The musician in us

Music is something that almost everyone is involved in in some way. There is hardly anyone who doesn't listen to music on a daily basis because it is all around us and it we listen to it to reflect our mood, to pump us up or slow down, to express our feelings, etc. What is interesting is I found an article about musical therapy (which I had not realized was actually something out there). Musical therapy is being used with patients that have Alzheimer's, which does not reverse the disease, but it helps to ease the patients. Alzheimer's patients have been found to respond to music when they respond to nothing else, according to Suzanne Hanser, head of musical therapy at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Music not only helps to ease the patients but it is a way we build memories. As many of you can probably relate, I know there are dozens of songs that remind me of a specific memory, as well as some songs that I cannot listen to because of those memories.

Music is a powerful tool that can help us to communicate with others and build relationships. It can help us through difficult times because we can relate to the lyrics and we don't feel as alone because someone else has been in our shoes. Having a common interest in music can build relationships and make bonds stronger between people. One mother, Tamera Norris, wrote about her autistic son's experience with music. At age 16, Tamera's son William started in a musical therapy program and as well as learning how to play instruments, he learned how to interact with others in a non-threatening environment. He learned leadership, socially accepted concepts, how to express himself, and how to communicate with others. While William had always been socially out of the mix, music led him into a world where he felt safe and extended his social circle. The mother is extremely grateful for how music has helped him, and music for anyone can do that as well.

Personally,  my brother and I have not been super close from our teenage years and up, but we have found similar interests in music that have helped to bring us closer. It first started with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. We were able to come together through our liking of them, not only talking with each other more about songs, but also spending time together going to concerts and sharing memories. CSNY will always remind me of my brother and it was a good way for us to come together when we didn't have much else to grasp on to.
Other than just building a relationship, music has served many purposes in my life. Music helps to express my feelings at a time when I feel like I don't know how. It lets me feel connected to someone else who has shared a similar experience to the one I did and it helps to know that I'm not the only one. Music helps to relieve my stress when I need to let go and be a little crazy. It gets me dancing and that in turn makes me happy. Having a little help from music can inspire me to do something or give me the energy I need to accomplish something.

Music is therapy for those who compose it and also for those who just listen because when you can relate to a song so well it almost feels like that song was written for you. Music is there when you need to grieve, when you need to be happy, on a sunny day, and on a cloudy day. I have never had music disappoint me because there is such variety that you can get whatever you need, and there is always more coming out.

It doesn't seem like music could make such a big influence on our lives but it is something we can turn to in times of need. Music helps soothe us and clear our head as well as inspire us to be creative. Different music can effect individuals differently, but music as a whole can be used as a way to keep us healthy. There have also been studies done about music and its effect on child birth, relaxing the baby and the mother. For more information on music therapy you can look at the extensive information on musictherapy.org which is the American Music Therapy Association's website.

Now wouldn't that just be amazing if they found a way to make the stages of Alzheimer's slow down through the process of memory through music? Since Alzheimer's is partly when neurons break connections with other neurons, such as in the hippocampus which causes memory-loss, if there was a way to strengthen these connections instead of allowing them to break apart it could possibly slow the process down. Now I don't know that much about Alzheimer's, but that would be truly fascinating if you could find a way to build the connections that are starting to break apart before it becomes too late. Maybe in the future we could will start to see progress in this field. And if music therapy can help with memory, it might be an even greater contribution than just soothing the patients. Who knows..



So I would like to explain now a little bit more of how music actually effects the brain in a neuroscientific manner:

• Music can aid in production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is a chemical released that makes us happy. If we are listening to music that makes us happy, we will release tension and stress.
• Music can affect the hormone system- helps with concentration and breathing rate
• Can affect both the right and left hemisphere at the same time (the right hemisphere through hearing and the left if you are playing an instrument or reading the music)
• Melody and rhythm aid in organization and abilities (melody stimulates thoughts and solutions, and rhythm helps the body rhythm synchronize so that we create the proper mood for creativity and cognitive skills). They act together to open auditory and sensory channels
• Strong beats cause the brain to go to the same rhythm, while slow beats calm brain waves. Rhythmic therapy in the elderly helps to increase the blood flow and increase cognitive functioning
• Aids in memorization

https://notes.utk.edu/Bio/greenberg.../Goss&TullosPresentation.ppt