A beautiful tune not only tugs your heart, it also rejuvenates the soul.
Music has always been a very powerful tool for expression, thanks to the range and depth of sound frequencies which could stir a listener with a range of feelings. Archaeological evidence proves that music-making is a part of the history of almost all the human settlements since ancient times. Over 9000-years old playable flutes have been unearthed in China and a piece of bone discovered at a 100,000-year-old Neanderthal site in Germany had holes drilled into it, suggesting the presence of music in the lives of the earliest human species.
Healing History
The primitive societies had used music to the maximum extent. All human and social activities employed rhythms and music, as a part of living. Agricultural and hunting activities such as sowing, ploughing, hunting, re-planting, community dinners etc., were all done with music in the lips, if not in drums and strings. At that time, music was not only employed for celebrations, but also in mourning. In many parts of south India, especially in Tamil Nadu, oppari is a form of mourning song, sung during funerals. While adding sorrow to the occasion, it helps in overcoming the personal loss and curing the wounded mind. Thus, qualities such as anger, pain, aggression, fear etc. emanated from music, not only touches the heart of the listeners, but also ensures that no wound is caused. Rather it helps in healing the deeply hurt heart by infusing confidence and courage.
Systematic, daily or regular application of rhythmic or tonal vibrations for healing has been part and parcel of all ancient cultures and traditions. Systems such as tantrism, shamanism, nada yoga etc. have contributed towards evolving similar goals particularly in the context of religions, notably in Buddhism, Hindusim, Islam, Sikhism and Sufism. These religions had in their daily rituals included the repetition of powerful tones, rhythms, pitches and other sound vibrations through voice or/and instruments. They were primarily aimed at reaching the higher (or deeper) levels of one’s consciousness. According to Hazrat lnayat Khan, a Sufi, who practiced and taught classical music in the early 1920’s, the entire body mechanism, the muscles, the blood circulation and the nerves are all moved by the power of vibration. ‘As there’s resonance for every sound’, Khan said, ‘so the human body is the living resonance of the sound’. He felt that sound has an effect on each cell of the body, on all glands, on the circulation of blood and on the pulse.
Tune in to Good Health
Today music therapy is the prescribed clinical use of music with or without a therapeutic goal, which aims at stimulating an overall positive change mainly in four areas of human functioning i.e. cognitive, physical, psychological and social. Music therapy is one of the many holistic therapies, which have been interpreted as alternative or integrative medicine. The system holds promise in treating the patients faster, when combined with other interventions such as medication and surgery.
Creative Healing
Music therapy is as creative and flexible as music could be. It is a spontaneous means of using the appeal of music to help people of all ages and all abilities. It’s use is based on an understanding that the ability to express or experience oneself through music is universal to all human beings. Trauma, social and economic status or hierarchy, fear of the powerful, feelings of shame are some of the few social reasons as to why the expression is gagged in the social milieu. This unfortunately snowballs, over the years, to affect the mental as well as physical well-being of an individual. Music therapy can play a vital role here; it lends endless avenues for the flow of suppressed feelings of disappointments, helplessness or frustrations in one’s life. It is heartening to note that this outlet almost remains unchanged even in case of accident, disability, injury or illness. Music basically assures a certain contentment and confidence which are the basic needs for a happy living.
Though music, per se, doesn’t claim to cure any ailments, music therapists believe that music promises to develop enough immune mechanisms in the body and the potential to restore its healthy functioning. As a consequence, a better quality of life could be the reward for using music. It is however important to note that unlike other therapies, music therapy addresses a patient’s emotional, physical and spiritual needs at the same time.
Sing Those Blues Away
The competition-driven lifestyle of the modern age, with its overemphasis on performance and result-orientation is the major reason for stress among everyone, be it school children, teenagers, grown-ups, top executives, politicians or seniors. People from all walks of life — students, company employees, police and law enforcement professionals; government servants, medicos (especially surgeons), airlines staff- all succumb to stress in one way or the other. Some develop tendencies to misbehave by being annoyed or angry all the time-inviting indifference and wrath of the people around, which in turn affect their life further. This process degenerates the quality of life, like a vicious circle.
It is now well-recognized that the reaction of the individual to the ongoing stress causes tremendous strain to the individual as well as to those around him or her. The strain and stress can lead to irritability, insomnia, laziness, nervousness, giddiness etc. They also have their own physical effects including stiffness of neck and muscles, lower back pain, vision problems, lack of hunger, acidity, vertigo and nightmares. Music comes in handy here. With its infinite patterns and nuances and endless permutation and combination of tonal frequencies and rhythmic consistencies, music helps melting the rigidity or gravity that could accompany the cause of stress. It enables one to be more positive in approaching the problems using one’s own learning and experience. So what are you waiting for? Sing along to good health!
This article was published in www.spiceroutemag.com – July 2010 – Pages 76 to 80
Edited by Geeta Shreedar, August 10, 2021