HealthWise Living

Posted By Brenda on October 2, 2007

Does music carry you away?

Ahh- “Still the One” by Orleans…for my husband and me, this is one of those songs that causes us to pause wherever we are, to gaze in each other’s eyes and hold each other tight. There are others, like Willie Nelson’s “Blue Skies” or Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street” that remind us of moments when we were dating; or “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins when we were on a fun trip with our kids; memories which are forever connected through time with the songs.But music does even more than remind us of moments in our lives. Even in the 3rd century A.D. Philostratus in his Apollonius noted “That he (Canus, a Rhodian fiddler,) would make a melancholy man merry, and him that was merry much merrier than before, a lover more enamoured, a religious man more devout.”Music is even used therapeutically, as noted by the American Music Therapy Association:“Music Therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages. Music therapy improves the quality of life for persons who are well and meets the needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses. Music therapy interventions can be designed to:

· promote wellness
· manage stress
· alleviate pain
· express feelings
· enhance memory
· improve communication
· promote physical rehabilitation.

Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in a wide variety of healthcare and educational settings.”

We see that music has a profound effect on our health, through the Goods of the Soul. Be sure to ‘tune in’ to the next episode in the Mood Music series as we take a closer look at this health and music connection. Meanwhile, take a trip down the music memory road with me again for Willie Nelson’s “Blue Skies”. Enjoy!

Category: Soul
Tags: Music, Soul