Music Essay

Music is an eloquent medium of expressing ideas, feelings, dreams, aspirations and values as individuals and as a people. 1 People exposed to a wide variety of music ranging from the folksy to the contemporary top tunes, from the classical to the favorite songs of yesteryears, not only imparts knowledge but also develops skills and values which make music truly exhilarating and inspiring. It enhances a deep sense of humanism, nationalism, and spirituality. Music derived from the word â€Å"Muses;† the names of the daughters of Zeus who governed all the beauty and harmony in the world according to the Greek mythology. It’s unlimited cure of the aching heart and troubled mind of a tense person. Music as it is known, the language of the soul. In the view of combining sounds it is the science or art of pleasing, impressive or intelligible combinations of tones. Results of recent studies reveal that music learning especially on instrumental playing promotes mental development, concentration and patience. It also develops self confidence aside from its great contribution to cultural and aesthetic development. Music comes to men in different ways. To be hindered, uncultured tribes, tones, coming in unison from the musical instruments could be the most harmonized melodies; to a new born babe, music is her mother’s soothing voice; to an aging grandfather, what is the most melodious sound but the first uninhibited giggles of a grandson, his first perhaps. Music the nourishment of the soul, a gift of heaven and unending universal goal of persons born with rhythmic fingers, ears of precision, creative minds and varying emotions. Music a hymn from the angels passing through the brooks with its murmuring moans; through the leaves with the dying whispers; through the rippling and agonizing tones of the bells, through the rolling crystal waves of the equable sea heading for a reunion with the majestic boulders and the long stretched white sands and ponder on. The clinical implications of the effects of the music were evident to physicians in America as far back as colonial days. Music was used therapeutically in mental hospitals as early as 1692. Shortly thereafter, Samuel Mathews of Virginia commented on the highly beneficial effects of music and suggested its introduction as from of therapy into the Pennsylvania Hospital. 2 That music is of great value in psychiatric treatment is evident from its rapid rise to importance as adjunctive therapy. However, to be effective, such a program must be individualized with a view to the specific psychological conflicts of the individual and must be used within the framework of an overall treatment goal. In treatment of psychiatric patients, music is used in different ways: as a form of recreational therapy and as means of establishing contact with the patient in intensive psychotherapy. Its widest use in mental hospitals is for recreational purposes. Weekly dances, community singing and ether forms of group musical activity do much in relieving the intense loneliness of the mental health patient. In the operating room itself, properly chosen music can divert the patient’s attention virtually to the exclusion of the customarily ominous sights and sounds. Heavily sedation frequently is required thus increasing the possibility of untoward effects. In contrast to this, the uses of music as an adjunct to anesthesia and during convalescence often lessens the need for pre-operative and post-operative medication, ache the induction of anesthesia smoother, and help to eliminate post-anesthesia retching. â€Å"Music has been used extensively throughout history as a healing force to alleviate illness and distress, but only in recent times has the specific discipline of music therapy begun to evolve† (1994). A professional music therapist came through in the mid-late-twentieth-century phenomenon. In 1891 the, The Guild of St. Cecilia was founded by Canon Harford, who himself is a musician, to play sedative music to a large number of patients in London hospitals. Though, The Guild was supported by Florence Nightingale, the Guild was pressured of criticisms from the musical and medical press and lack of funds and Harford’s own ill health. Music was used to boost morale early years of the twentieth century. Music therapy is the controlled use of music in the treatment, rehabilitation, education and training of children and adults suffering from physical, mental or emotional and training of children and adults suffering from physical, mental or emotional disorder. † (Alvin’s). 5 The American Music Therapy Association defined it as â€Å"the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. While Bunt defined music therapy as â€Å"the use of sounds and music within an evolving relationship between client and therapist to support and encourage physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. † Many experts suggest that music has the calming effect on us though we are not conscious about it. People may have been influenced when at the mother’s womb it was our mother’s practice to relax. The music’s effectiveness should be to washes away the stress, choose of what music that suits well to the patient. It can effectively be on children and adults. The music heals through the fires of neurons in the brain in the tempo of the song. The music therapy works for different ways in psychiatry, for the mental health disorders; social skills, to impair interaction and social skills; emotions, for a safe environment in alleviating feelings; communication, for the mental health difficulties; self-esteem, for the low self-esteem; relaxation, for those who has anxiety disorders; and cognition to structured stimulus. Music therapists assess emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning communication abilities, and cognitive skills through musical responses; receptive music listening, song writing, lyric discussion, and follow up. 8 There are beneficiaries of music therapy such as children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly with mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, brain injuries, physical disabilities and acute and chronic pain. And there are seven music therapy tools including the affirmations, mind quieting, breathing, mantras, chanting, toning, and drumming. The musical affirmation will return the mind to the alpha state, a state where the neurons fire in harmony and the message will be absorbed by the conscious and subconscious mind through the power of the sound of music. Mind quieting is calming the mind in a behavioral manner where it is disciplined. In breathing it is important to do it without thinking of anything because it is the voice of your spirit, its depth; smoothness, sound, and rate reflect the mood. The mantras will help you go beyond borders to realize the potential and the power of love. Chanting has a healthy strengthening effect on the mind because it develops concentration, patience and determination. The goal of chanting is to connect to Self and the process should be inclusive and fun. Toning is the process of letting go of basic, natural sounds to attain a sense of balance, harmony and centering. In harmonizing the emotions is a natural condition. The healing effects of drumming strengthen the immune system and create a calming focus even hypnotic. You have to follow certain things in listening music. First, you have to find a song that suits your mood and play it for 10-15 minutes. Second, a song which is between your present internal state and the state you wish to achieve and play it for 10-15 minutes, too. Third, for 10-15 minutes state your mind and mood to achieve your goal to relax. You won’t need a professional in this practice, just concentrate on what you are doing. Few people understand the significance and importance that music therapy and music therapists contribute to our society. Music therapists help the needy in many ways. Once again; music therapy promotes healing and enhances the quality of life. A complementary therapy used for the cancer patients to cope mentally and physically in their diagnosis. It may involve listening to music, creating music, and singing music. Scientific studies have shown the positive value of music therapy on the body, mind, and spirit of children and adults. Researchers have found that music therapy used along with anti emetic drugs for patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy can be effective in easing the physical symptoms of nausea and vomiting. When used in combination with pain-relieving drugs, music has been found to decrease the overall intensity of the patient’s experience of pain and can sometimes result in a reduced dependence on pain medication. 10 Music can relieve stress, apprehension, and fear, it improves mood, lower the heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate, it relieves the depression, relieve the sleeplessness and relieve muscle tension and provide relation. Music therapy session is designed to promote self-expression; the therapist might create a musical and emotional environment that encourages you to respond by revealing personal experiences or feeling. The session might incorporate speech and drama as well as music. The therapist might use singing and discussions. 11 Through playing the music with lyrics, the therapist can encourage you to make up words that formed into a positive unique song. Therefore, music therapy improves the quality of life for persons who are well and meets the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses. There is future in music therapy in the name of art and music for physical rehabilitation. It’s effectiveness of music therapy in important in the context of a biological medical model.