As a Certified Clinical Musician, certified by the National Standards Board for Therapeutic Musicians, I am trained to use music in a therapeutic way. Much of the work in this field is done using a harp, but any gentle, lower-pitched instrument can be suitable. I use wooden flutes, primarily a non-keyed wooden flute made for me specifically for this work. Harp has the benefit of being recognizable, having a history of healing energy, and being able to play harmonies with the melody. Though I can't play harmonies, I am able to create music with a flute that is a more intimate experience. In addition to what I bring to the process, the resonance of the wood itself is therapeutic. Sitting bedside with a client, I meet them where they are, then gradually provide sounds and music to help them shift, always monitoring changes as they occur. With an unconscious patient who is recovering from recent surgery, I might monitor heart rate and breathing to help those patterns return to normal. With a hospice patient in the final moments of life, I would provide slow, gentle, nonmelodic sounds to support a peaceful transition.
There are differences between therapeutic music and music therapy. A music therapist develops an individualized treatment plan to help deal with certain perceived issues. Where I would use music as described above, a music therapist might ask the patient to perform a rhythmic activity along with a song, or they might use music listening or song writing, for example.
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. Though this specific example is beyond the scope of therapeutic music, it is a striking example of entrainment at work, an important part of our practice:
There are differences between therapeutic music and music therapy. A music therapist develops an individualized treatment plan to help deal with certain perceived issues. Where I would use music as described above, a music therapist might ask the patient to perform a rhythmic activity along with a song, or they might use music listening or song writing, for example.
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. Though this specific example is beyond the scope of therapeutic music, it is a striking example of entrainment at work, an important part of our practice:
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Another video shows the effect recognizable music has on a nursing home resident with a cognitive impairment. 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 and sound.
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, flight, or freeze" 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, flight, or freeze" 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.
Intention Breath Vibration
When we use intention and breath to create vibration,
we access the deep healing potential of sound and music.
When we use intention and breath to create vibration,
we access the deep healing potential of sound and music.
© 2023 David Key