India is known for its richness of music and the system of rage accommodates oscillations of notes (swaras) which make this system unique in the world of music. It is through oscillation of notes that ragas are able to pour down each and every nuance hidden in the human emotions.
Advances made in music therapy clearly indicate that while listening to music could be soothing, employing guided imagery with music could prove therapeutic. Several studies conducted with guided imagery have proved beyond doubt that individuals who are stressed or depressed can slowly overcome their miseries as happiness and sunshine could be brought back by selectively appropriate rhythms or resonance, gait or tempo so as to suit one’s constitution.
As music therapists spend a lot of time studying the individual constitution, his or her likes and dislikes, tastes and preferences etc., they also help their clients by selecting a musical piece which offers enough scope for imagination. Some music therapists, like hypnotists or psychotherapists do guide their clients so as to develop their imagination skill as the music flows from one theme to the other, such imagination could be of course dream-like without any rational context whatsoever. Such imagination, it is found, particularly helps those who suffer from painful situations in life (e.g. loss of the dear and near etc.) and enables the person to divert his mind away from the pain location. Somewhat similar attempts made by this author and his team in respect of terminally ill patients and those who suffer from cancer with the help of ragas have proved beneficial.
The basic philosophy of improvisational raga therapy is that traditional techniques can elicit a client’s responses by developing links with the client within the context of a musical experience. The role of a therapist in this model often works supportively, creating a musical emotional environment that accepts and enhances the client’s responses. This method provides experiences for socialization, communication, and expression of feelings and emotions even among group participants overcoming their initial inhibitions. The most common musical instruments used in such cases could be anything lying around from plates, cups & spoons, large combs or any materials at home which can produce resonance. Ivanikova (2004), a music therapist from Ukraine recommends practically anything and everything which can be innovatively used to enhance our musical experience.
Sing a Raga to Discover it!
Innovation and improvisation are not strange to the Indian classical musicians; in fact the whole system is based on such novelties and ideas. For instance, tonally rich ragas like Todi, Kalyani, Bhairavi, Sankarabharanam, Mohanam, Malkauns etc. could be elaborated for hours searching for new avenues and meanings concealed in them. The therapist, however, opens the session by singing or playing those songs familiar to the clients. After singing, the therapist leads a discussion related to the themes of the raga. Once each client has expressed and discussed his or her own thoughts, feelings, and ideas, the therapist starts improvising a raga with the word or phrase suggested by the clients. There can be a very positive conclusion of the session, as the therapist makes a raga to be positive. As a result, each client might carry over his or her feelings and emotions in a constructive manner.
Raga Visualization Exercises
Listening to raga has to be combined with a relaxed state of mind and body in order to evoke imagery for the purpose of self-actualization. For this purpose, this writer recommends deep breathing exercise and comfortable body postures like savasana. The imagery evoked should reflect aspects of the self and is used by the client, with the aid of the therapist. Visualization may not intend to cure or treat symptoms; rather it is in search of the client’s own inner awareness. There is a belief that every one can understand his or her problems better than a therapist as everybody has the ability to overcome the problem within themselves. Thus visualization, in a way, is the concept of what we can call “self-music therapy”.
Music Education for Special Children:
It has been noticed in several experiments that the special children have a pre-disposition toward rhythm, order and repetition. The overall process may therefore involve the use of movement, rhythms, sounds, language and musical expression in a group experience. Structure can be provided by incorporating the simple chants, rondos, poems, nonsense words etc. This writer advocates simple rhymes and proto-ragas as an effective way of diverting the attention of special children. In the western countries, the rondo form is used extensively, as it allows for repetition as well as for individual creative response. Specially-designed attractive percussion instruments can enhance the participation of even the severely disturbed or handicapped child. Through “successive approximation” specific tasks are taught in a concrete step-by-step approach. Learning is effected through modelling (imitation) and behaviour shaping, reinforced by behavioural techniques. With groups of autistic children, considerable attention can be given to language development through the use of sign language, which is seen as enhancing speech. Among other areas dealt with are body image and awareness, laterality, gross motor expression, fine motor coordination, receptive language, spatial relationships, simple categorization and simple association. The significant value here is that it helps the special child to become attentive to a meaningful group experience.
Raga : A Sure-Cure?
Though the therapeutic value of ragas is historically recognized in India, no scientific validation is forthcoming, though there are indications that they have definite impact in addressing the mentally tired and torn amongst us. Though the role of music in affecting the mental and emotional states and in producing multiple physiological changes in the body is well-recognized by those who practice music therapy, it is high time that this subject is taken by the centres of higher learning in our county viz., universities and research organizations take up various ragas for a threadbare scrutiny so as to dig out the treasures hidden in them!
Any raga – for that any acceptable sound vibration- no doubt, can lead a person to a state of harmony through synchronization. As all illness is caused by a disharmony, raga can help in the healing process in the fullest sense, harmonizing all aspects of the being – the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Ragas are so conceived in the traditions that they exhibit the power to access our deep emotions. As a holistic healing intervention, the selected blend of swara-clusters can lead a willing participant to a natural state of balance more easily. The ultimate aim in life is of course, to restore, maintain, and improve our emotional, physical, physiological, and spiritual well-being, endowed to us in abundance by nature.
This article appeared in – My Doctor – Feb 2008 – Pages 76, 77
Edited by Geeta Shreedar, July 19, 2021