MUSIC & MUSIC THERAPY

In the wake of COVID-19, everyone is much worried about one’s health as the pandemic is spreading like wild fire across the globe. Everyday precious lives are lost and scientists are groping in the dark to find proper vaccine or drugs to combat the demoniac malady. Everything is in disarray, and we are utterly helpless, living every moment in apprehension.

Most importantly, scores of patients suffering from dreadful diseases, awaiting death needs solace and tranquility which drugs fail to cater. How can this hurdle be overcome? The simple answer to it is MUSIC THERAPY. Not only in the field of medicine but in other domains, it has worked wonders. In today’s world, music therapy is commendably successful in a variety of health care and educational settings. In fact, music decreases pain perception, reduces depression in pain patients. Music therapy touches every aspect of the mind, body, brain and paramountly on the behavioral environs. So, today trained and certified music therapists’ work in diverse organizational set-ups. In fine, music has a massive effect on people suffering from dementia and depression. Frustration among rising generation for want of jobs and from other socio-economic problems compel them to go array which can be restricted through the motivational influence of music.

Therefore, music therapy, is used in medical hospitals, cancer centers, schools, alcohol and drug recovery program and other correctional homes. Music satiates our troubled minds, stuffed with worries and worldly matters. Life will not move an inch without music which is regarded as the bliss of Heaven. So, today, music therapy is applied in dairy farming as well as in horticultural activities to enhance production. Children world is profusely influenced through music therapy.

In an elaborate study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatrist by French researches, there are two types of music therapy—Receptive music therapy and another one is Active music therapy. Music Therapy or Active Music Therapy improves patients’ quality of life- physical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetic and spiritual domains. It is stated that singing and conducting instrumental activities assist our motor skills. Evidence suggests that Music Therapy is beneficial both physically and mentally.

Music Therapists apply their techniques and skills to reduce stress relief before and after surgeries to neuro-pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease, in particular. In short, psychiatric disorder is astoundingly improved by applying the medicine of Music Therapy. The Therapy substantially improves heart rate, reduces anxiety, stimulates our brain and improved learning.
Not only in physically impaired health condition but also in sensual realm music acts as a therapy for our heart as life without music stands out to be dead, so to say.

No one can forget the important lines in Twelfth Night Act 1:

If music be the food of love,

Play on; Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting.

When words fail, music speaks

Music is what feelings sound like

Where words leave off, music brings

Your heart is just a beat Box for your life.

Music, unfolds itself in a wide variegated manner in life itself.  Life is dull, colourless and sordid without the touch of music which caress our life and soothes our minds in weal and woe. In LOVE the famous lines of Shakespeare’s   Cleopatra and Antony   cannot be skipped off. The lines go:

Give me some music; music, moody food

Of us that trade in love.

Is there any man, who dislikes the melodious sound of music, and if there be, any one, the best lines of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice be read:

The man that hath no

Music in himself, nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,

Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils.

So, music in the garb of therapy, predisposes on a wide spectrum of activities not only in MAN but also in ANIMAL and PLANT KINGDOM.

Music acts as a rainbow, diffusing the hues that shape our lives in times of need. The cycle of life from birth to death is rejuvenated at times by MUSIC, MUSIC and only MUSIC. So, music is imperative to life.