More than meets the ear

There are a variety of ways to help make someone feel better in this world, whether they feel physically, emotionally or mentally ill. One method in particular is beginning to gain more attention: music therapy.

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.

Music therapists can complete an approved undergraduate or graduate program in over seventy universities throughout the United States, including Marylhurst University in Lake Oswego, where one can receive a Bachelor of Music Therapy.

Jodi Winnwalker, founder and director of Earthtones Music Therapy Services, has been working with music therapy for more than 30 years in the Portland area.

“Music therapy benefits everyone, everywhere from prenatal to hospice care, from womb to tomb, from birth to death,” Winnwalker said.

People turn to music therapy for all sorts of reasons, including the promotion of physical health and wellness to manage stress, alleviate pain, improve mood, decrease anxiety and depression and increase social interaction and self-expression.

Music therapy has been widely used for people with mental disorders, developmental and learning disabilities, substance abuse, brain injuries, physical disabilities and Alzheimer’s disease.

Earthtones has been going to different retirement communities such as Avamere at Sherwood and Springs in Tanasbourne to help with memory and Alzheimer’s.

“Evidenced-based music interventions can help decrease agitation, depression, increase orientation, enliven memory and help persons retain or develop new skills,” Winnwalker said.

With seasonal musical themes, music therapy can assist people who may have trouble orienting time and place, such as people affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Music therapy can also help people with Parkinson’s disease. With music therapy, you can take non-musical goals such as speech and motor coordination and accompany those with musical skills such as singing. Because music is so universal, it can be in any language.

Through music therapy, musical games promote cognitive processes through recall, decision-making and social interaction. With that social interaction, people who may otherwise be isolated can have positive interactions with others, which is particularly important in senior care facilities or for people with disorders.

People with physical disorders can also benefit from music therapy. With movement and dance strength, coordination and mobility are being promoted. Through music-assisted relaxation, stress reduction and pain management are possible.

Along with the aforementioned benefits, music therapy is also beneficial to healthy individuals. It can reduce stress through activity such as drumming or aid in relaxation through passive listening.

A person does not need to possess any sort of musical skill or talent whatsoever to reap the benefits of music therapy; the ability to relax can be greatly enhanced by simply listening.

Clearly, music therapy is important. The work that music therapists do can help anyone and everyone. From people who are happy and healthy to those suffering from depression, anxiety or Alzheimer’s. It seems as if the limits are endless for music therapy; it’s almost like magic. Music therapy can reach anyone due to its universality and, because it does not always require active participation, patients can even be bedridden. The environment of music therapy sessions is all-inclusive, everyone can take some part of it.

“Music, as an adaptive medium, offers each person the opportunity to sing their own song, beat their own drum or toot their own horn,” Winnwalker said. This form of therapy is a necessity and it is vital that the world is aware of the benefits and everything that music therapy has to offer.  ?