Recent years have witnessed the application of music as a therapeutic intervention. Music therapy is thus, the way music and musical activities are employed so as to facilitate physical, cognitive, communicative or psychological improvement in patients. Recent developments include the use of music even in the care of people with cancer and HIV, apart from use in pain relief and in neuro-rehabilitation.
In this context, the brain scientists have made significant contributions towards the relevance of music therapy as a medical intervention. Their research has discussed the relevance of music in hemispheric lateralization. These research works suggest that the speech centre is located in the left hemisphere of the brain and expressivity in the right one. In comparison of musicians with non-musicians it is shown that musically trained persons listen to music with a left hemisphere basis, while non musicians listen with a right hemisphere orientation. There is yet another suggestion that music processing is done in both hemispheres.
Music Therapy in Physical Rehabilitation
It is well-established now that music can stimulate motor activity and thereby the persistence in physical and functional tasks. The traditional example is the military band playing for the marching soldiers, which makes them overcome their fatigue and routineness significantly. In recent years, many physiotherapists and occupational therapists have gone for music as an essential aid or accompaniment to movement activities-more particularly in gait training for the treatment of people affected by stroke and Parkinson’s disease. The number of steps per minute (the gait cadence) is measured and music with a strong rhythmic impulse is set to match this gait tempo. Tailor-made, home training tapes and CDs have made this training economical and easy, which are aimed at improving muscle strength and finer motor coordination.
Music Therapy in Speech and Language Revalidation
Though both hemispheres are now known to the processing and production of purposive language, the right hemisphere contributes to the musical characteristics of speech. Sparks and Holland (1970) developed a technique which involved embedding short phrases or sentences into simple melodic patterns. The therapist taps the patient’s hand once for each syllable, using rhythmic patterns to emphasize the normal prosody of each phrase. Gradually the melodic pattern is reduced until the patient starts using normal speech prosody.
Music Therapy in Psychological/ Cognitive Adjustment
Neurological trauma results in impaired attention, memory, insight, and long-term problems with concentration, leading to behavioural problems and low mood. As music provides environmental enrichment and enhances ambience, by stimulating non-verbal interactive participation, it is found to facilitate cognitive and behavioural change by many researchers. While this literature includes several small single-case studies, there is also no dearth for descriptive research providing insights into the way music is applied. No doubt, more quantitative studies need to be done to validate the effects of music therapy, but nevertheless many establishments around the world have gone ahead introducing music therapy as a dependable discipline.
Conclusion
It is unfortunate that in a great “musical” nation as that of ours with an elaborate raga system and mind-boggling number of musical systems and cultures (gharanas and paddhatis), there is a noticeable paucity of music therapists in hospitals, hospices and nursing homes. Hardly anyone we can find now, being employed in neuro-rehabilitation. As the literature demonstrates that musical intervention may be beneficial to a wide range of rehabilitation aims and may be applied and researched scientifically, there is a need for professional music therapists. Nada Centre for Music Therapy — a modest outfit of volunteers devoted to the cause of music therapy in India (www.nada.in) is engaged in developing such professionals through distance learning for the last three years. This measure, besides creating employment avenues for the talented youth in India and abroad, can help in overcoming the trauma faced by the people in a significant manner, as the research evidences are coming forth in recent years.
References
- Cross, P. et al (1984) Observations on the use of music in rehabilitation of stroke patients, Physiother. Can., 36(4): 197-201
- Merriam, A.P. (1964) The Anthropology of Music Evanston: North Western University Press.
- Sairam, T. V. (2005) Proto-ragas: A Boon for the Mentally-challenged. Bhavan’s Journal. May 15 Issue: 93-95.
- Sairam, T V. (2007) Neurological Music Therapy. My Doctor. June Issue, 46-47.
- Sairam, T V. (2007) Psychoacoustics. Bhavan’s Journal. Oct 15 Issue: 93-94.
- Sairam, T.V. (2008) Neuromusicology Ayurveda and All. August Issue: 31-34.
- Sparks, R.W and A.L.Holland (1976) Melodic Intonation Therapy for Aphasia J. speech Hearing Dis., 41: 287-297.
This article is published in AYURVEDA AND ALL DECEMBER 2010 – Page 21, 22
Edited by Geeta Shreedar, August 10, 2021