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This past weekend, I attended an exploration seminar at which Kristin Fray spoke about careers in music therapy. Fray is a Board Certified Music Therapist, and she told us many stories about her experiences with music and her patients. I learned a lot from the event, but one of the most powerful points to me that Fray focused on was the idea that music creates change.
One way in which music creates change is through our emotions. Levine Music says that:
Composers play upon these emotions when scoring films, employing different scales, tempos, instrumentation, and more to elicit specific feelings in the audience. Soundtracks are a vital part of the movie experience, framing our perception of what we're seeing and our empathy with the characters on the screen. Listen to the "Psycho" suite for an instant rush of fear, or dwell in ethereal dreaminess with the elven themes from "The Lord of the Rings." These iconic soundtracks, among so many others, are striking examples of how music moves us.
Oftentimes, we may use music to reflect on our emotions as well. For instance, after a bad break up, have you ever laid on your bed or sat on the couch listening to breakup songs? When this happens, you are using the music to help you face your feelings, which in turn helps you to get passed them.
Music also has the ability to help us calm down. During the seminar, Fray passed around an Ocean Drum and a Rain Stick. These are types of musical instruments that she uses to help her patients calm down, and I have never experienced anything like the magical sound of the ocean and rain coming from the two instruments. It was a very relaxing experience, and I walked away feeling calmer.
Because music is often an enjoyable activity, it can activate the release of endorphins, which creates a general feeling of well-being. Music therapy can successfully reduce post-operative pain, physical tension and influence heart and breathing rates. Fast music tends to increase pulse rate and blood pressure. Slow music tends to decrease pulse rate and blood pressure, as well as breathing rate.
Fray told us that one time, while visiting a patient, she noticed that the elderly woman was breathing very rapidly. Fray picked up an instrument and began to play. The woman's breathing slowed down to meet the beat of the music. Fray began to slow down even more, and each time she adjusted the tempo, the woman's breathing pace lowered to meet it. Fray's point was that our body's natural response is to meet the beat, or the pace, of the music that we are listening to. Exercising is another example of this. When watching a workout video, there tends to be music playing in the background, and that is to give our body the will to speed up and get moving.
Another way that music brings about change is through the mind. Fray told us that music "lights up" the brain. Because of this, it is common for music therapists to work with dementia patients.
Ronald Devere says, "
In dementia [music] can improve mood, behavior, and in some cases cognitive function, which can persist for hours and days after the music stops." Going along with this idea, Borna Bonakdarpour, MD, tells us that when looking to help a dementia patient through musical intervention, it is important to try and activate the areas of the brain that create bridges to to other areas. For instance, the rhythm of a song can help patients walk better, and singing brings speech skills to the surface (Borna Bonakdarpour, MD).
While at the event, Fray told us about an elderly dementia patient that she had who did not speak at all. He would not, could not, carry on a conversation with anyone. However, when she would play songs from his past, he could recall all of the words and would sing them! Music really is incredible in the fact that it can have such a positive influence on the brain.
Music can also bring about social change. This one is often not brought up a lot, but if you think about it you will find that there are many examples in which music changed the political or social system. The Library of Congress says:
Americans from the colonial period to the present day have often practiced their right to freedom of speech through song. American songs have called attention to social causes, both criticized and advocated governmental social policies, and provided a means of personal complaint on social issues. Songs are easily carried, demand attention, convey emotion, and can be performed in many contexts, with or without instrumentation, so they are a useful tool for the furtherance of causes. The message they carry can be direct or veiled, so giving power to people whose power may be socially restricted.
Kristin Fray helped me to understand just how important music is, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that I had to go to her seminar. I am confident that I will never look at music the same way again. Fray taught me that music is a beautiful form of communication, a powerful energizer, and sometimes it can be a dangerous weapon. Music has the ability to make change within our communities, our families, and ourselves. It can impact our emotions, our physical body, our mind, and our societal beliefs. When used properly, music can make the world a better place. Music changes lives. Who knows, maybe your life will be the next.
Hello Yesmeen,
ReplyDeleteThis is a very well written blog with fascinating information. I learned to speak English in my later years, but grew up listening to music in English. Although I did not understand the language, I remembered the words to the songs I would listen too. In later years, I learned English and the songs lyrics I remembered finally made sense to me.
V/R
Sam P.
Your blog is really good it kinda made me want to my own research of this topic. I remember reading that music does help with some emotion and health problems and I think it said that certain beats or rhythms can help a person or make them worse but it just depend on the music. But you did a good job. Jonathan Navarro
ReplyDeleteI’ve heard about music therapy before but I’ve never known what it actually is. This blog really opened my perspective and this is so interesting. The dementia patient that communicated through music is so cool to me, I work in a nursing home and a lot of our patients do this, I guess I know why now!
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