Ever since it was possible, humans have been finding ways to communicate and express their feelings, discoveries, and knowledge. One such popular form has been music. Although it is mostly associated with entertainment, music possesses a mental healing factor that has been utilized throughout the progression of history. In addition to traditional medicine, music therapy is an effective treatment option because of its proven use throughout human history, the effect music has on the brain, and its various, unique methods.
Before discussing the effects of music, it is important to understand what it consists of. Summarized by Carolyn Murrock and Abir Bekhet, music is the combination of five elements: rhythm, melody, pitch, harmony, and interval. Rhythm, the most fundamental attribute, is defined as the base pattern of sounds and silences that give structure to the music. Melody is the sequence and intensity of notes, whether sung or played. Pitch is the number of vibrations per second of a particular sound, additionally, this third component can determine whether the music is happy, high-pitched, or sad, low-pitched. The fourth factor, harmony, is the combination or blending of pitches to create distinct sounds such as chords. The final element, interval, is the time that elapses between each note thus giving depth to the melody. All of the above components combine together to create an endless combination of sounds called music (Murrock, 48).
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Furthermore, the fusion of those five elements creates a product that has been created, reworked, studied, and critiqued since before the written record. Additionally, music has been used for its healing abilities even in early times. Many instances recorded in the Bible and other ancient writings acknowledge the soothing effects that it can have. The restorative and beneficial effects of music have also been utilized by people, including Judaic, Islamic, Indian, and Southeast Asian traditions. “[WWI], hospital workers noticed the healing of music… for troops recovering from physical and psychological trauma” (Engdahl, 184). Thus, people of different times, religions, and regions were able to reap the benefits of this alternative treatment or therapy.
However, it was not until the 1950s that the organized regulation and legitimacy of the trade were realized. The National Association for Music Therapy (NAMT) was founded in 1950 in response to a recognized need for a formal organization that could promote and further the development of the music therapy field. The creation of the NAMT led to legitimization and increased trust in treatments such as these. Another important step forward was the creation of the profession of a registered music therapist. This set a standard that all RMTs would be held to and created quality assurance for patients and employers. From then on, the trust and confidence put into these alternative therapies continued to grow. In addition to further research on music therapy techniques and effects, the creation of the International Journal of Music Therapy in 1983 further legitimized the field and availability of professionals. Sadly, even with this advocacy for music therapy, the field has remained somewhat hidden, with only whispers of information being circulated by the general public. Others believe that treatments such as these pose no actual benefit or results; however, with decades of research behind it, it is understood how music affects the brain and how that can be utilized for different treatment techniques.
Next, it is known that the human brain responds to and can be affected by music or the different elements that compose it. Another important factor, brought up by Alex and David Bennet, is the biological proof that music is, in a sense, made for us. These being: “(1) It is universal…, (2) It reveals itself early in life…, (3) It should exist in other animals…, (4) We might expect the brain to have specialized areas for music” (Bennet, 278). The above factors suggest that the brain is able to process, react, and change due to different collections of music. More specifically, research has led many to believe that music increases the function of certain parts of the brain, which can improve cognitive performance. An example of this was demonstrated by the Winston-Salem Triad Symphony Orchestra of North Carolina. A woodwind quintet was arranged to play two to three half-hour sessions per week to an underperforming elementary school’s first through third graders. After three years, the test scores of the students showed a substantial increase with 85% being above their grade level for reading and 89% for math (Bennet, 282).
Additionally, there have been more positive psychological effects tied to music. Carolyn Murrock and Abir Behket report that “continuous music training resulted in enhancement of cognitive control abilities in older adults and that early to midlife musical training enhanced late-life episodic and semantic memory” (Murrock, 50). These benefits are produced by the brain’s biological response to the combined attributes that create music. Secondly, it has powerful physiological effects. Several noticeable effects may include mood alteration, calmness, and distraction from uncomfortable stimulants. Other, usually hidden, effects also include reduced rate of breathing, heart rate, pain, and cortisol levels, leading to a reduction of stress. Music has these effects because of the wide array of the body’s systems it touches. In all, the body’s cardiovascular, respiratory, neuroendocrine, immune, autonomic, and neuropeptide systems can fluctuate based on the use of music. However, unlike the psychological effects music has on humans, the variety of vibrations that enter the ear and travel through different parts of the brain explain these many physiological wonders (Murrock, 50).
Furthermore, there are three different forms of using music to help heal someone; those three are music therapy, preferred music, and individualized music. Music therapy is specifically defined as “the controlled use of music and its influence on the human being to aid in the physiological, psychological, and emotional integration of the individual during treatment of illness or disability” (Murrock, 46).
In conclusion, alternative therapies, especially in today’s environment, have become more accepted and popular methods of treatment. This relates to not just music therapy, but countless other underappreciated, under-researched, or unpopular medical practices. With the countless number of diseases, illnesses, and accidents that affect millions, there is always room for new or unordinary practices that may aid in healing or recovery. Additionally, individual patients may react differently or more favorably to other treatments, or may even prefer one treatment as opposed to another. With this amount of uncertainty, it is necessary for new alternative therapies to be developed or for established ones to be advanced.
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