Neeraj Dubey
Music Therapy is the use of music by health care professionals to promote healing and enhance quality of life for their patients. Music therapy may be used to encourage emotional expression, promote social interaction, relieve symptoms, and for other purposes. Music therapist primarily help clients improve their health across various domains, including cognitive functioning, motor skills, emotional & effective development, behaviour and social skills and quality of life by using music experiences such as free improvisation, singing, song writing and listening to music to achieve treatment goals and objectives. Music therapy is considered both an art and a science. There are some evidences that, when used with conventional treatment, music therapy can help to reduce pain and relieve chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It may also relieve stress and provide an overall sense of well-being. Some studies have found that music therapy can lower heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate. There is evidence that music therapy can reduce high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, depression and sleeplessness. There are no claims that music therapy can cure cancer or other diseases, but medical experts do believe it can reduce some symptoms, aid healing, improve physical movement and enrich a patient’s quality of life. Music therapists design music sessions for individuals and groups based on their needs and tastes. Some aspects of music therapy include making music, listening to music, writing songs and talking about lyrics. Music therapy may also involve imagery and learning through music. It can be done in different places such as hospitals, cancer centres, at home or anywhere people can benefit from its calming and stimulating effects. The patient does not need to have any musical ability to benefit from music therapy
Music has been used in medicine for thousands of years. Ancient Greek philosophers believed that music could heal both the body and the soul. Native Americans have used singing and chanting as part of their healing rituals for millennia. Scientific studies have shown the value of music therapy on the body, mind and spirit of children and adults. Some studies have suggested that music help decrease the overall intensity of the patient’s experience of pain when used with pain-relieving drugs. Another study found that quality of life improved in cancer patients who received music therapy, even as it declined in those who did not. Music has frequently been used as a therapeutic agent for – Brain, Body & Soul from the ancient times. Music is a kind of yoga system through the medium of sonorous sound, which acts upon the human organism and awakens and develops their proper functions to extent of self realisation. This is the ultimate goal of Hindu Philosophy and religion. Melody is the key-note of Indian Music. The ‘Raga’ is the basis of melody. Various ‘Ragas’, have been found to be very effective in curing many diseases. They stimulate the brain, ease tension and remove fatigue. The effect of Music therapy may be immediate or slow, depending upon no. of factors like the subject, his mental condition, environment and the type of music selected for having the desired effect. It largely depends upon the individual needs and taste. Aristotle taught that music affects the soul and described music as a force that purified the emotions. Even our spiritual gurus in their spiritual lectures highlights the importance of melodies music. According to them, we can realise the presence of God either by singing or listening to melodies music. According to Daniel Levitin, the experience of listening to music starts inside the womb when the fetus, surrounded by amniotic fluid, hears sounds. It hears the mother’s heartbeat speed up and slows down, as well as music. He discovered that at the age of one children recognize and express a preference for music they were exposed to in the womb. The auditory system of the fetus is fully functional at about 20 weeks after conception.
One obvious use of music is that of a sedative. It can replace the administration of tranquillizers or at least reduce the dosage of tranquillizers. Music increases the metabolic activities within the human body. It accelerates the respiration, influences the internal secretion, improves the muscular activities and as such affects the “Central Nervous System” and Circulatory System of the listener and the performer. As a music therapist, you would encourage clients to explore sound and communicate through music, which can help them to: – i) express themselves. ii) develop insight and create ways of relating to other people. iii) become aware of their feelings iv) interact with other people more confidently. v) bring about positive changes in their lives. Music can also be used to bring a more positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay and also help to keep creativity and optimism levels higher. Music can be used in daily life for relaxation, to gain energy when feeling drained. In simple words we can say that music is an effective tool for health & stress management. “The author itself being a singer and a TV artist has been experienced it for so many years, that, by listening to melodies music before going to bed at night, we can enjoy a very fine and a stress free sleep”.
(The author is Asstt. Professor, GCET Jammu)
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