Music, Health and Wellbeing
Running head: MUSIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Music, Health and Wellbeing
Szu-Yu Lin
University of Central Arkansas
1
MUSIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING
2
Music and Health
Even though in communication studies listening is neither natural nor effortless and people vary in their listening ability, in the medical field listening to music can not only be natural and effortless but also have healing power. Ever since early time in human history, cultures have been touched worldwide by music.(Martino, 2014). What most people do not know is music has also been used as a healing force for centuries (Misic, Arandjelovic,
Stanojkovic, Vladejic, and Mladenovic, 2010).
Several studies show that patient’s health in various populations improved by practicing music therapy (Novotney, 2013), which has been widely practiced in remedying numerous, different afflictions such as pain, stress, chronic mental illness, dementia, cardiac disease, cancer, drug abuse, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia and potentially even Alzheimer’s. Both musical artifacts and musical performances (such as performing relationships) are explored and considered as possible ways for achieving health and well-being (Baker, 2013). Music therapists can practice music therapy with one or more than one patient, commonly in the form of songwriting, lyric substitution, improvisation, singing, music listening, instruments playing, etc. By exploring sound vibrations, Parkinson’s patients led to improvements in symptoms, including less rigidity and better walking speed with bigger steps and reduced tremors (NeuroRehab ilitation, 2009).
“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s
MUSIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING
3
something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”, said by American musician Billy Joel (Nandy, 2011). Compared to music therapy twenty years ago, musicians are a new population of music therapy patients. A music therapist can use music
Music, Health and Wellbeing
Szu-Yu Lin
University of Central Arkansas
1
MUSIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING
2
Music and Health
Even though in communication studies listening is neither natural nor effortless and people vary in their listening ability, in the medical field listening to music can not only be natural and effortless but also have healing power. Ever since early time in human history, cultures have been touched worldwide by music.(Martino, 2014). What most people do not know is music has also been used as a healing force for centuries (Misic, Arandjelovic,
Stanojkovic, Vladejic, and Mladenovic, 2010).
Several studies show that patient’s health in various populations improved by practicing music therapy (Novotney, 2013), which has been widely practiced in remedying numerous, different afflictions such as pain, stress, chronic mental illness, dementia, cardiac disease, cancer, drug abuse, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia and potentially even Alzheimer’s. Both musical artifacts and musical performances (such as performing relationships) are explored and considered as possible ways for achieving health and well-being (Baker, 2013). Music therapists can practice music therapy with one or more than one patient, commonly in the form of songwriting, lyric substitution, improvisation, singing, music listening, instruments playing, etc. By exploring sound vibrations, Parkinson’s patients led to improvements in symptoms, including less rigidity and better walking speed with bigger steps and reduced tremors (NeuroRehab ilitation, 2009).
“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s
MUSIC HEALTH AND WELLBEING
3
something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”, said by American musician Billy Joel (Nandy, 2011). Compared to music therapy twenty years ago, musicians are a new population of music therapy patients. A music therapist can use music
References: Wheeler, Barbara L. (2012). Review of Developments in music therapy practice: Case study perspectives Baker, Felicity A. (2013). Review of Music, Health, and Well-being. Psychomusicology: Music, Mind, and Brain, 23(2), 131-133 Novotney, A. (2013). Music as medicine. Monitor on Psychology, 44, 10. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/11/music.aspx Misic P., Arandjelovic D., Stanojkovic S., Vladejic S., and Mladenovic J. (2010) Music Therapy, 25, 839. Martino J. (2014 March 13). 7 Ways Music Benefits Your Heart, Brain & Health. Retrieved from http://www.collective-evolurion.com/2014/03/13/seven-reasons-why-musicbenefits- your-health/ Nandy P. (2011 August 8). The Healing Powers of Music. Retrieved from http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-the-healing-powers-of-music-1573814