The Health Benefits of Listening to Music

"If music is the medicine of the soul let it play on", so said a playwright. I think the made the statement because probably he got some relieve from music. Music has some strange healing ability. Read on, you will understand the picture I'm trying to paint.

Research has shown that stress can be handled by music. Music enters into the brain cells thus affecting the human brain. Medical scientists have proven that a person that is stressed out can actually listen to some kind of music and become well. How? The researchers said that since stress comes as a result of life events such as starting a new family, starting a new business, starting a new job, and relocating to a new place, one can actually listen to good music and feel good because as stress touches the human mind negatively so good music also touches the human mind positively. Music helps you to forget the stressful life events and remember the momentous events that once happened in your life.

Depression is a disease caused by so many factors including stress, alcoholic addiction, drug abuse or addiction, smoking, social problems such as unemployment, family crisis, divorce, conflict, and imprisonment. Depression is also caused by economic problems such as poverty, and failure in business. Depression is characterized by weakness, headache, confusion, and loss of concentration. Good music makes one to remember happy moments or good days; if you play music about love it makes you feel like falling in love again though you have had several heartbreaks. And such good feeling makes you healthy.

Anxiety is another health problem that can be controlled by music. Anxiety is a side effect of some major health problems such as cancer of the liver and cancer of the breast. Good music makes you feel relaxed and eliminates the pains inherited from these diseases. It removes every factor responsible for anxiety and makes you feel all right.

Cool good music helps to control your breathing and heart rate. Poor breathing rate could be as a result of lung problems such as common cold, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. Good music helps to calm down the cells and tissues that make up the lungs thereby bringing down the patient's breathing and heart rate to normal.

Good music can send you to sleep. And you need to know that sleep puts your body in a healthy condition. Sleep takes away the effects of stress, depression and anxiety from a person.

You don't have to underrate the power of good music. It performs unimaginable wonders. I think music should be classified as one of the wonders of the world. It is a universal language spoken by everyone across the world.

Play good music when you feel unhealthy and it will certainly ease off some of those nasty pains.

Rhythm the Trance Massage and free music

How Music Enhances Healing - A Personal Journey of Discovery

As a Healing Touch Practitioner, who has practiced and taught for over a decade, I have been able to see how music enhances healing. When music is intentionally combined with healing modalities, there is a longer lasting effect. It gently invites clients to relax and let go, allowing a deeper level of healing to occur. I have not only seen this effect from a facilitating perspective, but from a personal one as well.

In the fall of 2003, I suffered a right rotator cuff injury. I was referred to a local massage therapist, but because of the pain in my shoulder, I felt apprehensive about having it massaged. Before the session began he turned on some soothing music, and before long, I was floating away, relaxing so that he could gently work the muscles necessary.

After the session, I wanted to know more about the music he had used, because it had such a calming effect on me. As the client, I had experienced firsthand what I had perceived as the practitioner - the importance of music as part of the healing session. Part of the magic was the length of the pieces he played, and I wanted to know more about that as well.

He told me it was original music that he had composed, based on his desire as a massage therapist, for music that would calm the lake of the mind, quiet all the voices in the head, and invite the listener to go to a sacred space. He found that by making his compositions much longer than normal, it lends itself well to his desire to have the music be as calming as possible. It creates the space for his clients to really let go, and it helps him to stay calm and centered as well.

This led to a long conversation about the healing power of music, especially when used with intention. We talked about how slow melodic music can help balance the body and reduce stress. At the end of our conversation, he gifted me a copy of the CD he had used so I could play it at home.

A few days later my shoulder was starting to ache again. I decided to listen to the CD while I laid down to rest. As I heard the music, I found myself remembering the massage and my body started to relax. By the end of the CD, the pain in my shoulder had lessened.
At my next massage appointment I shared my experience. He shared similar experiences which both he and his clients had encountered.

It is clear to us that playing music during Healing Touch, massage, Reiki, chiropractic, acupuncture or other integrative health care modalities, and then providing the client with the music to use between sessions, acts as a stimulus to help the body remember (on a cellular level) the healing experience of the session. When listened to over and over, the music re-creates a mood... a feeling... a reflective place within.

The gentleman in my story is now not only my business partner, but my life partner. We have combined our experiences as a massage therapist and a Healing Touch practitioner, along with his musical abilities, to create a business, which makes and promotes "Music for Healthy Living". From our own experience and the feedback from clients, we know music helps people to be in the moment, reduce stress, increase deep breathing, and relax deeply - which all benefit the healing process.

I would like to invite you to be a part of this new wave of "Music for Healthy Living". Experience for yourself how music enhances healing in your life. The Crystal Clear Music Collection, the Chakra Meditation Music CD, and Crystal Clear II with The Triad Wave make wonderful additions to any music collection. Each provides a perfect blend of tempo and melodic sounds, soothing the listener into a calm, relaxed state. For more information, please visithttp://www.twinflamesproduction.com.

Teaching Kids Music - Six Tips For Non Musical Parents Who Want to Grow Musical Kids

It can be difficult for a parent to know the right decisions about music for their child, especially if the parent doesn't have a strong musical background.

Here are a few tips to help you

Don't wait for your child to show an interest - music is an innate part of being human and plays important roles in brain development, emotional health, motor development, and more.

Many parents take a wait and see approach to music and will often only go to the effort for children who are showing some interest or aptitude. However, just like learning a language, music is best learned at a very young age.

Consider it as important as the 3 R's. Since music helps improve a child's abilities with the 3 R's, then it's really a win-win.

Potential Outcomes - Remember that music is as much about the process as it is about outcome. A musical activity may seem small or inconsequential, but it is usually very significant. Every small task creates an imprint. It's like a musical bank account. It develops the brain, it creates muscle memory, it helps make an emotional connection.... These are all very important. Music is not an instant gratification process and that's a good thing. Encourage your child to strive to do better, but find the balance so music can blossom rather than become a ride on a treadmill.

Where to Start - Don't rush your child into private study of a musical instrument too soon. Many parents want to start their kids in piano at 3, 4, or 5 years old. Unless your child has such an interest in a particular instrument that they can't think of anything else, it is best to start them in general music classes. There are many classes like this for young children. They focus on helping the child learn to listen, how to feel the beat, how to interact with music. As the child gets older they slowly progress adding things as they are developmentally ready.

If a child starts on a musical level before they are developmentally ready it can backfire. The child can get frustrated and may become determined never to play the instrument again.

You are not too late - Even if your child is already school age or a teenager, go ahead and get them started. It's not like an invisible window closes and you've completely missed it. It is ideal to start young, especially to give your child the opportunity to develop enough for advanced study, but don't get discouraged if you didn't understand that sooner.

Practice makes experience - Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes experience. The point of practice is to build skill and understanding. The amount of time spent in practice should be in line with goals and developmental levels. For most young and beginning musicians teachers expect about a half hour a day.

Studies have shown that short bursts of music practice are as effect as long sessions. Even six focused five minute sessions are very beneficial. It may be difficult for you or your child to sit down for half an hour with the busy schedules families have these days. Scheduling five, ten, or fifteen minute sessions is very doable for most people.

Remember to keep the time focused. Help your child decide what they are going to work on when they sit down and guide them to spend the session doing that. It can be anything that isn't quite right including mastering a tricky measure, improving tone or keeping the tempo steady. Be sure to spend time looking at the music more deeply, not just playing through it.

Time for fun - Be sure to allow time for fun. There's a time for discipline and a time for play. The beauty of discipline is that it makes the play much richer. The danger of discipline alone is the joy of the music is often lost. Many times the actions we take when we are just playing around are some of the best practice experiences.

Just remember to keep things in perspective, continue to find the balance between discipline and fun. This is a growing process in itself.

To learn Simple Ways Music Can Improve your Day to Day Life subscribe to the FREE 4-Part mini-course athttp://www.ourmusicalhome.com. You are invited to share your thoughts, questions, and experiences by commenting at http://www.ourmusicalhome.com. This blog is dedicated to helping individuals and families to know and experience music in deeper ways.

The Importance of Music in Development

To learn an instrument such as the violin or clarinet takes years. The job opportunities for musicians are scarce and competition is fierce. Then why are more people than ever before paying a lot of good cash to get their children the best music tuition they can afford?

The secret lies in the impact of music on the whole person. Diverse sources detail the influence that learning a musical instrument has on children and even on adults. Occupational therapists are currently recommending to parents of children who struggle with schoolwork, to let them learn an instrument. This, along with horse riding and swimming, has become a bit of a pet recommendation.

It has been found that learning a musical instrument actually increases a person's IQ over time. Different instruments and different types of music have varying effect, with classical music and the string family (violin, viola, cello) coming out on top, potentially increasing your IQ by up to 12 points! In certain regions of Europe, music in schools is now a mandatory subject once more.

When is a good time to start learning music? Experts have found that even the fetus in the womb can benefit from listening to classical music. Surround yourself and your family with good music from the first. Toddlers love banging on stuff and playing xylophone, or tooting on recorders and mouth organs. The Suzuki Violin Method teaches children from the age of 3 years violin, with two lessons per week, one single and one in a group setup. From preschool, children can learn to read music and play from sheet music. Progress in learning your instrument is directly proportional to the amount of practicing.

Is there such a thing as an unmusical child? Shinichi Suzuki proposes that music is the native home language of all human beings and therefore nobody can be "unmusical". Of course there are exceptional talents, compared to which others may seem to be slower learners.

Is there any benefit for adults in starting an instrument? Apart from the purely relaxing aspect, yes. Learning an instrument can earn even adults additional IQ points, and as an added benefit it improves your health by reducing your stress levels. Your social life may benefit too, if you are prepared to come out of your box and join occasions such as Ceilidhs (musical get-togethers) or arrange house concerts. It has been established that people who play instruments tend to be more emotionally balanced and more patient with themselves, others and life in general.

So go ahead, sign up for that amateur orchestra, dust off your old trombone or take your first real six-string from the summer of '69 down from the attic; get out there and play!

Lyz Russo http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fStoreID=1716949

Music - Medicine For The Heart

The power of music to integrate and cure. . . is quite fundamental. It is the profoundest nonchemical medication. - Oliver Sacks "Awakenings"

Music as a healing force goes back several centuries. Apollo was worshipped by the Greeks as the god of both music and medicine. Healing and sound were considered a highly developed sacred science in the Egyptian and Greek education systems. Soon after World War I and World War II, community musicians of all types, both amateur and professional, serenaded veterans, suffering both physical and emotional trauma from the wars. The medical profession is now embracing the value of music in the healing or palliative care of a wide variety of patients: the chronically or terminally ill, the disabled, the neurologically impaired, and the mentally challenged. Music therapy programs are popping up in hospitals and treatment centers around the country.

Heart disease is the primary cause of death in the United States. Those who suffer from heart disease either die prematurely or suffer a marked decrease in quality of life. Increasing evidence is proving that music is soothing for the heart. Marconato and collegues reported in the Arq Bras Cardiol. in 2001, decreased stress levels and increased personal satisfaction, higher consumption of fiber-rich food, lower cholesterol intake, and a better perspective on life in people on receptive music therapy . White in the American Journal of Critical Care in 1999 showed that in patients with an acute heart attack, music therapy was associated with reductions in heart rate, respiratory rate, and myocardial oxygen demand. Guzzetta went further and reported in Heart Lung in 1989, that the incidence of cardiac complications was found to be lower in patients admitted to the coronary care unit with a presumptive diagnosis of heart attack, if they were subjected to music and relaxation therapy. Thorgaard and associates reported in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing in 2004 that specially selected music had a positive effect on the well being of patients and their opinion on the sound environment during invasive cardiac procedures. Other studies have demonstrated health benefits of music during and after cardiac surgery.

Music has other benefits too. "Simply put, music can heal people." -- Senator Harry Reid, Nevada. As a therapeutic modality, music interventions are able to promote wellness, manage stress, combat depression, alleviate pain, relax or sedate, express feelings, enhance memory, improve communication, and promote physical rehabilitation. Therapeutic music enhances an individual's self-awareness and spiritual growth, brightens their perspective on life and this results in increasing his or her quality of life

German author, Johann G. Seume expressed, “Music is the key to the female heart.” Love is intimately connected to music. Henry Ward Beecher (1813-87), American clergyman sang, “Of all the music that reaches farthest into heaven, it is the beating of a loving heart.” Music helps conquer loneliness. Lawrence Pat Conroy, said,” Without music, life is a journey through a desert.” Music can help combat depression and anxiety. George Eliot (1819-80), British writer announced, “There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.” Music has its spiritual benefits too. Every religion has incorporated music in its fabric. Basketball coach, Red Auerbach, who was elected to the basketball hall of fame in 1969, preached, “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Music helps laborers lessen their burden and helps their time pass faster. It also acts as an uniting force in all aspects of life.

Musical therapist and teacher , Pastor Hal A. Lingerman, said, “Just as certain selections of music will nourish your physical body and your emotional layer, so other musical works will bring greater health to your mind.” And as he correctly remarked, not all music is created equal. Several studies have shown that relaxing music (Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart) results in a significant reduction of heart rate and also a significant reduction of heart rate variability, both benefitting the heart. The human heart rate tends to synchronize with the tempo of the music. Fast tempos drive up heartbeats, breathing and blood pressure, and may be detrimental to the cardiovascular system. Enjoy slower tempo music and relax - and as the American writer, Henry Miller penned, “Music is a beautiful opiate, if you don't take it too seriously.”

Guitarist Frank Zappa, winner of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 said, “Remember, information is not knowledge; knowledge is not wisdom; wisdom is not truth; truth is not beauty; beauty is not love; love is not music; music is the best.“ Integrate music into your daily life regimen. It will enhance your life. And more importantly, it may help soothe and even heal your heart. So do not be surprised if your doctor says, ”Listen to two slow classical tunes and call me in the morning.”

Dr. Shashi K. Agarwal is a Board Certified Internist and Cardiologist with a private practice in New York City and New Jersey. He is also a diplomate of the American Board of Holistic Medicine and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.

Music is a Remedy For Whatever Ails You

It is a well-known fact that listening to music has a positive affect on our brain waves and physiology. Whether we need to slow down or speed up, music can help us go where we need to go. Music therapy is used for pain management, to promote healing, reduce stress, and to stimulate brain activity. Brainwaves can affect breathing and heart rate.

Music has been shown to reduce blood pressure and to alleviate depression. Both of these conditions can be life threatening and if something as simple as listening to music can help, it should be part of our healthy lifestyle.

A little relaxation and pleasure can actually protect us from making ourselves physically sick from stress, which is a very real possibility.

Music can benefit our state of mind even after we stop listening to it, and unlike drugs, music is completely safe. (Safe as long as we don't blast it too loud, which has the total opposite affect, and can damage our hearing). Even dental offices are piping in music. This has the benefit of giving people who are in a state of anxiety, something else to focus on.

Dancing to music is a much more natural and pleasant way to help lose weight and to promote circulation than boring gym machines or repetitive exercises. Having said that, music can also make the gym or exercising more pleasant. Whether you like rock and roll, classical, jazz, or gospel music, and listen in the car, at home, or at work, there are many ways we can benefit from hearing music in the background.

So listen up!