Music therapy is a health profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. It has origins in ancient healing ceremonies and biblical times and was used by Hippocrates. Modern music therapy developed during World Wars I and II. Benefits include reducing stress, anxiety, depression and pain while improving mood and quality of life. Certain techniques use music to facilitate relaxation, explore emotions, and manage stress.

2.  Music Therapy is an “established health profession in which
music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address
physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of
individuals.” -American Music Therapy Association
 There are many different approaches to music therapy,
including creating music, listening to music, and talking
about music. Although music therapy is often used to
promote mental and emotional health, it may also help
improve quality of life for people coping with physical health
conditions

3.  The exact origin of music itself is
unknown, but the use of music in healing
ceremonies in an ancient practice
 Music therapy goes back to biblical times
 As early as 400 BC Hippocrates played
music for his mental patients.
 Using music as a form of therapy in the
US began in the late 18th century when
Scientists began to investigate the
effects of music on the human body
 The profession of music therapy began
to develop during WWI and WWII

4. ~Benefits~
 Music’s form and structure can  Listening to music can relieve
bring order and security to depression and increase self -
disabled and distressed esteem
children. It encourages  Making music can reduce burnout
coordination and and improve mood among
communication —improving their students.
quality of life .  Music therapy significantl y
 Listening to music on reduces emotional distress and
headphones reduces stress and boosts quality of life among adult
anxiety in patients before and cancer patients
after surgery  listening to music can help the
 Music can help reduce both the brain by improving learning and
sensation and distress of both memory skills, always useful
chronic pain and postoperativ e when we’re under stress —this is
pain. known as “The Mozart Effect”

5.  Established Techniques that utilize
Music:
- When used in combination with
biofeedback techniques, music can reduce
tension and facilitate the relaxation response.
More compatible with relaxation than verbal
stimuli, which may be distracting — music is
processed mainly in nonverbal areas of the brain . ------------------------
Because music
- music-assisted therapy used has the
to explore one's own inner world and help potential to
clients to work on significant life issues, for influence us
instance, disturbing old memories, losses, both
traumata, bothering health conditions, and p s yc h o l o g i c a l l y
relationship issues. and
- Music may help people to identify and p h ys i o l o g i c a l l y,
express the feelings associated with their stress. it is an
important area
In a music therapy session, the client can express
of therapy for
these emotions, providing an important cathartic
stress
release.
m a n a g e me n t .
- Producing music in an
improvisational way, and discussing pieces of
music and lyrics in a group, can also help us
become more aware of our emotional reactions
and share them constructively with the group.

6.  Certain music is appropriate for meditation—it can help the
mind slow down and initiate the relaxation response.
 However, not all peaceful or “New Age” music works for
everyone.
 Music with no structure can be irritating or even unsettling. Gentle
music with a familiar melody more often is comforting. But search
around to find what produces a sense of calm, familiarity, and
centeredness for you as an individual.
 The sounds of nature often are incorporated into CDs made
specifically for relaxation .
 For example, the sound of water can be soothing for some people.
It can help conjure up calming images such as lying beside a
mountain stream on a warm spring day—helping to slow your mind
down and release stressful thoughts

7.  Guided Meditation with Soothing Music - Happiness In
Relationships

8.  Music acts as a distrac tion - helps to explore emotions .
 great aid to meditation, helping to prevent the mind from wandering.
 Musical preference varies widely between individuals, so only you can
decide what you like and what is suitable for each mood .
 But even if you don’t usually listen to classical music it may be worth
giving it a try when selecting the most calming music.
 When people are very stressed, there is a tendenc y to avoid actively
listening to music.
 Maybe it feels like a waste of time—not helping to achieve anything.
However, productivity increases when stress is reduced, so this is another
area where you can gain vast rewards. It just takes a small effort to begin
with.
 To incorporate music into a busy life, try playing CDs in the car, or put
the radio on when in the bath or shower. Take portable music with you
when walking the dog, or put the stereo on instead of the TV.
 Singing (or shouting) along can also be a great release of tension
 Calming music before bedtime promotes peace and relaxation and helps
to induce sleep.