Healing through music

1. Health & Disease Healing through music By Mariajosé Suarez-Vertiz

2. "When we look at the body of evidence that the arts contribute to our society, it's absolutely astounding. Music Therapists are breaking down the walls of silence and affliction of autism, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.“ • Michael Greene, President & CEO of NARAS

3. Many of us may wonder, how can music heal? In what way does music makes a physical connection with our bodies in order to heal it? How does it work? Well, healing is not only about soothing a headache or recovering a person from a broken leg instantly. Healing is also motivating, inspiring and bringing peace to the soul. Here is how ‘healing through music’ works.

4. Music Therapy Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals in a certain patient. These sessions are commonly applied in people who suffer from stress, depression, and Alzheimer.

5. Here’s an incredible case that shows the effect of music on Alzheimer patients: A group of Alzheimer patients are gathered in the assembly room of a nursing home. The activities director introduces a not so young couple. He carries a guitar, and walks with his wife to the piano. The woman sits down, and plays a few notes.

6. Most of the residents have not even looked up - they don't hear most of what anyone says - or if they do, they cannot, or will not, respond. But the musicians begin to play and sing. A rousing rendition of "Oh, Susannah" has several of the residents looking up - flickers of recognition cross their faces. A few choruses of "How Great Thou Art" inspire many of them to stand and walk or wheel their chairs toward the piano. Soon several are singing along to "Amazing Grace". A few country and western tunes bring several more residents into the present, and "In the Mood" has nearly everyone dancing along.

7. When the music stops, it isn't long before most of the residents retreat back into their selves. It was only for a short while, but the music gave these lonely patients a few moments of connection, happiness, and memory”. SOURCE: http://healing.about.com/od/sound/a/kmucci_music.htm

8. Form my point of view, this anecdote shows how powerful the impact of music on people is. These sick patients can’t even speak because they suffer from a severe disease which keeps them from expressing their feelings physically and verbally. But as soon as these songs are played, they bring thousands and thousands of memories back to their minds and that encourages them to ‘come down from their cloud’ and enjoy the moment. This is one example of music therapy.

9. Another type of music therapy consists on playing really soft music in order to healorease.Here we have an amazing anecdote: “A tiny infant lies in a neonatal ward. The heat of an incubator replaces the warmth of her mother's arms; tubes filled with nutrients replace her mother's milk. Every breath is a struggle. Her underdeveloped heart beats erratically. All around her are other infants in distress - the monitors attached to them beep in time with their struggle to live. Fear is on the faces of anxious parents hovering as close as possible.

10. In the midst of this, a harpistenters the ward. She begins to softly play an ancient lullaby. After a few moments, the monitors steady.Nearly all of the infants breathe more easily; their heart rates steady, and they rest. Many of them fall into deep sleep - the first they have had since the harpist last was here.

11. The nurses relax, and smiles of relief grace the faces of the parents when they see the tiny souls absorbing the healing power of this beautiful music”. SOURCE: http://healing.about.com/od/sound/a/kmucci_music.htm

12. In my opinion, this story is really poignant and touching. It is very common for babies all around the world, especially for those who come from the least developed countries, to experience health complications during the first weeks of their life. Owing to the number of people who can’t afford to pay expensive treatments for neonatal babies, they don’t think about that sometimes the best way to heal is the natural way. How can we be so sure that what the babies really need is just to neutralize their inner energy? That is what music does, it neutralizes. Sometimes it is not so complicated.

13. TheHarpEffect The most common instrument in music therapy is the harp. Most of Alzheimer patients request a harpist to play for them during their times of worst pain, this somehow gives them a sensation of peace. This is because of many reasons:

14. •Facilitate the transition process of the dying • Augment pain management of the terminally ill • Relieve anxiety of the critically ill •Accelerate physical healing of post-surgery & injured clients • Ease the delivery process of the birthing mother • Reduce stress & blood pressure of the chronically ill • Relieve body & mental tension of the pre-surgery client • Aid mental focus • Lift and clear the consciousness (http://www.myharpsdelight.com/therapeutic-harp.html)

15. Playing the harp at least five to fifteen minutes a day stops the mind’s chatter of fears, complaints, worries and upsets. The soul’s purpose comes into focus. The alpha state and the left-right brain integration which occurs bring deep relaxation and true inner healing. These deeper states seem to come effortlessly when playing the Therapy Harp. When you give a treatment, you get one as well.

16. Therapy Harps are beautiful but the significance is that they calm the nervous system while transforming consciousness. The vibration of the harp when placed on the body creates movement in every cell. This intercellular massagebreaks up energy blockages, relieves depressionand chronic painwhich may inhibit natural energy flow. Blockages may be one cause of disease. Also, the harps are pre-tuned to the chakra system stimulating energy to flow again. This gives the body energy to prioritize healing on a ‘most needed’ basis.

17. My personal perspective Personally, I think music can be a great way to inspire people tranquility and inner peace. As for healing illnesses, I don’t think they directly work on our organism and cure our sicknesses. What I do believe is that, as a sick person’s recovering doesn’t depend only on their physical state but also on their mental state, this can influence a lot on the patient’s mood. So as patients become more calmed and relaxed, this will be favourable on their recovering.

18. In my family I come from a family which has practically grown up surrounded by music. Every single person in my family can play an instrument and all our conversations somehow lead to a musical topic. So when it comes to music, me and my family are the first to suppor the idea. Technically, everything in my life has to do with music and I am very well aware of the incredible properties of music.

19. In my school & community Sadly, my school doesn’t pay much attention to musical issues, so this topic is not very expanded through my friends. Also, it is not common to see people with alzheimer at schools! So healing through music isn’t a primordial issue. However, in my community, fortunately there is very wise people who know a lot about music and I even know a few people who actually believe and have been witnesses of the power of music.

20. Possiblescenarios and Coursesof action • How can spread thisgood idea aroundtheworld? Ifpeopledon’tknowaboutthepower of healingthroughmusic, theywillnever try it. I personallythinkthatthis idea shouldbe spread aroundtheworldbecauseit’s a simple way of neutralizingthesoul and it’sisveryaccessible. Somemethodsthatcouldbeappliedtoachievethis are: • Instructivecampaigns • Conferences • Advertising • Talks at school • Self-experiencedpeople • Locally, thereisnotmuchneed of thisbecausepeoplewouldrathergoto a clinicthanto a musician. But in my communitythere are lots of oldpeoplewholiketobestrolleddowntheparkbecausetheyfeellonely. Itwouldbe a reallygood idea tohire a musiciantoplayforthemevery once in a while. • Nationally,there are verypoorhospitalsallover my country in whichthemedicaldevices are notthatgood and efficient so usuallymost of thepatients are lyingontheirbeds (iftheygettohave a bed) and just lie therefordayswithoutgettinganyattention. So thesepeoplereallyneedsomethingthat can distractthemfromthehopelessatmosphere of the hospital. Whatcouldbebetterthan a relaxingsession of harpmusictoeasetheirhurtbodies and minds? I thinkthesesessionsshouldbe free and voluntary in these places becausethestaff of thehospitalsdoesn’thaveenoughmoneytopayforit. • Internationally, I knowthat in places likethe USA and Europethismethodisverycommon and usuallyappliedtooldpeopleorchildrenwithcancerwho are enduringseverepain. Still, lessthanhalf of theworld’spopulationisaware of thismagicalmethod. How can we spread it? I believethathemostefficientmethodswouldbecampaigns and instructiveconferences so thatpeoplehave a more accesible, natural and simple way of healingthemselves.

21. In theother audio fileyou can listen tothemusic I composed. I playit in the piano.