Music As Medicine

So, we all know how good it feels when you've had a stressful or a particularly demanding week, and you get into the car, or the shower, or your apartment, and put on a great song.  You throw your head back and sing at the top of your lungs, and by jove, something happens.  A dramatic shift occurs, and, by the time the song is over, you feel, at the very least, refreshed, and at the most, transformed and rejuvenated.  What Is That?  How does it work, you ask?   Well, as you may have read and/or heard, music is such an amazing and clinically proven, effective tool for improving our health that there is an entire profession devoted to doing just that, and they call it Music Therapy!  Music therapy is proven to help with reduction of stress/anxiety, fear, depression, and physical pain, as well as being shown to help with boosting/repairing self-esteem, learning coping strategies, and helping people to be more adaptable.  Here are just a few (out of thousands of) links to informative articles about how real people are using Music Therapy to improve their lives: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100909101557.htm, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/using-music-to-lift-depressions-veil/, http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/living/music_therapy08.shtml

This week, I want to thank Ms. Jennifer Brown, MT, a highly trained, accomplished, and certified Music Therapist of five years successful experience.  Ms. Brown has provided me a Music Therapy technique which has been specially adapted to share with you, so that you can actually use this technique right in your own home, with no formal training (or even music-related talent - don't worry; don't need it!)  Did you know: in order to be considered Music Therapy, a trained and certified Music Therapist must facilitate the session BUT you can receive all the benefits of this particular excercize even without a Music Therapist actually with you, courtesy of Ms. Jennifer Brown, MT. 

This technique is specifically great for helping to transform stress and/or sadness, but can decidedly benefit everyone.  Here we go:

The first step is to set your mood.  Grab a paper and pen and have them right near you.  Decide if you want the room brightly lit, or more subdued.  Explore whether you feel more comfortable standing, sitting, or otherwise reclining.  Get settled.  Then, think of a word that expresses how you're feeling.  Select a piece of music which expresses this feeling.  Before you play the song you've selected, write a little bit about how you're feeling.  Put everything down on paper, even the feelings that you may not feel comfortable with.  Then, after you've put it all down on paper, you can play the song you've selected, singing along and really seeking to express these feelings to the fullest.

Now, for part two.  For this part, we're going to drop some science on you.  Ever heard of 'entrainment'?  The process of entrainment occurs when two separate components come together and become one.  For example, when two people walk together, starting at different speeds, they will eventually become synchronized.  The same is true of breath, and even, heartbeats.  You can use entrainment to help to 'synch up' with how you'd like to be feeling.  Here's how:

Go ahead and think of a word that expresses how you'd like to feel.  Then, choose a song that expresses how you'd like to feel. 

If you want to feel more relaxed, put on your relaxing song, get comfortable, and begin keeping the rhythm of the song with your body, either by tapping your foot, or by tapping your hand against your leg, whatever feels most natural for you, so that you are physically relaxed, but still keeping the beat.
If you want to feel more uplifted or energized, put on your upbeat song and begin keeping the rhythm of the song with your entire body, try to dance using as much of your body as you possibly can.

You are using entrainment to help your mind and body to re-align to match the feeling of the song you've selected, like using one musical instrument to tune another.  Close your eyes (unless you're at risk of dancing into anything sharp or heavy) and really let yourself feel the music, keeping the beat the entire time, making your body a part of the song.

After your second song is completed, write about how you feel now.

Last step: think of something positive about yourself, and also something you're grateful for.  Then, say both things out loud, so that the words move through your whole body, and out into the world. 

So there you have it, your very own Music Therapy technique, specifically adapted for use at home!  You can learn more about Ms. Jennifer Brown, MT at http://crossroadsmusicservices.com. 

One other thing: It's important to select songs which you really like and identify with.  Here are a couple of uplifting favorites of mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUZTVUGfDds, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xjPODksI08, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCXGokfEwmk, but please be sure to choose songs that speak to you personally! 

And on that note (hahaha), I leave you to enjoy the healing power of music!  Until next week,

Your Correspondent,
Sarah