-By ArdorComm Media Bureau
August 20, 2022
Recent studies examined how music interventions affected health-related quality of life in an effort to find the most effective means of assisting people in moving toward release, relaxation, and rehabilitation. Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses have demonstrated that music interventions, such as singing, music therapy, and music listening, can significantly improve mental health while having less of an impact on physical health-related quality of life. Even while the researchers discovered a beneficial effect on psychological quality of life, they did not discover a single ideal intervention or “dosage” of music that is most effective for everyone.
Complications in music
Our relationship with music is deeply personal since we are complicated human beings from a wide range of cultures with a diversity of life experiences and demands for our mental and physical wellbeing. Depending on our mood, preferences, social context, and past experiences, our connection with music may be a highly delicate, vulnerable, and frequently difficult dance that changes from time to time. There are times when music can clearly and immediately affect our wellbeing. For example, a calming playlist can make it easier to fall asleep, upbeat dance music can inspire us to work out, singing can help us express our emotions, and going to a live musical performance can help us connect with others.
There are other occasions when you can benefit from working with a board-certified music therapist to develop that connection to music and choose the optimal course of action and dosage that will have a beneficial effect on your health and promote healing.
What therapeutic benefits does music have?
A recognised field of medicine called music therapy uses scientifically supported musical interventions to meet therapeutic healthcare objectives. A board-certified music therapist who has successfully completed an accredited undergraduate or graduate music therapy programme provides music therapy to a patient (and conceivably their caregivers and/or family).
To achieve their objectives of bettering health and wellbeing, music therapists utilise both active (singing, instrument exploration, songwriting, movement, and more) and receptive (music listening, guided visualisation with music, playlist construction, or music conversation and recollection) therapies.
Some of these objectives can be to lessen worry, change your attitude, experience less pain during cancer treatment or other medical procedures, express yourself more, find inspiration, and many others. A music therapist can assist you in determining the best strategy for a given situation when using music to accomplish these types of goals and enhance your quality of life in general.
Some of the musical therapy tools
Listening music
In practically every situation, this intervention has been the most thoroughly researched. You can do it either alone or with music therapy. Live or recorded music is both acceptable. You can listen with focused attention or in the background. Emotions can be amplified for release. The mind can be relaxed by music. Alternately, you can apply the “iso principle” and choose music that matches your present energy or mood before gradually changing the feel, tempo, and complexity to aid in shifting.
Listening to music can be combined with relaxing cues, as well as ones that encourage you to move more, exercise, or do a chore you’ve been putting off.
Singing
If you have a strong connection to your voice and/or a positive relationship with your music therapist, who can help you strengthen your connection to your instrument, this can be a great intervention. Singing has a positive effect on lung function as well as emotional and psychological benefits when you sing words that are true to your heart. Finally, being surrounded by powerful, precise harmonies has a resonant effect that fosters a sense of solidarity.
Taking lessons or playing an instrument
Making music actively uses your entire brain. The biggest opportunity for expressiveness, fine and gross motor development, pain alleviation, distraction, and cognition is created by this. Some instruments are made to make learning or free expression more accessible.
For instance, a steel tongue drum set up in a pentatonic scale has a lovely resonant sound, no “bad notes,” and is made to allow you to simply play! Try learning the ukulele if you want to exercise your cognitive brain a little. There are many excellent ukulele materials online, the strings are simple to push, and introductory chords only require one or two fingers. Playing an instrument can be enjoyable and simple.
You can find the quickest and most effective route to musical expression with the assistance of a board-certified music therapist. It takes time, perseverance, and practise to truly master an instrument and read music.
Conclusion
Music can be a potent force for change even though there isn’t one best intervention, enchanted tune, or ideal genre to ease all of life’s difficulties. Humans are subject to the overwhelming effect of music. It can improve your response to pain, improve your memory, increase task endurance, lift your mood, lessen anxiety and depression, prevent weariness, and aid in working out more efficiently. One efficient approach to benefit from music’s numerous positive effects on your body, mind, and general health is to work with a music therapist.
The author, Pratik Ghosh is associated with ArdorComm Media