozart Effect
The doctors and scientists recommend using the classical music in stimulating the babies, mother pregnant, and for children. Does playing classical music to babies make a difference? Opinion is divided; but many experts think that it may stimulate the brain in a way that helps educational and emotional development.It's known as the Mozart Effect, a theory which is credited with boosting IQ, improving health, strengthening family ties and even producing the occasional child prodigy.
Numerous studies conclude that playing music to babies in the womb and in the early years helps build the neural bridges along which thoughts and information travel. And research suggests it can stimulate the brain's alpha waves, creating a feeling of calm; a recent study of premature infants found that they were soothed by the music.
III. Music Therapy
a. What is music therapy?
Music therapy is an interpersonal process in which the therapist uses music and all of its facets-physical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetic, and spiritual-to help clients to improve or maintain their health. In some instances, the client's needs are addressed directly through music; in others they are addressed through the relationships that develop between the client and therapist.
Music therapy is used with individuals of all ages and with a variety of conditions, including: psychiatric disorders, medical problems, physical handicaps, sensory impairments, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, communication disorders, interpersonal problems, and aging. It is also used to: improve learning, build self-esteem, reduce stress, support physical exercise, and facilitate a host of other health-related activities
There is some study finding on the health effects of music therapy:
1) Music Therapy and Depression
Music therapy may help some patients fight depression, according to a review published in 2008. Researchers sized up data from five previously published studies, four of which found that participants receiving music therapy were more likely to see a decrease in depression symptoms (compared to those who did not receive music therapy). According to the review's authors, patients appeared to experience the greatest benefits when therapists used theory-based therapeutic techniques, such as painting to music and improvised singing.
2) Music Therapy and Stress
Music therapy may help ease stress in pregnancy, according to a 2008 study of 236 healthy pregnant women. Compared to a control group, the 116 study members who received music therapy showed significantly greater reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression. The music therapy involved listening to a half-hour of soothing music twice daily for two weeks.
In a research review published in 2009, investigators found that listening to music may also benefit patients who experience severe stress and anxiety associated with having coronary heart disease. The review included two studies on patients treated by trained music therapists. Results showed that music listening had a beneficial effect on blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and pain in people with coronary heart disease.
3) Music Therapy and Autism
Music therapy may help improve communication skills in children with autistic spectrum disorder, according to a review published in 2006. However, the review's authors note that the included studies were of "limited applicability to clinical practice" and that "more research is needed to examine whether the effects of music therapy are enduring."
Children with autism, according to study results, see the musical instrument as something fun. These children are usually very fond shapes, touching and well produced sound. Therefore, this musical instrument can become an intermediary to build relationships between children with autism with other individuals.
Music therapy can also help children with the ability to communicate how to improve vocal production and stimulate conversation and mental processes in terms of understanding and recognizing. The therapist will try to create communication links between the behaviors of children with a particular sound. Children with autism are usually more easily identify and more open to the sound than the verbal approach. Awareness of this music and the relationship between the actions of children with music has the potential to encourage communication. Most children with autism are less able to respond to stimuli that should help them feel the right emotion. But, because children with autism can respond well to music, the music therapy can help children by providing an environment free from fear.
During the therapy session, every child has the freedom to express themselves as they wish, in accordance with their own way. They can make a scene, hitting the instruments, shouting and expressing pleasure will satisfy emotions. In addition, music therapy also helps children with autism:
* Teach social skills
* Improve understanding of language
* Encourage the desire to communicate
* Teach children to express themselves creatively
* Reduce the conversation that is not communicative
* Reducing the repetition of words spoken by another person in an instant and uncontrolled.
4) Music Therapy and Cancer
Research suggests that music therapy may offer a number of benefits for people coping with cancer. For instance, music therapy has been shown to reduce anxiety in patients receiving radiation therapy, as well as ease nausea and vomiting resulting from high-dose chemotherapy.
