Music as Therapy

Music -- A Universally Understood Form of Communication and Expression

Music is part of our spirit, our soul, our very being.  It's essential to our well-being, and is successfully being used as therapy for disabled individuals.  Listening to music and making music provide benefits for different disabilities.

I played clarinet in school and my special guy friend, Paul, plays guitar.  We both had music as strong influences throughout our childhood.  And music is one of the main things that brought us together.  When I asked him what was the biggest factor to cause him to make the transition from listening to music to playing music, he said, "Seeing the Beatles perform on the "Ed Sullivan Show" -- an event which truly changed the face of America's culture.  With a sly grin, he then said, "And I keep playing to justify my expensive guitar habit!"

Everyone responds to music in some way.  Even when people can't speak the same language, they find a sense of community and ways to express themselves through music.

In future blogs posts, I want to explore a variety of therapy programs that benefit those with disabilities.  This will include music programs for autism/savant syndrome, traumatic brain injury and as relaxation therapy.  I would also be interested in hearing about your experiences and opinions on music as therapy.

Lily  :)

Disaboom

"If there ain't music in the next life, I ain't going."  ~ Paul Vadakin