What is music therapy?!

Many experts suggest that it is the rhythm of the music or the beat that has the calming effect on us although we may not be very conscious about it!. They point out that when we were a baby in our mother's womb, we probably were influenced by the heart beat of our mother!. We respond to the soothing music at later stages in life, perhaps associating it with the safe, relaxing, protective environment provided by our mother!.

In doing extensive research on what any given piece of music produces in the physiological response system many unexpected things were found!. Many of the so-called Meditation and Relaxation recordings actually produced adverse EEG patterns, just as bad as Hard Rock and Heavy Metal!. The surprising thing was many selections of Celtic, Native American as well as various music containing loud drums or flute were extremely soothing!. The most profound finding was any music performed live and even at moderately loud volumes even if it was somewhat discordant had very a beneficial response!. Whenever the proper sounds were experienced an amazing right/left brain hemisphere synchronization occurred!. The normal voltage spiking pattern changed to a smooth sinusoidal waveform and the usual voltage differential equalized!. The entire human energetic system is extremely influenced by sounds, the physical body and chakra centers respond specifically to certain tones and frequencies!. Special consideration should be given to the positive effects of one actually playing or creating music themselves!.

Among the first stress-fighting changes that take place when we hear a tune is an increase in deep breathing!. The body's production of serotonin also accelerates!. Music was found to reduce the pain during dental procedures!. Playing music in the background while we are working, seemingly unaware of the music itself, has been found to reduce the stress!. Music was found to reduce heart rates and to promote higher body temperature - an indication of the onset of relaxation!. Combining music with relaxation therapy was more effective than doing relaxation therapy alone!.

The following are general guidelines to maximize the effectiveness of the music!.
*To wash away stress, try taking a 20-minute "sound bath!." Put some relaxing music on your stereo, then lie in a comfortable position on a couch or on the floor near the speakers!. For a deeper experience, you can wear headphones to focus your attention and to avoid distraction!.

*Choose music with a slow rhythm - slower than the natural heart beat which is about 72 beats per minute!. Music that has repeating or cyclical pattern is found to be effective in most people!.

*As the music plays, allow it to wash over you, rinsing off the stress from the day!. Focus on your breathing, letting it deepen, slow and become regular!. Concentrate on the silence between the notes in the music; this keeps you from analyzing the music and makes relaxation more complete!.

*If you need a stimulation after a day of work, go for a faster music rather than slow calming music!.

*When going gets tough, go for a music you are familiar with - such as a childhood favorite or favorite oldies!. Familiarity often breeds calmness!.

*Take walks with your favorite music playing on the walkman!. Inhale and exhale in tune with the music!. Let the music takes you!. This is a great stress reliever by combining exercise (brisk walk), imagery and music!.

*Listening to the sounds of nature, such as ocean waves or the calm of a deep forest, can reduce stress!. Try taking a 15- to 20-minute walk if you're near the seashore or a quiet patch of woods!. If not, you can buy tapes of these sounds in many music stores!.
http://www!.holisticonline!.com/stress/str!.!.!.

Music Therapy is particularly useful with autistic children owing in part to the nonverbal, non threatening nature of the medium!. Parallel music activities are designed to support the objectives of the child as observed by the therapist or as indicated by a parent, teacher or other professional!. A music therapist might observe, for instance, the child's need to socially interact with others!. Musical games like passing a ball back and forth to music or playing sticks and cymbals with another person might be used to foster this interaction!. Eye contact might be encouraged with imitative clapping games near the eyes or with activities which focus attention on an instrument played near the face!. Preferred music may be used contingently for a wide variety of cooperative social behaviors like sitting in a chair or staying with a group of other children in a circle!. Music Therapy is particularly effective in the development and remediation of speech!. The severe deficit in communication observed among autistic children includes expressive speech which may be nonexistent or impersonal!. Speech can range from complete mutism to grunts, cries, explosive shrieks, guttural sounds, and humming!. There may be musically intoned vocalizations with some consonant-vowel combinations, a sophisticated babbling interspersed with vaguely recognizable word-like sounds, or a seemingly foreign sounding jargon!. Higher level autistic speech may involve echolalia, delayed echolalia or pronominal reversal, while some children may progress to appropriate phrases, sentences, and longer sentences with non expressive or monotonic speech!. Since autistic children are often mainstreamed into music classes in the public schools, a music teacher may experience the rewards of having an autistic child involved in music activities while assisting with language!. It has been noted time and again that autistic children evidence unusual sensitivities to music!. Some have perfect pitch, while many have been noted to play instruments with exceptional musicality!. Music therapists traditionally work with autistic children because of this unusual responsiveness which is adaptable to non-music goals Some children have unusual sensitivities only to certain sounds!. One boy, after playing a xylophone bar, would spontaneously sing up the harmonic series from the fundamental pitch!. Through careful structuring, syllable sounds were paired with his singing of the harmonics and the boy began incorporating consonant-vowel sounds into his vocal play!. Soon simple 2-3 note tunes were played on the xylophone by the therapist who modeled more complex verbalizations, and the child gradually began imitating them!. Since autistic children sometimes sing when they may not speak, music therapists and music educators can work systematically on speech through vocal music activities!. In the music classroom, songs with simple words, repetitive phrases, and even repetitive nonsense syllables can assist the autistic child's language!. Meaningful word phrases and songs presented with visual and tactile cues can facilitate this process even further!.
http://www!.autism!.org/music!.html

Music therapy techniques also can be used as a proactive approach or reward system for children whose behaviors interfere with their learning and participation in other therapies or programs!. Autism, Rett Syndrome, Williams Syndrome
http://www!.coastmusictherapy!.com/odiagno!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

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Direct from the source:

is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a qualified professional who has completed an approved music therapy program!.

In other words, music therapy is the use of music by a trained professional to achieve therapeutic goals!. Goal areas include, but are not limited to, motor skills, social/interpersonal development, cognitive development, self-awareness, and spiritual enhancement!. Music therapy is now an established health service similar to occupational therapy and physical therapy!. Music therapists use music to facilitate changes that are non-musical in nature!. The use of music for those with arthritis provides opportunity for pain relief, anxiety and stress reduction and positive changes in both mood and emotional state!.

Music therapists are found in nearly every area of the helping professions!. Some commonly found practices include developmental work (communication, motor skills, etc!.) with individuals with special needs, songwriting and listening in reminiscence/orientation work with the elderly, processing and relaxation work, and rhythmic entrainment for physical rehabilitation in stroke victims!.

The Turco-Persian psychologist and music theorist al-Farabi (872

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