We rarely think about the music floating through the radio when we’re driving home from work. It is almost background noise to dull the frustrations of gridlock traffic. It drifts through our docile supermarket isles, and it blares though the speakers at the public pool.
More often than not, we are not paying attention to the music around us. For some, music can be white noise. For others, it can be the difference between getting better, or staying sick. Science has proven that music has a massive impact on our mind and body.
Thousands of scientists have been pushing the boundaries of music and science to develop techniques and treatments that use music as their drug to help patients with mental disorders like schizophrenia, depression, and dementia.
I know that it is something that we harp on a good deal (no pun intended), but music is massively powerful! Much like you need to watch how much hydrogenated palm oils and trans fats you consume, keeping an eye on your ears and being mindful of what kind of music you are listening to on a regular basis can have an impact on your mind, and body.
Image courtesy of Lis Ferla
It is easy to grab a burger and a shake on the go from your local fast food restruant as suppose to making a home cooked meal when you get home. It is also easy just to turn on your radio to the top 40 pop hits station that loop the same pre-canned pop music over and over again for months on end. This is not to say that all pop music is awful.
Just don’t let others decide what music you’re consuming. Take the extra time to do some looking around. Go see some local music. Talk to your musician friend, and see what they recommend. Go see the symphony play! Music has an impact on your brain. Make sure you load your i-pod up with the good stuff.
Helen Odell-Miller has devoted the last 20 years of her life to music therapy. She has done many great things for the science of music, and is showing no signs of stopping. Have a read!
On a weekday, it’s normally an early start; responding to urgent emails before heading to my office at the music therapy research centre in Cambridge where I hold several roles as lecturer, researcher, supervisor, and passionate advocate for music therapy.
Image courtesy of www.musictherapy.org/
I practised as a full-time music therapist for 20 years, mainly in the field of adult mental health as part of a large NHS mental health trust. It was during this period that I began to combine my clinical role with supporting the development of the profession.
Along with another colleague, we developed a new MA course at Anglia Ruskin. This course became the first masters course in music therapy in the UK. I continued to work as a music therapist and today, we have our own new state of the art music therapy centre at Anglia Ruskin, where we not only train students, but also deliver clinical work with local children and adults, as well as lead a pioneering research department.
Professional development has been a central focus for my work as my career has evolved, and I have worked to develop services and ask the government to set up career structures for music therapists which are the same as for other allied health professionals.
I was fortunate to be able to combine this professional focus with an academic interest, gaining an MPhil investigating the benefits of music therapy for people with dementia, which was the first randomised controlled trial in this field in the UK. Later I gained a PhD in Denmark investigating links between diagnosis and music therapy in adult mental health.
I have always been passionate about the potential for music to change people, situations, and particularly to help communication when words are not available.
I am a singer, pianist and violinist and using live music has been central to my work where music is used to work towards therapeutic change for adults with a variety of mental health problems including dementia, schizophrenia, depression and personality disorder.
It was only in the second half of the 20th century that music therapy really began to be established as a clinical discipline in the UK, and as a profession we are continuously raising its profile so that it becomes more widely available to those who could benefit from it.
Through my many roles I am able to engage with the international music therapy community and regularly lecture, present and examine at institutions across the world.
Image courtesy of Michelle S. Kim
Within my day I am constantly trying to balance all my different roles, as well as researching, teaching, securing more funding for music therapy and raising its profile in the public domain.
One of my biggest challenges is finding the time to get my publications out into the field. My team and our students are a fountain of wonderful new ideas and keeping up with them can be a challenge, as well as providing the right amount of support to students and colleagues in their developments.
Latest studies show both that music affects the brain positively, and also that regular music therapy sessions reduce agitation and anxiety, and the need for medication for people with dementia.
Leaving someone without the power to communicate is not right – music has the power to address that. Music therapy addresses the emotional, physical and intellectual needs of people with dementia and I have just begun talks with the local NHS trust where I work about referring more people with dementia for music therapy.
So much of my day is about communicating with others; whether it be about developing research strategy within both the UK and worldwide, building international links, supervising PhD students, persuading funders to invest in research and the delivery of music therapy, keeping in contact with colleagues or playing the violin or piano.
At the end of the day, I usually have a chance to talk with colleagues about the next day, or what we are doing that evening, and I switch off my computer if I remember.
For me it is important to find the time to enjoy the things outside of work when I can, such as singing, playing the violin and piano, eating good food, drinking wine and getting together frequently with family and close friends.
Before I drift off to sleep, my thoughts are normally what are my plans for the next day, concerns about anyone in the family or friends who may be experiencing difficulties and what have I forgotten to do? What will my dreams be?
But I always wonder at how lucky I am to have such loving family around me. Via india.com
— Nordoff Robbins UK (@NordoffRobbins1) June 29, 2015
Music Therapy Program Helping To Improve Stress Levels In Adults, Kids CBS Pittsburgh
Its a powerful medium that can be used as a tool if we know how to use it. Experts say music can improve our mood and even change behavior. It all starts when the music goes in our ears and right to our brain, lighting up all different parts. Via pittsburgh.cbslocal.com
Dickinson in music therapy visit – Metal Hammer
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson today visited music charity Nordoff Robbins’ London centre to celebrate Music Therapy Week.
Dickinson met some of those helped by the charity and spoke to staff who provide care and attention – and even found time to jam a few acoustic guitar chords with some delighted children. Via teamrock.com
To Ease Pain, Reach For Your Playlist : Shots – Health News : NPR
We all know that listening to music can soothe emotional pain, but Taylor Swift, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys can also ease physical pain, according to a study of children and teenagers who had major surgery. The analgesic effects of music are well known, but most of the studies have been done with adults and most of the music has been classical. Now a recent study finds that children who choose their own music or audiobook to listen to after major surgery experience less pain. Via npr.org
Its a powerful medium that can be used as a tool if we know how to use it. Experts say music can improve our mood and even change behavior. It all starts when the music goes in our ears and right to our brain, lighting up all different parts. Via pittsburgh.cbslocal.com
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson today visited music charity Nordoff Robbins’ London centre to celebrate Music Therapy Week.
We all know that listening to music can soothe emotional pain, but Taylor Swift, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys can also ease physical pain, according to a study of children and teenagers who had major surgery. The analgesic effects of music are well known, but most of the studies have been done with adults and most of the music has been classical. Now a recent study finds that children who choose their own music or audiobook to listen to after major surgery experience less pain. Via npr.org
