Closely related to the general effect of music on us is the effect of music therapy. Let’s think about: how many moments in our life are associated with music?
How many situations, accompanied by music, become a unique and special moment?We are talking about a mode of transmission and even a universal way of life.
- Music emerges music therapy: a therapy that uses or uses music.
- In this article we will delve into the concept describing the most important techniques included in this type of therapies.
Music therapy is a method that uses music and sound to establish the communication and connection necessary to achieve therapeutic goals.
The effect of music therapy aims to improve quality of life and health, physically, emotionally and cognitively, in particular, people with brain injuries, terminal illnesses, dementia, mental health problems and autism benefit.
In 1950, Paul Nordoff, an American composer and pianist, and Clive Robbins, a British teacher of children with special needs, began working together to shape a therapeutic approach that had music as a cornerstone.
Subsequently, they created Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, a music therapy association dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in need of neurological rehabilitation.
They found that opportunities to get involved in active music creation allowed patients/customers to go beyond what was expected of them.
As a result, they found empirical support for the idea that experimentation with music stimulates our brains at a level we hadn’t experienced before, that is, they found evidence that defended the effect of music therapy.
“Everyone can react to music because the unique qualities of music can improve communication, change attitudes, and empower and empower people to live more creatively. “Nordoff-Robbins music therapy.
There are different specific techniques that can be used in music therapy, either collectively or individually, some of them are:
Music has certain components that act beneficially in our brains. It should be noted that music stimulates the production of Serotonin, known as the ‘happiness hormone’.
Therefore, it facilitates the appearance of changes in brain chemistry, generating a sense of well-being.
In this sense, the scientist Robert Zatorre describes the neural mechanisms of musical perception, stating that the brain’s response to sounds is conditioned by what was previously heard, since the brain has a database stored and built with all known melodies.
For this reason, Zatorre says that the effect of music therapy on the brain is positive for people, in short, music can evoke previously formed neural connections, bringing memories to the center of conscious attention.
In the same line as the previous paragraph, music therapy is known to contribute to memory recovery by stimulating cognitive areas, such as language and attention.
According to musician Javier Alcontara, musical faculties and musical memory are the last thing we have lost, so one of the goals of music therapy is to improve/preserve memory and cognitive abilities, especially in people with dementia.
Emotionally, as Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy states, music therapy allows us to evoke memories and express emotions that would find no other way out.
When playing these instruments, the person is expected to express through music what would be very difficult to do through other channels.
In addition, the sounds they generate and how they interact with musical instruments can give the music therapist clues about the emotional state of the patient/client.
Therefore, music therapy is seen as a powerful tool of emotional expression, reinforcing positive aspects, such as self-esteem, motivation and, in some cases, opening the door to better emotional management.
“In short, music is a way of expressing what we carry in us. “
As indicated by the Music Therapy and Health Foundation, this technique promotes better breathing and relaxation, as pleasant and attractive stimuli and sounds are used in people’s daily lives.
At the same time, music therapy can help improve the speed and balance of muscles when walking, as well as reduce the risk of falls.
Music therapy improves verbal expression and increases non-verbal expression.
In general, music stimulates the ability of expression and communication, since for music certain essential elements are necessary: active listening, pause between songs, shift change, among others.
These essential elements can now be applied to daily life and social relationships, improving the quality of socialization skills.
In short, music allows us to work relationships with the environment around us, encouraging the creation and intensification of emotional bonds and stimulating the acquisition of social skills.
Currently, the main applications of music therapy are
In conclusion, as explained above, the effect of music therapy is noticeable on quality of life, promoting an alternative channel of emotional expression.
Therefore, at present, the frequency of use of this technique has increased, therefore, the number of trained specialists who apply it has increased.
“Music is for the soul what gymnastics is for the body. ” – Plato-