It’s believed that music has been used since practically the beginning of time to help humans deal with difficult feelings and better connect to one another.
According to the American Music Therapy Association, “Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.”
Whether you need help socially, cognitively, physically, emotionally, or developmentally, music can help you get better.
So here are top 8 brain-based reasons why music works in therapy:
1. Music is a core function in our brain
Our brain is primed early on to respond to and process music. We don’t yet know why, but our brains are wired to respond to music, even though it’s not “essential” for our survival.
2. Our bodies entrain to rhythm
Our bodies entrain to rhythm. Our motor systems naturally entrain, or match, to a rhythmic beat. It’s how we dance to music, tap our foot to a rhythm, and walk in time to a beat.
3. Children respond to music
Children learn through music, art, and play, so it’s important to use those mediums when working with children in therapy.
4. Music taps into our emotions
Have you ever listened to a piece of music and smiled? Or felt sad? Whether from the music itself, or from our associations with the music, music taps into our emotional systems.
5. Music enhances learning
Music is an effective mnemonic device and can “tag” information, not only making it easy to learn, but also easy to later recall.
6. Music taps into our memories
Have you ever been driving, heard a song on the radio, then immediately been taken to a certain place, a specific time in your life, or a particular person? Music is second only to smell for it’s ability to stimulate our memory in a very powerful way.
7. Music is a social experience
Our ancestors bonded and passed on their stories and knowledge through song, stories, and dance. Many of our music experiences are shared with a group, whether playing in band or an elementary music class, listening to jazz at a restaurant, or singing in church choir.
8. Music is predictable
Music is predictable, structured, and organized–and our brain likes it! Even sound waves that make up a single tone or an entire chord are organized in mathematical ratios–and our brains really like this predictability and structure.
Music has certainly proved its incredible effect on many aspects of our lives. From healing to enhancing, music has undeniably reached and connected with the souls of many.
This is why many musicians cotinuously incoporated healing into their creations. in March 2018, Dana Leong and like-minded musicians, Grammy Nominated Hawaii artist Keali’i Reichel, renowned singer Rimi Natsukawa and music producer Shawn Pimental worked together on their shared mission of healing music. They met up while on tour in Japan.
(left to right) Shawn Pimental, Keali’i Reichel, Dana Leong
Dana Leong, along with Rimi Natsukawa and Shawn Pimental attended the closing show of Keali’i Reichel’s 2018 Japan Tour. It was an awe-inspiring moment witnessing Keali’i Reichel’s healing energy.
(left to right) Dana Leong, Rimi Natsukawa, Shawn Pimental
