Music Therapy

The fact that in our society the individual seeks to calm down almost exclusively with the help of tranquilizers or drugs has become a common habit in our daily life. Modern man lacks the necessary willpower to overcome such awkward situations. Consequently, for him, the little jar of pills is the easiest and most convenient solution. But this does not exclude a whole series of discoveries that scientists and doctors, in particular, have only recently begun to make.

In this article, we will deal with music and its benefits. Music is created for people and it can make them feel better when wisely used. Why therefore should we not enjoy such help? “Who seeks finds,” says an old saying. This form of courage, which will give the willpower and the daring to investigate, is often rewarded by an important revealing discovery.

Music effects

From immemorial times, man has used sound and music for therapeutic purposes and in his religious practices, as well. When we feel irresistibly attracted by the music we have to admit, undoubtedly, that it carries a definite influence on our spirit. Sometimes music becomes exalted, and various religious songs, rituals, and certain forms of musical accompaniment have aimed at raising the human being to a higher spiritual level. Also, music tends to restore the individual to his true origin and essence.

It is therefore obvious that music is a means of healing and harmonizing the individual as a whole. Through music, man can get rid, in time, of certain bad habits; in this respect, for instance, the influence of harmonious sounds on decreasing psychological tension was noticed a long time ago and, hence, on reducing aggressive behavior.

Although music therapy is a recent form of treatment in modern medicine, it has been recognized as such and has existed for centuries.

At the ‘’Music and Medicine” Congress in Lüdenscheid, 1984, one of the main conclusions reached was that music reduces stress. Currently, however, many other conclusions have been drawn regarding the effect of music on the individual. Thus, relaxing music reduces blood pressure and slows down the heart rate. A student from San Francisco has experienced playing certain classical music fragments to a group of 28 prematurely born children and has observed in an obvious way that they became stronger and started growing faster.

Music means vibration, and some people automatically react to it. The Australian Clynes, author of a remarkable work, “Music, mind and brain’’, distinguished different forms of vibrations, according to the type of feeling which they express. It is, therefore, necessary to make a clear distinction between the vibrations corresponding to anger, sadness, fear (all of which are negative vibrations), and those expressing love, optimism, joy, and other positive emotions.

These essential vibrations, as they are called, are found in all major musical compositions. They are the so-called primary vibrations which, metaphorically speaking, are partially superimposed on the individual’s genetic code and thus can be recognized.

A large study conducted by researchers showed that humanity, even since ancient times, has reacted to sounds. There are all kinds of vibrations, of joy, pleasure, confidence, fear, anger, mistrust, etc. These vibrations which are closely connected to the bio-energetic structure and the aura of the human being create a certain resonance, which is scientifically expressed with the nervous system.

Creating music means finding therefore the accord or the accurate harmony to impress the public.

Methods in Music therapy

To make effective use of music, by the end of the therapy it is necessary to select the type of music which is appropriate to the individual’s emotional predispositions. For example, people who are depressed should not be provided from the beginning with an agreeable, cheerful, toning music. Rather, it will be better to start with some melancholic music. Or someone who suffers from fear should not listen at the beginning, for example, to Beethoven’s 7th Symphony, which is very cheerful, spreading confidence and optimism. For such a person it would be more appropriate one of Bach’s compositions.

The first requirement would be, therefore, to intuitively feel and plug in the right music on the frequency of the person being treated. In this case, it is required to choose songs that reflect his state of mind as well as possible. This will create through resonance a certain bridge between the individual and the respective therapeutic method used (in our case MUSIC). Only afterward we will be able to switch, little by little, to some music that will inspire the patient with more confidence. The whole process should take place gradually and the stages will follow prudently, in small steps. Never create the impression of sudden shocks or changes.

Music can transform your being

The use of the knowledge of music therapy can provide great benefits to modern man. Their intelligent practice will allow the individual to maintain perfect control upon his state of mind and even, in advanced stages, through perseverance, to make him more harmonious. Nowadays, people are distracted by different problems and temptations, facing a huge amalgam of mental and emotional experiences. In such cases, they can be helped and effectively rebalanced with the help of appropriate music.

Everything is subject to the law of duality. Regarding music therapy we must always take into account the complementary contrasts below:

Joy – Melancholy

Triumph – Sentimentality

Force – Gentleness

Greatness – Compassion

Indirectly, through music, elevated states of mind will be generated or negative attitudes changed. So, above all, appropriate music for the emotion and the inner present structure of the individual’s soul will be used. If he has feelings of sadness, then, for the beginning a series of songs that express sadness and melancholy would be the best one. Thereafter, music marked by more joy will be gradually introduced. It is good to know and to remember that each transition in music therapy has to be made step by step and with care. Music binds us to the deepest fibers of our being. And since every man is marked by his individuality, it is not mad to imagine that in the future, for instance, appropriate personalized music for everyone will be able to be prescribed, music which will fit like a glove on his inner feeling and structure.

Sentimentalism:

BACH: Brandenburg Concertos no. 1 and no. 3

BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9, Part 3

DEBUSSY: Nocturnes

DIABELLI: Romance

RACHMANINOV: Concerto no. 2, Adagio, opus 27

SCHUMAN: Arabesc

CEAIKOVSCKI: Concerto no. 2 for violin, canzonet, opus 35

VIVALDI: The Four Seasons (especially “Winter”)

Sadness:

BRAHMS: Concerto no. 2 for piano, the 3rd, opus 83

DEBUSSY: Moonlight

MAHLER: Symphony No. 4, Part 3

SAINT-SAENS: Carnival of animals

WAGNER: Overture Tanhauser

Music ragas (Indian): e.g. BHAIRAVA

Balance:

ALBINONI: Symphony concert no. 5, opus 2

BACH: Area

BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto no. 5 in B flat Major, opus 73

DEBUSSY: Sacred and Profane Dances

GOUNOT: Religious for St. Cecilia

HOLST: Planets (Venus)

MOZART: Concerto for flute and harp no. 2, andante, K2999

Gentleness:

BEETHOVEN: Concerto no. 3 for piano, the 3rd, opus 37

DVORJAK: Bagatelle no. 3, opus 47

HAYDEN: Concerto for Cello in C, Part One

HOLST: The planets (Neptune)

MAHLER: Scenes from Alsace

MASSENET: Symphony no. 4, first part

Joy:

BEETHOVEN: Symphony no. 7, opus 92 , first part

BRUCH: Concerto no. 1 for violin, opus 26

HAYDN: Military symphony, no. 100, first part

MAHLER: Symphony no. 4, Part 2

RACHMANINOV: Symphony no. 2, Allegro molto, opus 27

CEAIKOVSCKI: Sleeping Beauty

Triumph:

BEETHOVEN: 5th Symphony

HOLST: Planets (Mars)

MASSENET: Scenes from Alsace 2, 4

RAVEL: Bolero

SIBELIUS: Finlandia

SMETANA: My Motherland II Vltava

PINK FLOYD: Atom Heart Mother

PAUL SIMON & GARFUNKEL: Bridge over troubled water

Vigor:

BACH: Brandenburg Concerto no. 2

DVORJAK: Concerto for Cello in and minors, the 3rd, opus 104

GOUNOT: Religious for St. Cecilia

STRAUSS: Death and the transfiguration, transfiguration

MAHALIA JACKSON: Abide With Me

Solemnity:

BERLIOZ: Harold in Italy, pilgrims procession

BRAHMS: Symphony No.1, German Requiem

Read the article on my blog “Open Your Heart Project”