MONDAY MENTIONABLES - The Healing Power of Music

"When griping grief the heart doth wound, and doleful dumps the mind oppresses, then music, with her silver sound, with speedy help doth lend redress." -William Shakespeare

A few weeks ago, as I was waiting in a doctor's office for my son, I read an interesting article in a magazine called "Healthy Utah". The article was about the healing power of music. It was called "The Sound of Music - Health and Healing" by Sarah Sanders

I thought I'd share some of that article here...

Ms. Sanders sited a study at Tel Aviv University that "found that premature babies who listen to music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart may gain weight faster than those who don't." There have also been studies on the effects of happiness - laughter can open up blood vessels, allowing better circulation, and music also can impact your blood pressure and stress levels. Dr. Mike Miller, of the Maryland Medical Center said: "Turns out music may be one of the best de-stressors - either by playing or even listening to music. It gives us an overall feeling of good, well-being, a sense of euphoria in some cases."

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." --Berthold Auerbach

In addition to this article that I read, I watched a NOVA episode on music. It was really amazing. The episode was called Musical Minds, and showed how the power of music can make the brain come alive. It followed 2 different people, one with autism and one with Tourette's syndrome. I watched in wonder as the individual with severe autism was able to play the most beautiful music on the piano. I'm a pianist, and I know how much work goes in to playing well. This man is able to listen to a highly complex piece of music once, and then play it back perfectly. During the time that he plays, he is the master of his universe. The man with Tourette's syndrome found that if he plays the drums, he isn't affected by Tourette's. He shakes and jerks severely until he picks up the drum sticks - and then he plays perfectly. And for the time that he is playing, he is the master of his universe.

Back to the article by Ms. Sanders... she talks about the "place music has with patients who have brain damage. Psychologist Ted Rubinstein said music is so complex that it's the only experience that activates almost every part of the brain. Music can simply bypass the brain's damaged language centers and create new pathways to the part of the brain that processes the music."

The fact that music can help us be healthy and heal intrigues me. I've noticed that, for years, whenever I'm upset, just about the only way I can calm down is by sitting down at the piano, and playing. And, my family knows that I'm upset by the way I play. I try to play songs that help me destress - they start out fast and furious, and finally I end up with soft, beautiful music. I've never wondered why I do this, until now - this article and the NOVA special can perhaps explain why.

I was taught as a child to enjoy and appreciate all kinds of music. I'm grateful for this, because different kinds of music affect me in different ways...

Rock music is what I listen to when I exercise and lift weights - it seems to get my blood pumping and keeps me going. Give me Yellowcard, Cold Play, All American Rejects - anything that has a strong beat.

When I'm walking in the morning - and the world is still and quiet - I listen to hymns played on the piano and violin. It calms my soul. I love Todd McCabe and April Moriarty's CDs.

When I'm in a romantic mood, I listen to jazz and blues. Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra are some of my favorites.

When I'm feeling nostalgic, I turn on the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, or James Taylor - there is nothing better!

Every once in a while, I'll listen to the soundtrack from a favorite movie - Harry Potter, Pirates, Lord of the Rings, Phantom of the Opera - these take me right back to the theater and the excitement of seeing those shows for the first time.

In a play called "The Mourning Bride" from 1697, Almeria says: "Music has charms to soothe a savage breast". I've heard it this way - "Music calms the savage beast". My son, Alex, knows this. Whenever I get angry with him, he picks up his guitar and just starts playing. I get quite distracted when he does this, and he knows it. He knows how much I love to just sit and listen to him play. Smart kid.

What about you? Have you noticed the effects of music - can it calm you, make you feel better? What is your favorite music? Before you leave the blog today, check out the playlist at the bottom of the blog - these are songs that our members chose to share - these are the songs that help them feel better.

Have a lovely, musical, day!

-Kara