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Doctor's Orders - MUSIC

Think of the many times you having been quietly driving, when a familiar song comes on the radio and you are suddenly singing the lyrics and bouncing to the beat. The song has lifted your spirits and changed your mood immediately.

I am certain we all have our moods lifted when we hear a song that we connect with. This gives us first hand experience at the power of music.

The more the medical community investigates the connection between music and health, the stronger the proof becomes that music is not only good for your mental and physical health, but can also be an integral part of the therapy in treating an illness.

Various medical studies undertaken by prestigious institutions such as The Harvard Medical School, are continually studying the effects of music on healing, pain management, Alzheimer’s and physiological disorders. The evidence is beginning to stream in, confirming music’s positive affect on heart rates, blood pressure, respiration, muscle tension, motor responses and even skin temperature.

Music’s ability to reduce fear and anxiety is almost universally accepted. Some hospitals and clinics are now using music in operating and treatment rooms to calm patients while they are being cared for.

The use of music as therapy has been around since the 18^th century. It really took root and gained acceptance when the Veteran’s Hospitals used music as an intervention tool in the treatment of traumatic war injuries. The positive results produced, prompted the medical community to formalize the study of music therapy. The leading organization in this field is the American Music Therapy Association. This organization both trains therapists, there are currently about 7000 therapists in America, and continues to conduct various studies in the field.

The American Music Therapy Association conducted a study whose results found that interactive music therapy benefited all Alzheimer’s patients, irrespective of the stage of their disease. These findings provide some measure of hope in the fight against this disease. In the initial stages of the disease, music proves to be an important device in the easing of depression, anxiety and boredom. As the disease progresses, playing, listening to, and even talking about music provides a basis for memory that gives comfort to those afflicted and stimulates their minds.

In the latter stages, Alzheimer patients who are incapacitated to the point of non-communication and are disoriented, have been shown to become alert when participating in a music therapy group. They communicate through non-verbal means and remain calm, if agitation and aggression have become a problem.

Other independent studies have also proven the fact that an active and learning mind will help to stave off the onset of Alzheimer’s. Keeping an active and challenged mind will not only enrich your life on a day to day basis, but pay dividends by helping to protect you from this tragic disease. You do not need a prescription, self-medicate yourself, put on a CD or learn to play an instrument today!

Dan Petrosini - April 17, 2006

Dan Petrosini, Jazz Columnist

jazzywine@aol.com

Local Jazz Tip

Every Tuesday Evening at about 8:30 @ The Quay in Sea Bright, the Jazz Lobsters play for about 2-3 hours. It is a great show in this very intimate environment- no cover charge.