The healing power of music

As we are learning more about our brain, we are realizing more and more that music, due to its inherent nature, can help us heal with its power. I believe that even the oldest cultures intrinsically knew this. As primitive mankind learned to make tools to meet their needs, they also learned to create percussion instruments. From the beginning, these instruments were considered sacred and magical; they were associated with religious and healing rites. In many cases only chosen individuals were allowed to play these instruments. The players were often priests or shaman, using their percussion instruments to drive away evil spirits and to cure sickness.

It is interesting to note that our physicians today are rediscovering the healing power of music, albeit without the driving away of spirits. Regardless if we are driving away spirits or in modern day terms, releasing anxiety and depression, we have come to realize that music releases the neurotransmitter serotonin, one of the most abundant neurotransmitters in the brain which plays an important role in the regulation of mood and a key role in the treatment of depression. Another activity which increases serotonin thereby releasing endorphins, a hormone responsible for increasing a feeling of pleasure is exercise; so if you are depressed and feeling lethargic, time to go out dancing, giving yourself a blast of both music and movement.

Maria

Tags: Anxiety And Depression, Cultures, Evil Spirits, Exercise, Healing Music, Healing Power, Key Role, Mankind, Music And Movement, Music Releases, Neurotransmitter Serotonin, Neurotransmitters In The Brain, Percussion Instruments, Physicians, Pleasure, Power Music, Power Of Music, Priests, Shaman, Treatment Of Depression

Feel the beat

Kids have an intrinsic feel for the beat of most music. To start off the very little ones, ages 18 months to 3 years, hand out percussion instruments such as wood blocks, maracas, drums, jingle bells, tambourines, etc. Show them the beat by playing a 4/4 bar.

1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4. Sing a familiar song such as “The Ants Go Marching”, “The Grand Old Duke of York” or “Itsy Bitsy Spider”, playing the beat on a drum to show them how it should sound. They will learn visually as well by watching you play. After they can play a steady beat they may enjoy marching to a couple of these songs. Their hands and feet go together, 1, 2, 3, 4, as body movement is an extra aid to the memory process.

Check out my sample of “Six Little Ducks” which is also a great one for keeping a steady beat.

Maria

Tags: Percussion Instruments

Two-year-old fun!

While handing out percussion instruments with my two-year-old class a few weeks ago, I wondered if they would be able to play the rhythm to “I Am A Fine Musician”. It goes like this.

Ta, ta, ti-ti ta.  Ta, ta, ti-ti ta.

The ta(s) are twice as long as the ti-ti(s). I asked each child to come up to the front with me for help with the rhythm. As the children came up one by one, I noticed the other kids were practicing the rhythm on their instruments by themselves.  Who would have thought? They did not consider it practicing, of course, I imagine they just got the rhythm in their head as other children were being helped. Although this technique may not work with every group of two-year-olds due to size of class, level of gross motor development, etc., it is certainly worth a try and can work in many situations. They love coming up to the front of the class, allowing the teacher to take their hand to show them the rhythm.

This hands-on activity acts as a learning aid as it is an extra aid to the memory process (Muscle memory). We use muscle memory in our everyday lives without even thinking when we brush our teeth, drive a car, throw a ball, ride a bike, go bowling, and so on. Even our speech has everything to do with muscle memory. You don’t think about forming each word, the words just come naturally if the language is your native tongue. It is said that it takes the brain 740 repetitions to learn an activity almost perfectly.

Maria

Tags: Gross Motor Development, Muscle Memory, Percussion Instruments, Repetitions, Rhythm, Two Year Olds