“Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of tile.” – R.K.S. lyengar
In recent years, Music Therapy is emerging as a wonder tool in the hands of medical practitioners and counsellors as a dependable intervention, especially for those who suffer from mental diseases and problems, which are threatening the very social fabric of the human race. Music therapy is fast emerging -both in the East and the West – not only as a hospital or health intervention, but also as a self-prescription for preventing stress and tension in the everyday life of people from all walks of life and from all age groups.
Nada Centre for Music Therapy – www.nada.in – a tiny, non-profit organization dedicated to bringing music from the background to the foreground of people’s lives, has been engaged in serious group studies and experiments to ‘discover’ (or ‘re-discover’) the therapeutic role, played by various genres and systems of music, with a strong voluntary support from both medicos and musicians converging to its seminars and workshops, conducted from time to time.
One of the objectives of the Centre is to re-discover the principles and practices of yoga which are conducive to individual (and thereby social) health of the nation. Thus, the Centre’s interests range from Nada Yoga to Neuro-musicology, to discover the magic that is music.
Over a decade of its existence, the Centre has developed its own ‘home’ concepts and practices, successfully used by those in need. They are Proto-Raga therapy, Raga Chikitsa therapy, Nada Yoga music therapy, Yoga Nidra music therapy, Emotional music therapy etc. A large number of people have benefitted from such concepts while the research continues.
In the system of Yoga and Meditation, one such practice relates to calming the mind with Yoga Nidra practice. It was a chance discovery; combining appropriate music with Yoga Nidra sessions enhances results. From several practical sessions, we have selected 12 musical pieces from Western classical music, for imagery value and emotional content. This is to give power to move the mind to overcome adverse situations in life. The musical pieces identified for their richness in imagery value and beauty are taken for motivating the listener (patient) to synchronize with their characteristics. Similarly those pieces which are rich in powerful emotional contents can be used psycho-therapeutically, to address emotional crises relating to disappointments, frustrations, anger, depression and all such negative moorings in life, that affect the mental health of an individual adversely.
The volunteer base of Nada Centre has thus worked on identifying the tones and tunes from these samples that can ‘cool down’ the agitated and angry when judicially applied. Popular Western classical music has been experimented with yoga nidra practice on patients prone to violence or misbehavior. Those which show significant results in soothing agitated minds are given in the table below. However, we would like that more repetitions of these experiments need to be conducted, to assign a scientific validity for our humble attempt.
The selected musical pieces were studied for their musical quality, which can be used for music imagery involved in yoga nidra sessions. For this purpose, music was analysed for first stage amrit -dhara or nectar-effect that is for an intensified, imaginary, ambrosial secretion in the sahasrara or crown chakra. The second stage is the imaginary spread of amrit-dhara to various parts and chakras of the body. The second-stage music helped cancer patients and others who silently suffer physical and mental pain to ‘forget’ their problems; at least temporarily, as an effective audio-analgesic intervention. We are planning to refine and improvise Music Therapy exercises, working with a large population of people in various.parts of India.
Given below is a select list of music for self-music therapy easily available on YouTube. We are grateful to modern technology which has brought such a revolution in our lives, enabling us to download any song or music in a jiffy, from our mobile, without tears! The table indicates the popular Western classical numbers identified for amrit-dhaara exercise and also their duration (as available) for facilitating yoga nidra session, for addressing pain or difficulties in the body and mind. The therapists can either cut short the duration or prolong it, depending on the patient’s needs and response:
| No. | Musical piece / treatment duration in minutes | 1st stage – Amrit Dhaara – – Yoga Nidra intervention | 2nd stage – Spread of Nectar – Yoga Nidra intervention | Author’s Remarks |
| 1 | Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata | In the 1st half of this piece, patients are directed to observe / feel the oozing / dripping nectar in their crown chakras. | In the 2nd half of this piece, the active spread of nectar to various parts of the body can be felt. The patient directs this to the problem areas in his / her body to get benefits of healing. | The patient needs to be comfortably seated on a cosy sofa or in Padmasana or Shavaasana positions. Initial breathing exercises enhance the effect of the session. |
| 2 | Beethoven – Silencio (10.39) | Here, the dripping of nectar can be felt at a faster pace. | No 2nd stage intervention required | This piece is somewhat faster and hence probably not useful for elderly and critical patients |
| . 3 | Beethoven – Symphony No. 5 | No 1st stage intervention required | Emotional and powerful to address acrisis situation in the life of listeners. Patient to focus on problem or pain locus and whole- heartedly ‘fight’ it with all energy, felt and derived from music. | The dominant theme here is ‘Fighting the Mighty’. It is an aggressive piece of music, interspersed with self-effacing sounds that linger. |
| 4 | Chopin – Nocturne Opera 9 No. 2 (04:29) | Dripping effect to be guided if necessary | Not much for 2nd stage experience | An effective piece for amrit-dhaaraa effect |
| 5 | Chopin – Spring Waltz (04:22) | No 1st stage intervention | Useful | The patient feels the spread of ‘nectar’ into various parts of his / her body, especially where it is most needed. |
| 6 | Chopin – Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor Opera 11 (43:46) | No 1st stage intervention | Effective 2nd stage experience | The ‘Fighter Music’ to drive away all woes in the mindscape with determination and will-power! In between, one can feel one’s slow picking up of strength, due to appropriate tones and tunes. |
| 7 | Chopin – 12 Etudes Opera 25 (32:30) | Excellent 1st stage experience with the piano tones which are conducive to bring down brain waves to alpha-level | Not for 2nd stage experience | “0 Nectar of Bliss! Drip, drip, drip, drip into my head like raindrops!” |
| 8 | Dvorak – Romance for Piano (12:46) | Part I Music: 1st stage nectar – The dripping experience is felt by the majority of listeners. | Part II Music helps in addressing the crisis with one’s involvement. | Highly emotional performance of powerful violin helps in recalling the crisis and addressing it directly. |
| 9 | Mozart – Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Major K 467 Pollini-Muti (31:21) | Helps in evaporating tension in the mind | No 2nd stage | Use Music builds up slowly, re-patterning one’s chaotic thought patterns. |
| 10 | Mozart – Concerto No. 23 in A Major K488 (29:36) | Feel-good music, slowly changing bad times to good times | One can easily feel the positive energy coming from all sides, pampering the listeners to remain calm | |
| 11 | Schubert – Serenade (04:08) | Part I addresses loneliness, disappointments and losses in life effectively | Emotion- rich | |
| 12 | Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake, The Kirov Ballet 1.55.41 | Part I for synchronizing with positive feelings in the music | Powerful rendering |
It may be seen that music is a highly subjective phenomenon. Before prescribing it is essential to study the ‘music profile’ of a patient’s personality. Music can be prescribed only after knowing the willingness of the patients / clients who opt for them. Through trial and error, it is possible to identify the musical piece which is best-suited for the client in hand. The Centre wishes all the best for music and awaits feed-back from practicing music therapists, which will be very valuable to take our research to the next level.
Bibliography Bagchi, K. (Ed) Music Therapy as an. Alternative Medicine Delhi, HeIpage India Campbell, D 1997, The Mozart Effect, London: Hodder & Stoughton Sairam, T.V. 2007, Self -Music Therapy, Chennai: Nada Centre for Music Therapy Sairam, T.V. 2014, Dictionary of Music Therapy, Delhi, Agam Prakashan
This article was published in Shanmuka – July – Sept 2016 – Pages 28-31
Edited by Geeta Shreedar, Nov. 21, 2021