What is music therapy and how does it work? Music Therapy was born out of the need of professionals in the medical and psychiatric fields to provide a solution to the suffering people. Over the years, music therapy has evolved into a complete medical science, which seek to define, evaluate and treat disorders, as well as promote healing. Music Therapy is an important part of most medical programs because it can enhance the overall healing process by making patients feel better and reducing the level of stress. It has proven to be effective in treating many conditions, including pain, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, autism, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, hearing loss, heart disease, migraines, memory problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders, stuttering and much more.
How does music therapy work? In simple terms, music therapists use music to work on each patient’s individual psychological needs. The process usually begins by listening to some type of music and engaging in a comfortable state of relaxation. The music therapist then works on finding out what is causing distress for the patient by observing his body movements, facial expressions, breathing and any other non-verbal communication. Once this is determined, the music therapist will then read music therapy guides or books that help him or her understand the concept better and begin working on the problem.
An example of a music therapy work is provided by Michael Jackson’s Thriller cover “What is it going to Take”. The song was a response to Michael Jackson’s own album What is Your Soul. The song used a new wave modulation technique called ‘kinetic dance’. This is a relatively new kind of technique that uses highly structured dance to create movement and also to get a person to relax. This innovative new form of treatment became hugely popular and has been used in various centers across the world such as at the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic.
The basic concept of music therapy can be thought of as an approach to medicine that is similar to the holistic or alternative approach to medicine. Many people tend to think of music therapy as a form of entertainment. However, this is not completely true. Music can be used in a very specific way and to treat certain medical or psychiatric problems. The same basic principles that are applied in holistic medicine are also applied here. It is very important for a music therapist to be aware of the background in which the music is being used, especially since some of the music used in these sessions may be offensive to some people who are not familiar with its origin.
Koelsch, 2021). He believes that the key to recovery lies in the reorientation of the client’s consciousness toward their past (especially traumatic) musical experiences and the sources of their motivation for that music. For example, he recalls his years as a child exposed to racism and sexism: “The white girl at school would play a harmonica and sing songs about white folks. I was taken by surprise; my mind wasn’t working in that direction. Over time I came to realize that the harmonies were part of an understanding.”
While music therapy is commonly used to treat mood disorders and anxiety, music therapists also work with patients struggling with substance abuse and other problems. They may use spoken dialogue or narrative music in conjunction with therapeutic treatment to help clients deal with their issues. Some music therapists even incorporate music into the treatment process itself, such as in the case of “Cocaine Blues,” a song which informs patients of their history of drug abuse but then plays a beautiful love song in the end. Many psychologists see the use of music in treating psychological and mental health issues, as well as issues related to stress, depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction.