| Margaret was an elderly patient ravaged by Alzheimer | | | | receive the music cues.2 Music also stimulates |
| disease, which had left her unable to speak coherently | | | | physiological responses such as lower blood pressure |
| and unresponsive to her environment. Music therapist | | | | and respiration rates, decreases pain reactions by |
| Karen Wachholz picked up her guitar, sat next to | | | | increasing production of endorphins, increases stamina, |
| Margaret, and began to sing My Wild Irish Rose, hoping | | | | induces sleep, and provides for appropriate release of |
| to elicit eye contact from Margaret. As Karen sang, | | | | energy. |
| she noticed tears streaming down Margaret's cheeks. | | | | Cognitive responses to music include promoting |
| Amazed by Margaret's response, the music therapist | | | | alertness and attention, facilitating both long-term and |
| discovered tears forming in her own eyes. | | | | short-term memory, increasing orientation to the |
| Unexpectedly, Margaret looked at Karen and said, Do | | | | environment, facilitating word retrieval, increasing |
| not cry, honey. It will be OK. For one amazing moment, | | | | sensory usage, stimulating associations and Imagery, |
| the music broke through the haze of dementia, allowing | | | | and activating and holding attention. Neurologist Oliver |
| Margaret once again to connect with her world. | | | | Sacks, who wrote Awakenings and The Man Who |
| Throughout history people have used music as a tool | | | | Mistook His Wife for a Hat, states, I regard music |
| for healing. The Scriptures mention such an occasion: | | | | therapy as a tool of great power in many neurological |
| When King Saul was depressed and tormented by a | | | | disorders Parkinsons and Alzheimer because of its |
| spirit, David played his harp to bring Saul relief (1 Sam. | | | | unique capacity to organize or reorganize cerebral |
| 16:14- 23). Earlier this century, musicians went to | | | | function when it has been damaged. 3 Indeed, in some |
| hospitals to play for veterans suffering from physical | | | | cases, stroke patients whose brain damage does not |
| and emotional trauma following World War II. These | | | | permit speech can often communicate by singing. |
| performances were discovered to have unexpected | | | | Music therapy promotes social responses by fostering |
| therapeutic benefits. As doctors and patients | | | | interpersonal relationships and group cohesion, |
| increasingly recognized the therapeutic value of music, | | | | advancing social skills, enhancing verbal and nonverbal |
| there was a growing demand for hospital musicians | | | | communication, and providing a healthy and |
| and, thus, the need for formal training and curriculum | | | | nonthreatening outlet for emotional expression. In a |
| development. This eventually led to what is now | | | | study by Cassity at Southeast Louisiana State |
| known as music therapy. | | | | Hospital, group music therapy was found to increase |
| According to the American Music Therapy | | | | peer acceptance and group cohesiveness of adult |
| Association, music therapy is the prescribed use of | | | | psychiatric patients over those who received |
| music by a qualified person to effect positive changes | | | | non-musical group therapy.4 Music therapy can |
| in the psychological, physical, cognitive, or social | | | | enhance other types of medical treatments by |
| functioning of individuals with health or educational | | | | providing a relationship with a health care professional |
| problems.1 To become a music therapist, one must | | | | based on enjoyment rather than pain. This helps |
| complete a bachelors degree at an accredited | | | | patients to view their prognosis more positively and |
| university and a six-month internship. Upon successful | | | | cooperate with their treatments. Find a therapist to get |
| completion of a national certification exam, the individual | | | | solutions to your problems. |
| is then eligible for certification. A music therapist works | | | | Greater therapeutic effects can be elicited with live |
| in a variety of settings, including hospitals, mental health | | | | music than recorded music and, similarly, with music |
| care centers, rehabilitation facilities, schools, and nursing | | | | that is the clients preferred style. Keeping these |
| homes. Clients include individuals with physical | | | | factors in mind, music can be used in the counseling |
| handicaps, developmental disabilities, psychiatric | | | | setting for many purposes. Music can be paired with |
| illnesses, neurological Impairments, terminal illnesses, and | | | | progressive muscle relaxation techniques, guided |
| sensory Impairments. | | | | Imagery, and/or biofeedback to promote relaxation. A |
| Music therapy is used as a tool to promote healthy | | | | counselor involved in group work can utilize music to |
| psychological responses in patients by decreasing | | | | stimulate discussion or act as a catalyst to encourage |
| stress and anxiety, facilitating self-expression and | | | | emotional expression. Although music can be brought |
| creativity, and increasing feelings of self-worth. In my | | | | into therapy in a variety of ways by mental health |
| own experience as a music therapist working with | | | | professionals, there is no substitute for a competent |
| developmentally disabled adults, I saw clients who did | | | | music therapist. While the therapeutic benefits of music |
| not respond well to other types of stimulation react | | | | are increasingly being confirmed, further research is |
| positively to music therapy. One moderately retarded | | | | needed. The profession continues to gain greater |
| man, whose behavior outbursts frequently disrupted | | | | respect and acceptance in the health care field, as |
| the unit, could be calmed by listening to his favorite | | | | evidenced by the Health Care Financing |
| songs. | | | | Administration's reimbursement for music therapy |
| Music moves people to respond physically (e.g., tapping | | | | services under certain conditions. The collaboration of |
| ones toes to the rhythm). Researchers at Colorado | | | | the National Association for Music Therapy and the |
| State University's Center for Biomedical Research in | | | | American Association for Music Therapy in January of |
| Music found that stroke patients who were given | | | | 1998 to form the American Music Therapy Association |
| rhythmic musical cueing Improved their cadence, stride, | | | | allows music therapists now to act and speak with |
| and foot placement over a control group that did not | | | | unity. |