Essays

Development of human beings and music are closely related. Music is one of the areas of organised stimuli in patterns of deep meaning and influence that stands at or very near the apex of humanness. Music is an evolutionary contributor to human beings. For example, crude tools have been found and evidence indicates that the Zinjanthropus (an early progenitor of man)used them in Eastern Africa about 1.7 million years ago. Part ofany human being's culture is music. Music has a biological basis as well as a cultural basis. Einstein stated, " The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible." In other words, without the comprehensibly of the outside world there would be no music. The full fruit of our potential for humanness can never be attained unless we grow and develop within a rich musical environment. Music is simply innate, humans cannot escape the formation of aesthetic constructs. Music is a need for expression and communication. Now a days more and more therapy clinics, be it for psychological or physiological purposes, are using music as therapy, as music,

being a form of human behaviour itself, has its own unique and powerful influence. Understanding of human behaviour and specifically music therapy will profit most from a multidisciplinary approach. Music is known to benefit handicapped and ill persons by helping them change their behaviour. Music itself elicits these behavioural changes. By using music and persuasion, the ultimate goal—to bring about desirable changes in behaviour —is attempted. Again in depressed older adults, music therapy has been a positive contributor. Descriptive and experimental studies have documented effects of music on quality of life, involvement with the environment, expression of feeling, awareness and responsiveness, positive associations, and socialization. Music therapy and listening is capable of providing relaxing, positive stimuli for mood change and stress reduction. Furthermore, it i-nay provide palliative coping strategies for the relief of pain and anxiety. An experiment was done where music listening as a part of therapy was administered in the home setting with great ease and comfort. Participants enjoyed this form of therapy. The experiment showed how music listening strategies might be useful to distressed individuals. Music doesn't have positive effects on adults only. According to research, tunes in music may help babies breathe better. In a recent 3-day study, researcher used baby-sized walk-mans to play lullabies into the ears of 10 premature babies in the Intensive Care Unit. Researchers observed that when the music was on, the babies had higher levels of oxygen in their blood, and their heart rates and breathing rates were closer to normal than 10 other babies who only heard the continuous hum of medical monitors mixed with other background noises going on in the neonatal ICU. Physiologically also music contributes. In music rhythm is the organiser and energiser. Rhythmic pattern stimulates muscular action, particularly if there is a variation in the rhythm. This technique is an excellent reinforcer when it comes to people who lost feeling in their muscles and have a chance of regaining control. Some responses to music consist of spontaneous uncontrollable reflexes. In cases such as epilepsy, there may be a relation between music and the nervous discharge occurring during a fit. Various physiologic effects of music on listening can be measured. Pitches of music make a tremendous difference when it comes to physical affects. High or low pitches can produce nervous tension or relaxation. Speed or volume are known to produce a physically painful state. Recent evidence suggests that a melody can improve myocardial schemia. Studies have found that when cardiac patients listen to soothing music, heart rate, blood pressure, mean cardial pressure, cardiac complication, and anxiety are reduced and peripheral temperatures are increased. These outcomes are particularly desirable in anxious cardiac patients who already have an unstable schemis myocandium. When implementing music therapy to sooth the schemic heart, the four key elements to relaxation are a comfortable position, focused concentration, a passive attitude, and a quiet environment. The more patients practise relaxation with music, the more therapeutic it will become.

The rational or the empirical sense of music therapy, whether being positive or negative are the proof that music does play a powerful role. Now what about the spiritual and magical side of music as being a therapeutic. No culture or tribe has ever been satisfied with only the sounds of nature. The relation between music and trances is an extremely tight bond. Music in possession rituals is practised in various cultures. Music is so powerful that it is capable of affecting or altering health. Music is a form of communication, which if one is deprived of, can cause serious damage. So let us not underestimate the power of music. So, if you want to stay healthy drink milk, exercise and keep yourself around a good healthy flow of music.