Music therapy – Music instead of drugs
by yoga professor Gregorian Bivolaru
The fact that in our society the individual seeks to calm down almost exclusively with the help of tranquillizers or drugs has become a common habit in our daily life. Modern man lacks the necessary willpower to overcome such awkward situations. Consequently, for him, the little jar of pills is the easiest and most convenient solution. But this does not exclude a whole series of discoveries that scientists and doctors in particular have only recently begun to make. New methods have been noticed and studied, which by their unexpected depth and their unexpected results make any of the allopathic or artificial interventions unnecessary.
In this article we will deal with music and its benefits. Music is created for people and it can make them feel better, when wisely used. Why, therefore should we not enjoy such help? “Who seeks finds,” says an old saying. This form of courage, which will give the willpower and the daring to investigate, is often rewarded by an important revealing discovery.
Music effect
From time immemorial, man has used sound and music for therapeutic purposes and in his religious practices, as well. When we feel irresistibly attracted by music we have to admit, undoubtedly, that it carries a definite influence on our spirit. Sometimes music becomes exalted, and various religious songs, rituals, and certain forms of musical accompaniment have aimed at raising the human being to a higher spiritual level. In addition, music tends to restore the individual to his true origin and essence.
It is therefore obvious that music is a means of healing and harmonizing the individual as a whole. Through music, man can get rid, in time, of certain bad habits; in this respect, for instance the influence of harmonious sounds on decreasing psychological tension was noticed a long time ago and, hence, on reducing aggressive behaviour.
Although music therapy is a recent form of treatment in modern medicine, it has been recognized as such and has existed for centuries.
At the ‘’Music and Medicine” Congress in Lüdenscheid, 1984, one of the main conclusions reached was that music reduces stress. Currently, however, many other conclusions have been drawn regarding the effect of music on the individual. Thus, relaxing music reduces blood pressure and slows down heart rate. A student from San Francisco has experienced playing certain classical music fragments to a group of 28 prematurely born children and has observed in an obvious way that they became stronger and started growing faster.
Music means vibration, and some people automatically react to it. The Australian Clynes, author of a remarkable work, “Music, mind and brain’’, distinguished different forms of vibrations, according to the type of feeling which they express. It is therefore necessary to make a clear distinction between the vibrations corresponding to anger, sadness, fear (all of which are negative, evil vibrations) and those expressing love, optimism, joy and other positive emotions.
These essential vibrations, as they are called, are found in all major musical compositions. They are the so-called primary vibrations which, metaphorically speaking, are partially superimposed on the individual’s genetic code and thus can be recognized.
A large study conducted by researchers showed that humanity, even since ancient times, has reacted to sounds. There are all kinds of vibrations, of joy, pleasure, confidence, fear, anger, mistrust, etc. These vibrations which are closely connected to the bioenergetic structure and the aura of the human being, create a certain resonance, which is scientifically expressed in relation to the nervous system.
Creating music means finding therefore the accord or the accurate harmony to impress the public.
Methods of Action in Music therapy
To make effective use of music, by the end of the therapy it is necessary to select the type of music which is appropriate to the individual’s emotional predispositions. For example, people who feel unwell or who are depressed should not be provided from the beginning with an agreeable, cheerful, toning music. Rather, it will be better to start with some melancholic music. Or someone who suffers from fear should not listen at the beginning, for example, to Beethoven’s 7th Symphony, which is very cheerful, spreading confidence and optimism. For such a person it would be more appropriate one of Bach’s compositions.
The first requirement would be, therefore, to intuitively feel and plug in the right music on the frequency of the person being treated. In this case it is required to choose songs that reflect his state of mind as well as possible. This will create through resonance a certain bridge between the individual and the respective therapeutic method used (in our case MUSIC). Only afterwards we will be able to switch, little by little, to some music that will inspire the patient with more confidence. The whole process should take place gradually and the stages will follow prudently, in small steps. Never create the impression of sudden shocks or changes.
Music is able to transform your being
The use of the knowledge of music therapy can provide great benefits to modern man. Their intelligent practice will allow the individual to maintain perfect control upon his state of mind and even, in advanced stages, through perseverance, to make him more harmonious. Nowadays, people are distracted by different problems and temptations, facing a huge amalgam of mental and emotional experiences. In such cases, they can be helped and effectively rebalanced with the help of appropriate music.
Everything is subject to the law of duality. Regarding music therapy we must always take into account the complementary contrasts below:
Joy – Melancholy
Triumph – Sentimentality
Force – Gentleness
Greatness – Compassion
Indirectly, through music, elevated states of mind will be generated or negative attitudes changed. So, above all, appropriate music for the emotion and the inner present structure of the individual’s soul will be used. If he has feelings of sadness, then, for the beginning a series of songs that express sadness and melancholy would be the best one. Thereafter, music marked by more joy will be gradually introduced. It is good to know and to remember that each transition in music therapy has to be made step by step and with care. Music binds us to the deepest fibers of our being. And since every man is marked by his own individuality, it is not mad to imagine that in the future, for instance, appropriate personalized music for everyone will be able to be prescribed, music which will fit like a glove on his inner feeling and structure.
Sentimentalism:
BACH: Brandenburg Concertos no. 1 and no. 3
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9, Part 3
DEBUSSY: Nocturnes
DIABELLI: Romance
RACHMANINOV: Concerto no. 2, Adagio, opus 27
SCHUMAN: Arabesc
CEAIKOVSCKI: Concerto no. 2 for violin, canzonet, opus 35
VIVALDI: The Four Seasons (especially “Winter”)
Sadness:
BRAHMS: Concerto no. 2 for piano, the 3rd, opus 83
DEBUSSY: Moonlight
MAHLER: Symphony No. 4, Part 3
SAINT-SAENS: Carnival of animals
WAGNER: Overture Tanhauser
Music ragas (Indian): e.g. BHAIRAVA
Balance:
ALBINONI: Symphony concert no. 5, opus 2
BACH: Area
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto no. 5 in B flat Major, opus 73
DEBUSSY: Sacred and Profane Dances
GOUNOT: Religious for St. Cecilia
HOLST: Planets (Venus)
MOZART: Concerto for flute and harp no. 2, andante, K2999
Gentleness:
BEETHOVEN: Concerto no. 3 for piano, the 3rd, opus 37
DVORJAK: Bagatelle no. 3, opus 47
HAYDEN: Concerto for Cello in C, Part One
HOLST: The planets (Neptune)
MAHLER: Scenes from Alsace
MASSENET: Symphony no. 4, first part
Joy:
BEETHOVEN: Symphony no. 7, opus 92 , first part
BRUCH: Concerto no. 1 for violin, opus 26
HAYDN: Military symphony, no. 100, first part
MAHLER: Symphony no. 4, Part 2
RACHMANINOV: Symphony no. 2, Allegro molto, opus 27
CEAIKOVSCKI: Sleeping Beauty
Triumph:
BEETHOVEN: 5th Symphony
HOLST: Planets (Mars)
MASSENET: Scenes from Alsace 2, 4
RAVEL: Bolero
SIBELIUS: Finlandia
SMETANA: My Motherland II Vltava
PINK FLOYD: Atom Heart Mother
PAUL SIMON & GARFUNKEL: Bridge over troubled water
Vigor:
BACH: Brandenburg Concerto no. 2
DVORJAK: Concerto for Cello in and minors, the 3rd, opus 104
GOUNOT: Religious for St. Cecilia
STRAUSS: Death and the transfiguration, transfiguration
MAHALIA JACKSON: Abide With Me
Solemnity:
BERLIOZ: Harold in Italy, pilgrims procession
BRAHMS: Symphony No.1, German Requiem
yogaesoteric
July 2010
