Therapeutic Music is different from "music therapy." A music therapist develops an individualized treatment plan that engages the patient in certain music activities. A therapeutic musician uses live acoustic music specifically tailored to a patient's individual needs. For example, where a music therapist might engage the patient in doing rhythmic activity along with a song being sung, a therapeutic musician might provide gentle, relaxing music for a hospice patient, or more energetic acoustic instrumental music for someone in recovery from surgery. Much therapeutic music is created using a harp, but any gentle, lower-pitched instrument can be suitable. I use wooden flutes, primarily a simple system wooden flute made for me specifically for this work.
For therapeutic music, playing live is best practice. It allows the therapeutic musician to use their training and experience to monitor the patient's vital signs and reactions, adjusting the music choices as needed. But recorded music can have a powerful impact in some specific ways, as well. Take a moment to view this short video that shows the incredible impact of music on a Parkinson's patient's ability to walk. This is a striking example of entrainment at work:
For therapeutic music, playing live is best practice. It allows the therapeutic musician to use their training and experience to monitor the patient's vital signs and reactions, adjusting the music choices as needed. But recorded music can have a powerful impact in some specific ways, as well. Take a moment to view this short video that shows the incredible impact of music on a Parkinson's patient's ability to walk. This is a striking example of entrainment at work:
Another video shows the effect recognizable music has on a nursing home resident with dementia. Our memories of music are some of our longest-lasting. We see that in a dramatic way with this video:
Both of these videos provide powerful examples of how music can facilitate profound mental and physical shifts. With these visual examples, we see a focus on using music to treat a physical challenge. Science is looking at these kinds of uses, but therapeutic musicians and sound therapists believe the more important focus is on the preventative use of music.
Stress has a huge impact on each of us as we live our lives. To speak more clinically, our sympathetic nervous system is engaged to an unhealthy degree. This is the instinctive "fight or flight" mechanism of self-preservation that we now find ourselves experiencing more than we should. That state produces toxic levels of cortisol and other chemicals in our bodies, weakening our immune system and stressing our heart and other organs. Therapeutic music engages our "parasympathetic nervous system", inducing the relaxation response, where self-healing takes place. This is not a "new age" concept--it is science, and it is remarkable that we have been created with a built-in ability to harness something as simple and powerful as sound for preventative healing.
Stress has a huge impact on each of us as we live our lives. To speak more clinically, our sympathetic nervous system is engaged to an unhealthy degree. This is the instinctive "fight or flight" mechanism of self-preservation that we now find ourselves experiencing more than we should. That state produces toxic levels of cortisol and other chemicals in our bodies, weakening our immune system and stressing our heart and other organs. Therapeutic music engages our "parasympathetic nervous system", inducing the relaxation response, where self-healing takes place. This is not a "new age" concept--it is science, and it is remarkable that we have been created with a built-in ability to harness something as simple and powerful as sound for preventative healing.
© 2020 David Key