Music is Life; Music is therapy

Many scientific experiments, studies, and research projects have been carried out to discover the therapeutic value of music on the human psyche. Music helps to bring about a positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay. 

Shakespeare once wrote: "If music be the food of love, play on." These are true and profound words, but the lyricist failed to mention that music is not just nourishment for the heart, but also for the soul.

Music does more than create a groovy effect; it surrounds our world; it is on the radio, in our cars, on the TV, and in our homes…it is simply indispensable! We come across it in classical concerts, weddings, churches; even humming some tunes to yourself while taking a shower gives you a feel of a great day. 

An analysis by Daniel Levitin, a prominent psychologist, who studies the neuroscience of music at McGill University in Montreal, and his colleagues highlighted a variety of evidence that music is therapeutic in nature. For instance, one study showed music's anti-anxiety properties, while another found that music was associated with higher levels of immunoglobin A, an antibody linked to immunity. 

Several scientific studies have also proven overtime the positive value of music therapy on the body, mind, and spirit of children and adults. The power of music affects the soul because when you are listening to music, it has a great effect on your mood and your wave of thought. It has been found to decrease the overall intensity of the patient's experience of pain and can sometimes result in a reduced dependence on pain medication.

Music offers many other benefits; such benefits include:

Ø  Apprehension and fear

Ø  Improves mood

Ø  Lowers blood pressure

Ø  Relieves depression and sleeplessness

Ø  Provides relaxation

Why music is therapy 

Music is a core function in our brain. Our brain is primed early to respond to and process music. Research has shown that day-old infants are able to detect differences in rhythmic patterns. Mothers across cultures and throughout time have used lullabies and rhythmic rocking to calm crying babies. It has also being observed by pregnant mothers that babies kick in the womb at a sound of music.

We have physiologic responses to music. Every time we listen to music, our breathing quickens, your heart-rate increases, or you feel a shiver down your spine, which shows that your body is responding physiologically to music.

Music taps into our emotions. Have you ever felt sad and lonely? Music has a way of tapping into the emotional system. The ability for music to easily access our emotions is beneficial for music therapists.

Music enhances learning. Music is an effective mnemonic device and makes it easier to quickly recollect what has been learned. This is obvious in the way kids acquire knowledge faster in school by using music as a tool to enhance learning.

Music is inspiring. The inspiration that music brings is unquantifiable. It is inexplicable.

There is no disputing the fact that music has a value which affects one of our prime senses. That people respond to music is a foregone conclusion; what now matters is how the response can be tempered and turned to something more positive and more conclusive to enrich lives.