What is music therapy?
Music therapy is a treatment that improves people’s mental health and overall stability by using natural mood swings, which are characteristics of music. These treatments include the following methods:
- Lyrics and composition
- making music
- singing
- dancing
- listening to music
Music therapy does not require musical background knowledge, so anyone can easily participate and feel the effects (Wong, 2021).
Types of music therapy
- Dalcroze rhythm
This focuses on rhythm, structure, and movement expression in the treatment process. Dalcroze dance is very effective for people who have difficulty moving their bodies because it helps develop their physical awareness.
- Kodaly
It helps people heal by using the basics of rhythm, notation, sequence, and movement.
This method is very effective in improving perceptual function, conceptual formation, learning performance, and athletic ability, as well as positively influencing improvements in intonation, rhythm, and music lyrics.
- Nordoff-Robbins
An important part of the Nordoff-Robbins approach is to think that everyone can discover the benefits and meanings of music and to focus on music creation with the help of a therapist. This technology is currently being actively used around the world (Smith, 2010).
What are the benefits of music therapy?
- Anxiety relief
Each year, a large number of adults and students feel anxious, most of whom experience symptoms such as anxiety, uncertainty, and fear for the future. Through music therapy, mental and physical symptoms caused by anxiety can be alleviated.
- Depression reduction
Depression is a disease that many people suffer from around the world. Typical symptoms of this are energy degradation, despair, and a loss of interest in favorite behaviors. People with depression are likely to recognize that they are in this situation. Music therapy is a very effective treatment for such depression because it helps you approach various sounds and expressions.
- Stress reduction
Stress can cause irritation, anxiety, heart rate and respiratory rate to rise. Through entertainment, people’s bodies begin to match the stimuli they feel, especially music. For example, when people listen to a certain rhythm, their heart rate and breathing will change at the same rate as the rhythm. To reduce stress, this principle is used in various music treatments.
- Better emotional control and processing skills
Music is handled in the limbic system of the brain, which processes and controls many other emotions. This is why certain music can feel sad or happy without lyrics. To find out how other emotions can sound, people can use ways of instrumental improvisation. For example, a customer can play the feelings they are feeling currently and the feelings they want to experience and compare the two sounds.
It is possible to improve human emotion processing and control by using other music therapy techniques, such as singing discussions. Music therapists and customers will listen to the song and talk about the themes and feelings that the music and lyrics bring. In the song, the client can discover the emotions that actually reflect their inner experiences. And then they have the opportunity to deal with those feelings more.
- Enhancing feelings of safety and security
Any change can occur only when it is safe enough to explore new things. People with trauma don’t feel safe easily. Music therapists are trained to help them access the environment and increase treatment relationships based on safety and trust.
- Improving self-esteem and identity
A “feel good” hormone in the brain is dopamine, which is increased when people achieve tasks. In music therapy, therapists are educated to create experiences that give customers a chance to succeed while having independence and autonomy. By learning musical instruments, singing songs, and writing songs, they will be able to feel their self-esteem and confidence improve.
- Promoting resilience
Everyone feels the same setbacks in life – people’s resilience determines how they overcome the hardships and adversity and continue to live a meaningful life. Resilience is something that can develop in people’s lives, not static. Using music as a way of self-management to control mood can help a person’s resilience (Klemm, 2022).
Conclusion
Music therapy is one of the many existing treatments that help overcome various disorders such as depression, autism, and dementia. It also has a positive effect on not only disability but also memory, stress reduction, and self-esteem. There is an advantage in the fact that anyone can easily access music because basic knowledge of music is not required to receive music therapy. If anyone is suffering from the above disorder, it is recommended that they receive music therapy before visiting the hospital.
References
Klemm, A. (2022). 9 Benefits of Music Therapy. [online] Choosing Therapy. Available at: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/benefits-of-music-therapy/ [Accessed 3 November 2022].
Smith, Y. (2010). Types of Music Therapy. [online] News-Medical.net. Available at: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Types-of-Music-Therapy.aspx [Accessed 3 November 2022]
Wong, C. (2021). The Benefits of Music Therapy. [online] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/benefits-of-music-therapy-89829 [Accessed 3 November 2022].
