Music has been deeply embedded in human culture for thousands of years. The exact origin of how music came to be is practically impossible to pinpoint without any archeological records. But its far-reaching impacts in every part of the globe is undeniable. Music is a powerful medium that affects all of us in different ways.
You don’t need to play an instrument to engage with music. Just listening to one of your favourite songs play on the radio can stir pleasant memories and dramatically lift your mood. Numerous studies have shown that music has positive effects on the body. There is now a growing profession in the field of healthcare that utilises music to improve our wellbeing – Music therapy.
Here we’ll provide an overview of what music therapy is including the many health benefits it brings from keeping depression at bay to improving sleep quality and helping with physical rehabilitation.
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is an established profession and has been used in hospitals and healthcare facilities since the 1970s. Musicians use the powerful effects of music to improve the mental, physical, and emotional state of their clients. A music therapist assesses each client individually so they can tailor a specialised program based on their needs.
Musical involvement in a therapeutic context provides an outlet to help individuals express their feelings in a way they may not be able to with words alone. Treatments typically involve listening to certain kinds of music to evoke emotional responses. But a music therapist may opt instead to sing, play a musical instrument, or even teach their clients how to play an instrument.
Music therapy is often used with people who have disabilities or illnesses but people of all ages can enjoy the healing benefits of music. No matter what form the music takes, sessions revolve around the therapist, the individual, and the music.
Health Benefits of Music Therapy
A growing body of research demonstrates that music therapy can help patients and improve their quality of life in many ways. Here’s how:
Keeps depression at bay. Music therapy can help patients with depression, a medical disorder which causes intense feelings of sadness. A meta-analysis of 28 scholarly articles consisting of 1,810 participants found that musical therapy sessions led to improvements on scores that measure depression across all age groups. Noticeable improvements were found amongst elderly participants (aged 60 years or above) when attending individual sessions.
Improves sleep quality. Getting enough quality sleep is important to maintain good health. Sleep deprivation can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes. An analysis of 10 studies involving 557 participants found that music therapy improved sleep quality for patients with acute and chronic sleep disorder. Other studies have also found that music therapy given at bedtime has a positive effect on the quality of sleep for elderly patients.
Helps with physical rehabilitation. Physical rehabilitation helps restore body functions to patients who may have suffered an injury or disability. An analysis of several studies has found that music therapy has led to improvements in gross motor functioning and has even increased motivation for those undergoing physical rehabilitation. The results suggest that music therapy can enhance an individual’s physical, psychological, cognitive, and emotional functioning during rehabilitation programs.
The key takeaway is that music therapy offers powerful health benefits to people of all ages. If you are looking to bring more music into your life with quality entertainers, we can help.
At Songbird Serenade, we connect aged care homes and retirement villages with live entertainers who are passionate about bringing their music to the elderly. If you are looking to book a Songbird for your next concert, then contact us today and we will be happy to help.
Author’s Bio
Alex Morrison has worked with a range of businesses giving him an in-depth understanding of many different industries including home improvement, financial support, and health care.
