Tag Archives | healing

6 Studies that Show How Making Music Affects the Body

By on March 17, 2010 in Research

A couple of weeks ago, Matt Logan of the Music Therapy Source tweeted a completely “irreverent, hilarious, & surprisingly accurate” article entitled 7 Insane Ways Music Affects the Body (According to Science). While I’m constantly reading up and obsessing myself with research on music’s physiological effects, this article opened my eyes to a new perspective. Stepping away from my music therapist mindset, I can imagine how wild it must seem to find out that music can elicit the dramatic effects on the human body as the research has shown.

I can relate to that article. It is insane how music affects the body!

Here are some of my favorite articles on music-making and changes in the body. I found these articles through Google Scholar. We know that making music:

  1. Fortifies the immune system.
    Koyama M, Wachi M, Utsuyama M, Bittman B, Hirokawa K, Kitagawa M. (2009). Recreational music-making modulates immunological responses and mood states in older adults. Journal of Medical and Dental Sciences, 56(2): 57-70.
  2. Enhances mood, increases cancer-killing white blood cell activity, and reduces stress.
    Wachi M, Koyama M, Utsuyama M, Bittman B, Kitagawa M, Hirokawa K. (2007). Recreational music-making modulates natural killer cell activity, cytokines, and mood states in corporate employees. Medical Science Monitor, 13(2), 57-70.
  3. Reduces stress.
    Bittman B, Berk L, Shannon M, Sharaf M, Westengard J, Guegler KJ, Ruff DW (2005). Recreational music-making modulates the human stress response. Medical Science Monitor.
  4. Reduces burnout, enhances mood, and is cost-effective.
    Bittman B, Snyder C, Bruhn KT, Liebfreid F, Stevens CK, Westengard J, Umbach PO (2004). Recreational music-making: An integrative group intervention for reducing burnout and improving mood states in first year associate degree nursing students: Insights and economic impact. International Journal of Nursing Education and Scholarship, 1(12).
  5. Decreases burnout and enhances mood.
    Bittman B, Bruhn K, Stevens C, Westengard J, Umbach P (2003). Recreational music-making: A cost-effective group interdisciplinary strategy for reducing burnout and improving mood states in long-term care workers. Advances in Mind-Body Medicine, 4-15.
  6. Reduces stress and enhances immune system.
    Bittman B, Berk L, Felten D, Westengard J, Simonton O, Pappas J, Ninehouser M (2001). Composite effects of group drumming music therapy on modulation of neuroendocrine-immune parameters in normal subjects. Journal of Alternative Therapy, 38-47.
Comments { 6 }

The Rhythm of Life

By on February 8, 2010 in Drumming, Music & Wellness, Older Adults

In today’s blog, I’m sharing Pulsing to the Rhythm of Life written by Buffy Owens, a Somatic Movement Educator and Life Coach based in San Diego, CA. Her vision is to create a space where the creative spirit can thrive, internal exploration of movement can be expressed and the journey of the human experience can be shared. The article on drumming was published in Prime Magazine in December 2008. Enjoy!

Comments { 0 }

NICU Music Therapy Overview

By on January 12, 2010 in NICU Infants

Share

Video, An Overview of NICU Music Therapy

Visit the National Institute for Infant and Child Medical Music Therapy to learn more.

With the NICU MT specialized training, board-certified music therapists assess, develop and implement a treatment plan, document measurements and observations, adjust the treatment plan, and evaluate the effectiveness of services for infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. Using culturally specific, preferred, live music, board-certified music therapists achieve positive behavioral and physiological changes in the babies and reduced stress for the parents. Music therapy techniques may involve recording the mother’s singing voice to play for baby, facilitating song-writing with a sibling, or gently humming lullabies specific to baby’s native language. Multimodal stimulation, a developmental care technique, is the most commonly used technique. Immediate effects of music therapy interventions include increased oxygen saturation levels and decreased distress behaviors. Long-term effects include higher feeding rate, accelerated weight gain, shorter hospital stay, and self-regulated heart and respiration rates. Board-certified music therapists are able to train parents to use this technique in the hospital and eventually the home.

In addition, research shows that music therapy in the NICU reduces the overall decibel level, masking aversive noise. People speak softer, walk more carefully, and keep their voices down. Oxymeter machines beep less often because the live, predictable, structured nature of the music increases all the surrounding babies’ oxygen saturation levels. Research also shows that there is a cumulative decibel level reduction over 7 weeks of live music therapy provided twice per week.

There are approximately 30 hospitals in the world currently providing NICU music therapy. This number has rapidly increased from only 7 hospitals in 2002. The earlier we nurture and promote the neurological development of a preemie, the less likely the baby will have a developmental disability.

Comments { 0 }