Good Morning!
Finding Inspiration Series: Music Therapy
My 'Finding Inspiration' series was written out of a need that comes up in my
practice, most often in Spring and Fall. I feel we all need a bit of
encouragement and enlightenment now and then to help us move forward. Finding
motivation through inspiration can be the spark which sets you on your way!
Music Therapy is the prescribed use of music and music related techniques to
assist and motivate a person towards specific, nonmusical goals. Music
therapists use their training to effect changes in the cognitive, physical,
communication, social, and emotional skills.
Music Therapy utilizes music and music related activities to modify ineffective
learning patterns, help to promote emotional, mental, social and physical growth
and to develop non-musical goals. Music Therapy works as a creative, flexible
and sometimes spontaneous means of utilizing the appeal of music to help people
of all ages and abilities. Music Therapy is an established health care
profession that uses music and "techniques" in order to address physical,
psychological, cognitive and social behavioral patterns. Music Therapy can
positively affect children and adults alike. Music Therapy can make the
difference between isolation and interaction and has been proven in situations
such as: depression, anger, pain, autism, stress, grief, loss, time management,
motivation, growth, change, procrastination and improving communication.
Vibrational Tuning
Vibrational medicine, which validates that everything in the Universe is in a
state of vibration and the frequency at which an object or person most naturally
vibrates is called resonance.
The human ear can detect a minimal range of vibration between 20 to 20,000
cycles per second (cps) or Hertz (Hz). A standard measure of frequency is Hertz,
abbreviated Hz. It means "cycles per second." Compare this to the vibrations
dolphins or even mice can detect, which is up to 100,000 (cps) and you realize
how much more of our "Universal Symphony" we are missing out on.
The rate at which something vibrates, determines how dense it is and how we
perceive it to be.
Therefore, different things vibrate at different rates or frequencies. These
things can be perceived as either sound, light or color or solid matter. There
is even a "hum" to the Earth. Known as the Schumann Resonance. The
lowest-frequency (and highest-intensity) mode of the Schumann resonance is at a
frequency of approximately 7.8 Hz. This particular frequency just so happens to
be associated with the Alpha waves in our brain, which are most associated with
our meditative state. "When your alpha is within normal ranges we tend to also
experience good moods, see the world truthfully, and have a sense of calmness.
You can increase alpha by closing your eyes or deep breathing or decrease alpha
by thinking or calculating.
The human energy field is a symphony of sound, frequencies and energetic matter.
From our auric field and Chakra centers, bones, and organs in the body, all
possess a different resonant frequency. When an organ or part of the body is
vibrating out of tune or non-harmoniously, it is called "dis ease" or disease. A
body is in a healthy state of being when each cell, each organ creates a
resonance that is in harmony with the whole being.
Vibrational medicine is based on the idea that all illness or disease is
characterized by blockage in the channels on some level, either in nadis,
meridians, arteries, veins, or nerves When there is a blockage, the organ in
question stops vibrating at a healthy frequency and thus it results in some kind
of illness. So, through sound and light, one can break up, dissolve and release
these blockages that initiate in our light or etheric body. Ultra sound has been
used medically for almost two decades as a diagnostic tool by pediatricians
while the baby is in the very early stages of fetal development. More recently,
ultrasound is being used to cleanse clogged arteries. Ultrasound works on the
same principle of light equals sound and tone equals radiance manifesting in
form.
Entrainment
Musically, entrainment invloves the "merging with, or synchronizing to, the
pulse of the music".(7) This principle is related to the isomorphic principle
which states that one's mood should be matched to the mood of the music and then
gradually moved into the desired direction. The principle of entrainment is
universal. Appearing in chemistry, pharmacology, biology, medicine, psychology,
sociology, astronomy, architecture and more. The classic example shows
individual pulsing heart muscle cells. When they are brought close together,
they begin pulsing in synchronicity. Another example of the entrainment effect
is women who live in the same household often find that their menstrual cycles
will coincide.
The entrainment process is quite evident in music. It is possible to have
rhythmic entrainment, melodic entrainment and dynamic entrainment. Entrainment
music has the potential to (1) resonate with the listener's feelings, (2)
transform negativity into positivity, and (3) promote a state of liveliness or
serenity. Certain sounds, in specific sequence can help bring the listener from
one place to another.
Entrainment is the tendency of two oscillating bodies to lock into phase, so
that they vibrate in harmony.
The following are great tools for entrainment:
Music Therapy Tools
1. Affirmations: One of the many things that sets musical affirmations apart is
that the music and text represents an integration of words, rhythm, voice and
melody. Using this type of affirmations will give you the power to think
positively, to remove the barriers to prosperity, minimize stress and create
pathways to love and confidence. Today's non-stop, high-stress world means our
minds are constantly in the beta (unreceptive) state, where the mind's mental
energy fires neurons at random. Musical affirmations will return your mind to
the alpha (receptive) state, a state where the neurons fire in harmony. Where
the positive message of the affirmations can be absorbed effectively by the
conscious and subconscious mind due to the power enhancing affects of a musical
accompaniment.
2. Mind Quieting: A disciplined mind is a free mind. Gain control over your
thoughts and you maintain control over your life. Retrain your mind and you
regain your freedom. Calming the mind is a behavioral technique used to
interupt, minimize and eliminate "psychological noise". Obsessive, repeatitive
thoughts, anxiety and fears are all apart of negative, self-destructive patterns
that can benefit from the power of music and mind quieting.
3. Breathing : Breath is life! Exchange of electrons. Flow of energy. Air is the
primary nutrient. Survival without it is measured in minutes. It is so important
that you do it without thinking. Your breathing is the voice of your spirit.
It's depth, smoothness, sound, and rate reflect your mood. If you become aware
of your breath and breathe the way you do when you are calm you will become
calm. Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing. With
the addition of music and it's rhythm, the "musical breath" can even help
stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive
disorders. Fall into the rhythm of the music and breathe. Focus on your
breathing and the music.
4. Mantras : No one can fully explain the mystery of mantras. Their magical
sounds help heal physical imbalances, relax the mind, quiet the emotions, and
open the heart. They stimulate, activate, motivate, and rejuvenate. Mantras can
help you dance or sleep, laugh or cry, make love or meditate, turn tedious
housework or heavy exercise light-hearted fun. They can help you forget someone
or find someone. They are designed to remind us that love, laughter, and inner
peace are our birthright. They help us go beyond borders, realize our potential,
and celebrate the power of love. Mantras offer increased flexibility and
strength while they gently expand your consciousness, and help you experience
love, compassion, and inner peace.
5. Chanting : Chanting begins with an invocation - a prayer, a group OM, or some
small line of remembrance that connects everyone to a higher source. To learn
chanting has a healthy strengthening effect on the mind; it develops
concentration, patience and determination. So, almost any word group - or even
sounds - can be used although the emphasis should be on goodness. Try repeating
the word 'love' a thousand time over. Creating a connection to Self is the goal
of chanting, and the process is meant to be inclusive and fun.
6. Toning : Toning with your own voice can improve health, greatly reduce
stress, release negative emotions, strengthen immune system, increase energy,
improve self-confidence, enhance memory & creativity, transform relationships,
accelerate natural healing help you ascend to new dimensions of reality. Toning
is the basis process of "letting go" of basic, natural sounds to attain a sense
of balance, harmony and centering. Some examples of natural toning include:
yawning, moaning, crying, sighing or screaming. The release of these natural
tones result in the harmonizing of emotions, mind and body.
7. Drumming: Research has shown that drumming can actually strengthen the immune
system, create a calming focus and is even hypnotic. A steady rhythm on the drum
connects us to the heart. The healing effects have been shown to improve
conditions of Alzheimers, autism, trauma and emotional disturbances.
Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
http://www.peacefulmind.com/music_therapy.htm Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit
