More testimonials for music's healing power

From Beethoven to the Beatles, music has the unique ability to uplift people’s hearts and provide a sense of hope as they travel on an often-difficult road. Without a doubt, the most rewarding concerts we’ve played over our careers have been during the two years we volunteered at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford, Conn. The peaceful, serene, and intimate setting overlooking the ocean moved us to write and perform music that would uplift and soothe patients and their families.By performing for residents at the nation’s first hospice, we hoped we’d be able to provide a sense of much-welcomed solace. But we had no idea just how much of an effect it was going to have – on patients, their families, and on us. The music, whether it was upbeat or relaxing, made an incredible impact on the patients, and only reinforced our beliefs about its power to heal.You could see people’s faces light up as soon as our fingers hit the keys. They hummed and sang along. The songs elicited mixed emotions – from great happiness over hearing a familiar tune, to a deep sadness as they realized that they were nearing the end of their journeys. But even when a song brought up a bittersweet memory, it allowed them to connect with fond memories from their past, or re-experience long-hidden emotions. “As Time Goes By” from “Casablanca” was a particular favorite, and seemed to allow people to turn inward and reflect on their lives.One patient’s daughter told us that her mother had been a musician decades before, and hearing the piano music transported her back to the happy days of her childhood. Another family member told us that their father looked forward to our weekly performances more than words could even describe.We’ve had doctors tell us they play CDs of our relaxing piano music in the hospital to calm patients before surgery. They say the gentle melodies alleviate anxiety, and that if someone is relaxed, they need less anesthesia. Hearing familiar tunes can trigger strong sensory images and feelings. Music can wrap a person in a calming blanket of memories.When our own father was ill, he listened to our music in the hospital, and it brought him a great sense of peace. And for us, his family, it warmed our hearts to know he was experiencing tender memories and feelings, even while he was in great pain.We’re convinced that music has an amazing ability to offer a tangible sense of hope and encouragement for people dealing with the difficulties of life and death. Whether it’s coping with the illness of a loved one, or trying to understand a tragedy that doesn’t seem to make any sense at all, people remind us time and again about music’s power to soothe, heal, and help them get through difficult times.

Take it to heart folks! It's really true!

Alice

Using music to cleanse mind and body

Today I found an interesting blog called "Cleansing Blog" that presents lots of different methods for "cleaning" and "cleaning out" the mind and body. Enjoy this unusual post:

Music has always been a very important part of our lives, from childhood to our being an adult. As a part of our experience, music can have both a physiological and psychological affect upon us as human beings. In addition to the influence that it has on our life, music also has many therapeutic qualities and has been utilized in promoting a variety of healings throughout the ages. As we know further, music can be a very powerful medium for altering our state, of changing how we actually feel. More specifically music can be very effective in producing a very deep and healing state of relaxation and in the process, reduce stress and even promote sleep. Music can also be used to assist one in improving his or her self-esteem and furthering an individual’s personal growth and development, transformation.

New book on music as medicine

Wanted to let you know about a new book in the field of Music as Medicine: Please feel free to add your own review!

Music is Healing, a new book by Dr. Frances le Roux, Ph.D., highlights the effect of music on the immune and endocrine systems, pain, emotions and spiritual well being.
In Music is Healing, author Dr. Frances le Roux provides practical guidelines and evidence related to the effectiveness of music's therapeutic applications in medicine, particularly physiotherapy in practice and in hospitals. Dr. le Roux demonstrates how music can affect health directly by changing a patient's biomedical and psychosocial levels and altering spiritual dimension. Therefore, suggests the author, music can infiltrate all aspects of healthcare.
In a global world, the power of technology and science has reduced the role of personal virtue in medicine, but music puts the practice of medicine as both a science and an art together again. Not only does music look after the biomedical and psychosomatic aspects of an illness, but it also builds better relationships. In a world of suffering, music can restore empathy and spiritual well-being for both the patient and the health professional.
Dr. le Roux's own belief in the practical value of music in medicine was realized when she encountered a thyroid problem 16 years ago. She was diagnosed late with hyperthyroidism and as a result, developed hypothyroidism and a thyroid eye disease. However, by listening to music, she has mastered the sub-clinical symptoms. Like the author, readers will discover how music energizes the body and mind in Music is Healing.
Dr. Frances le Roux has been a practicing physiotherapist for the past three decades. For the last 18 years, le Roux has been in private practice at Hove To Medical Centre in Fish Hoek, Cape Town, South Africa, where she uses music as a functional intervention during physiotherapy treatment. She holds a master's degree (University of Western Cape, South Africa) and a doctorate degree (Stellenbosch University, South Africa). The author is a member of the International Society of Music in Medicine and has authored several articles on the subject of music in medicine, which have appeared in various academic journals.

The Healing Power of Music

Shakespeare once said, “If music be the food of love, play on”. The power of music over the human mind is enormous, and that’s putting it lightly. Music therapy is the use of music for therapeutic purposes by a trained professional. The idea of using music as a healing influence dates back to the time of Plato and Aristotle. In the modern world, music for therapy came to the fore when musicians played for war veterans to cure them of physical and emotional trauma. Since many of the patients responded well, nurses and doctors began requesting the services of musicians for therapy.
Soon, music therapy became recognized as an effective and scientifically-backed mode of treatment. The first music therapy degree program ever was established in 1944 in the State of Michigan, U.S.
A trained music therapist gauges the emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning and cognitive skills through the patient’s responses to music. Once the assessment is complete, the practitioner designs music session for individuals or groups. The therapeutic music is prepared based on client needs and uses music improvisation, song writing, lyric discussion, imagery and musical performances.
Using music for therapy can be a very powerful way to reach children and adolescents. Elderly people and people with developmental and learning disabilities, people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and age related problems and people in acute pain also benefit from music therapy. Music therapy is a powerful way to help people express their feelings.
Professional music therapists are usually found in rehabilitative facilities, psychiatric hospitals, medical hospitals, drug and alcohol programs, nursing homes, correctional facilities, schools and private practice.
Some people mistakenly believe that a patient needs to have some particular musical ability to benefit from therapy. There is no one particular style of music that is more therapeutic than the rest. Any style of music can be equally effective. Any person can be a patient. The patient’s background, needs and history help determine the type of music used.
Even healthy people can make use of the healing powers of music. Listening to or making music, playing or drumming can greatly reduce stress and improve productivity. Research shows that music is a vital support for physical exercise. Music therapy is even said to assist labor and delivery.
In hospitals, music therapy is used to alleviate pain and is often used in conjunction with anesthesia or pain medication. A question that is often raised is why use music if anesthesia does the same thing? Music helps because it dissolves emotional barriers and elevates the patient’s mood. Music also counteracts depression, calms and even sedates patients. In a nutshell, music helps reduce muscle tension and brings on a deep and satisfying relaxation.
Since 1994 music therapy has been identified as a reimbursable service in the U.S. Music therapy is considered ‘active treatment’ when it meets the following criteria:
-Is prescribed by a physician
-Is reasonably necessary for the treatment of the injury or condition
-Is based on a documented treatment plan
-Is showing some sort of result in the patient
The future of music therapy is indeed very promising as more and more research supports the effectiveness of music against diseases like Alzheimer’s and chronic pain.
Homeopathic Medicine
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Cho

Healing, Feeling, and Rhythm: What's it all about?

Can music alter the way we think? Of course it can! Recently I ran into one of my former piano professors, a man that I had studied with long ago at a seminary here in Louisville, KY. His name is Maurice Hinson and he is retired but still quite a productive scholar. He mentioned some of the things he is engaging in and proceeded to explain how music can actually alter the way we think. Being very interested in the role of music and rhythm in relation to healing, I asked for his opinion on the therapeutic role of music. The reason this has taken on a very important role for me has to do with my research on depression and spirituality. While working with individuals with chronic depression, many indicated that music played a very important role in helping them cope with depression. I've heard this over and over and I know it to be true personally. What role does rhythm play? In my opinion, music is about emotion. Music expresses the type of emotions that words are not capable of. I believe that perhaps when one listens to music, in a way, one is able to find an expression to what goes on deep within one’s soul. And through the process of identification, this becomes a form of self-expression that articulates deep feelings that transcend words. What do you think?

Nurses sing lullabies to unborn sextuplets

Recently the TODAY show featured a mother who is expecting sextuplets! During the feature, a picture of six nurses standing at the bedside, singing in close harmony a lullaby to the unborn babies. The words were "sleep, sleep my dear little angels, until at least May 31st!" The babies are at 28 weeks gestational age and they need to be 30-32 if at all possible to be healthy enough.

Just about this time many, many years ago, I was born! In order that you might also benefit from this I'm offering you a really special deal on some of my music healing products.

This link will expire on May 31st.

A visit with my music healing mentor

This week I have been on vacation in Sarasota, Florida and I had the supreme pleasure of visiting with my dear friend and mentor, Arthur Harvey. Arthur has recently moved from Honolulu to Sarasota area and so we made plans to meet when I found I would be in his "neck of the woods!" If you've ever heard one of my workshops, seminars, or lectures, you've heard about Arthur and how he gave three day-long seminars on "Music and the Brain" "Music and Stress" and "Music and Your Health." After attending these seminars back in Spring 1990, I knew that this was the field I wanted to be in. Arthur has patiently guided me through some treacherous waters and enabled me to do workshops in Hawaii and other exotic locations. Arthur, thanks for everything!

Free Toning and Chanting Group in Louisville, KY

Do you live in Louisville, KY? Do you want to learn about the power of sound, the power of the voice and the power of drumming or playing an instrument? Then please sign up for my free workshops that I'll be offering from now until the end of June. This is in preparation for a presentation I'm doing in San Diego in mid-July and I want to work with as many people as possible between now and then.

The classes will be at my office at 2518 Frankfort Avenue and if they go well and I reach lots of people, I will continue them into the Fall. The classes are from 2-4 every Saturday afternoon except Derby Day and the Saturday afterward. Please email me immediately if you're interested. Space is limited and I have about a dozen so far. Hope to see you!

alice

5-Star Hospitals

You probably know that I am almost sixty-years old by now. I don't try to hide it because I value every moment I've spent on this earth and would not take away a moment of it. My point being that I've been in lots of hospitals all over the world. I've been a patient and a visitor in hospitals from South Carolina and Kentucky to hospitals in Nervi, Italy and Vienna, Austria. Like anyone else I've had good and bad experiences in all of these places.

Recently I've heard about what they're calling 5-star hospitals that have luxurious accomodations and appointments, live music in the waiting areas and gourmet menus to choose from. Does insurance cover this? I doubt it. Does the quality of medical care match the quality of the rooms, food and decor? I feel sure that it does, but I want to believe that the quality of care has nothing to do with the luxury or lack of luxury of the room. What do you think?

Itshak Perlman demonstrates healing power of music

On Nov. 18, 1995, Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, came on stage to give a concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. If you have ever been to a Perlman concert, you know that getting on stage is no small achievement for him. He was stricken with polio as a child, and so he has braces on both legs and walks with the aid of two crutches. To see him walk across the stage one step at a time, painfully a nd slowly, is an awesome sight. He walks painfully, yet majestically, until he reaches his chair. Then he sits down, slowly, puts his crutches on the floor, undoes the clasps on his legs, tucks one foot back and extends the other foot forward. Then he bends down and picks up the violin, puts it under his chin, nods to the conductor and proceeds to play. By now, the audience is used to this ritual. They sit quietly while he makes his way across the stage to his chair. They remain reverently silent while he undoes the clasps on his legs. They wait until he is ready to play. But this time, something went wrong. Just as he finished the first few bars, one of the strings on his violin broke. You could hear it snap - it went off like gunfire across the room. There was no mistaking what that sound meant. There was no mistaking what he had to do. We figured that he would have to get up, put on the clasps again, pick up the crutches and limp his way off stage - to either find another violin or else find another string for this one. But he didn't. Instead, he waited a moment, closed his eyes and then signaled the conductor to begin again. The orchestra began, and he played from where he had left off. And he played with such passion and such power and such purity as they had never heard before. Of course, anyone knows that it is impossible to play a symphonic work with just three strings. I know that, and you know that, but that night Itzhak Perlman refused to know that. You could see him modulating, changing, re-composing the piece in his head. At one point, it sounded like he was de-tuning the strings to get new sounds from them that they had never made before. When he finished, there was an awesome silence in the room. And then people rose and cheered. There was an extraordinary outburst of applause from every corner of the auditorium. We were all on our feet, screaming and cheering, doing everything we could to show how much we appreciated what he had done. He smiled, wiped the sweat from this brow, raised his bow to quiet us, and then he said - not boastfully, but in a quiet, pensive, reverent tone - "You know, sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left." What a powerful line that is. It has stayed in my mind ever since I heard it. And who knows? Perhaps that is the definition of life - not just for artists but for all of us. Here is a man who has prepared all his life to make music on a violin of four strings, who, all of a sudden, in the middle of a concert, finds himself with only three strings; so he makes music with three strings, and the music he made that night with just three strings was more beautiful, more sacred, more memorable, than any that he had ever made before, when he had four strings. So, perhaps our task in this shaky, fast-changing, bewildering world in which we live is to make music, at first with all that we have, and then, when that is no longer possible, to make music with what we have left.

Greetings from Las Vegas

Greetings from Las Vegas! I'm in town for a family wedding and have been doing a little analysis of the music I hear here. By and large, I find it not healing, BUT, as I always tell people, healing music is in the ears of the hearer. I find the hotel lobbies particularly full of noise polution, given all the dinging and blinging of slot machines! Not music to my ears!

An exception would be when I went into the shops of Celine Dion and Elton John and heard their music playing. I happen to enjoy both of these artists and their music so I found these shops to be little oases in the desert of casino. Make sense? Keep reading this blog each day (or one of the others) and it will begin to add up for you! Until next time, keep singing!

Could Music Be a Secret Weapon in the Super Bowl??

Can music affect the outcome of the Superbowl? It may sound crazy but maybe you haven't heard my famous football story: two high school football teams here in Kentucky were playing a championship game. One team was absolutely crushing the other team and their morale was going down, down, down. The losing coach was desperate for a breakthrough when suddenly the band director had a brilliant idea. He decided his "pep band" would take the other team's fight song and play it in a minor key every time they got to the goal line and were about to make another touchdown.

Now you know what a minor key is right? A minor key sounds dark, scary, gloomy and is just a half-step different from a major key! You can take any song or melody and easily put it in a minor key. Back to the story though. When the Pep Band played the other team's fight song in a minor key, it immediately rendered them weak, ineffective and powerless! The losing team actually caught up and won the championship game!! Later, the band director was disciplined and told never to do this again because it was unfair tactics!! Should you send an email to your team? It could be a secret strategy!

Music is healing for fishermen in Virginia

Last night I was watching the CBS evening news and saw a fascinating story about some older gentlmen, probably in their 60's or 70's who were trying to keep alive the ancient art of "sea chanteys." They interviewed several of the men who said they hauling in nets full of fish was very hard work, but when they all sang together as they pulled in the nets, it made the work so much easier because it not only got them into the rhythm of the work, but it also made the time pass faster. These fishermen have now gotten together a performing group that is trying to keep alive this art of singing "sea chanteys" some of which are undoubtedly hundres of years old? Do you sing while you work??

Post-holiday wrap-up

You may think that it goes without saying, but I had a great holiday and I loved pretty much all of the music that I heard, sang or played! Last night about 10 PM I was returning home from the fitness center and I decided to put my Christmas CD that I made for myself into the car CD player one more time. Before I did that, I was hot, sweaty and tired. After about 10 minutes I realized that I was singing away on "Walking in a Winter Wonderland," and not feeling a bit tired or sleepy. In the past I might have been drinking a Coke (Diet Coke!) or eating something for energy but last night I realized I had not put a thing in my mouth and was feeling great! So now we have a new use for music...weight loss aid! Enjoy the rest of your week and let me know how YOU did with your music!

By the way, my last-miute gift sale is still running so just click on the link above to get in on some pretty amazing deals!!

http:www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com/NeedLast-minutegifts.htm

How does holiday music affect you?

I think that just about everybody has some kind of music that they really like. Every culture that we know about has created music of some kind: drumming, chanting, singing and playing of all kinds seem to emerge as people evolve. The music is written for self-expression, for healing or perhaps, for entertainment.

The music we hear at holiday time is very specific and we tend to hear dozens of the same songs over and over. I happen to like most of them but some people (including one of my own daughters!) tell me that they think this music is "cheesy." I take this to mean that people think they are corny, schmaltzy, or even just junk!

I'd be interested to know how holiday music affects you. Do you like it or not and if not, what is your objection? You can post a response to this blog or just email me! Happy Holidays!

Alice

Listen Up: Music Can Ease Pain and Depression

An article on the Healtholgy site had this to say:

People can help relieve chronic pain, depression and feelings of disability by listening to music, according to a recent clinical trial.
Nursing researchers from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Case Western Reserve University in Ohio studied 60 volunteers suffering long-term pain from conditions such as arthritis or spinal disc disorders. A third of the subjects were assigned to a control (nontreatment) group. The other 40 were split between two treatment groups: listening to their own favorite recorded music or to music relaxation tapes an hour a day for a week.

Music Healing and Thanksgiving 2006

I am spending this Thanksgiving holiday week-end with my daughter and son-in-law in Boston, home of the Thanksgiving holiday! We had a fabulous meal and wonderful time together yesterday. We also had a great time together and went for a long walk together this afternoon in the crisp Fall air. I was hoping to work off some of the calories I consumed yesterday but I don't think I made much of a dent in the number of calories I piled on yesterday.

On Tuesday I will be doing a two-hour workshop on Music and Wellness at Indian Hill Music School right outside of Boston. The school is starting a program for music and wellness and we are all quite excited about this. If you live in the Boston area, come on over...it's free!

Music and Politics: What's the Connection?

Good evening! Are you watching the election returns? I am and I can't help thinking about all the music that has accompanied election campaigns and political campaigns of all kinds in the last few centuries. The first song that comes to mind for me is "Happy Days Are Here Again." This well-known song became the theme song for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1932 inauguration - and was synonymous (with its upbeat tempo and cheerful lyrics) with the promised emergence from the Depression and Roosevelt's New Deal. There have been hundreds of other songs before and after this one, but on this important election night, I can't help but consider how important music is in setting the tone and the mood of a particular candidate, a particular race, or even a particular political party. A friend in another state is running for Secretary of Education. Imagine how much better her campaign is for using "School Days" behind television ads rather than "I Can't Get No Satisfaction."

What is it that creates the strong feelings? The lyrics, obviously but also the tempo and the rhythms; a strong march-like rhythm with strong lyrics gets most people involved and makes the words more memorable. Think of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." That song has been sung for generations and will last for many, many more.

Music enhances and reinforces every human experience. Notice and be selective about what you include in your sonic environment. Music can heal and it can also wound. Give yourself the healthiest and most beautiful, uplifting music you can get.

What music is best for healing?

I get this question quite frequently. Understandable. People want to know what music to go out and buy so they can begin healing their mind, body, and spirit. I used to feel the same way. Tell me what to buy so I can go buy it, maybe 2 or3 of them so I can give one to a friend. But guess what?! The music that is best for YOU is the music you already know and love. It's the music that is familiar to you and has calmed you or energized you in the past. Now obviously, the more music you know or learn, then the more choices you have. The more calm, soothing music that you have, especially if it brings back pleasant memories from the past, the better off you will be. Generally speaking, purely instrumental music is better than music with lyrics. Lyrics tend to engage the analytical side of the brain and cause us to start thinking too much. If you're feeling ill, depressed, anxious, stressed out, or craving a drug, you want to put on some slow, familiar music that will bring back some pleasant memories of happier times.

In case you don't have any music like this, there is a link above and on the sides of this blog to my CD's and downloads. Best wishes for a healthy recovery.

Why do we love the music of our childhood?

Much has been written in the music therapy literature about how, as we age, we love the music of our childhood more and more. Not that we love children's music but, for example, if you grew up listening to light classical music there's a very god chance that you will enjoy light classical music as an adult and even more as a senior citizen. Same with church music; if you grew up in a specific religion and had a positive experience there, there's a good chance that you will love this same music more and more as you age. Why? I would say that as we age, the world continues to change as begin to prefer having things the way they always were. That's human nature. Part of things staying the same is listening to the music we grew up with. I think it's safe to say the very few people over the age of 50, in any time in history, liked the music of the teenagers of that time. That was reiterated to me again today as I spoke to a group of senior citizens about "Music in the Golden Years." Think about it and let me know what you come up with!