Sawyer 1

Regan Sawyer
Malcolm Campbell
UWRT 1103
11/2016

Rewind The Mind: Music Therapy and Psychiatric Illness

Music is therapy. Music moves people. It connects people in ways no other medium can. It
pulls on the heart strings. It acts as medicine.
-Macklemore
Did you know that out of all other activities in the world, music is the only one that
utilizes every part of your brain at once? Scientists have studied music and its effect on people
for so long, and theyre just beginning to understand all it can do. After exposing individuals to
music and recording their brain activity, Finnish scientists discovered that music not only utilizes
the auditory portion of the brain, but it also creates pulse recruits in motor areas of the braininsinuating that music and movement are closely intertwined. Limbic areas of the brain are also
triggered. This is the part of the brain associated with emotions. (Suomen Akatemia, Music

Lights Up the Whole Brain).

Music is a very powerful thing, and can change lives in more ways than one. In fact,
music can reverse the effects of Alzheimers disease, Dementia, Depression, and some other
psychological ailments for which there is no cure. How do we go about reversing these effects?
We use a method known as Music Therapy. Music Therapy is a type of therapy that uses music
to help patients with cognitive, emotional, and social disabilities. Each patient is analyzed and
after identifying their strengths and weaknesses, the patients are given a therapist who is

Sawyer 2
qualified to provide the indicated treatment. Whether it be singing, creating, dancing to, or
listening to music. Music Therapy also provides avenues for communication for patients who

have difficulty expressing themselves through speech. (The American Music Therapy
Association, What is Music Therapy?). Music Therapy came to America in the 18th century, but
its existence dates back to ancient times. There are records of using music as a form of medicine
in biblical scriptures, and historical writings about ancient civilizations including Rome, Greece,
Egypt, China, and India (University

of Hospitals at Cleveland, Music as Medicine). An example

of this can be found in I Samuel 16: 14-23, now the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and
an evil spirit of the Lord tormented him. And Sauls servants said to him: see, now an evil spirit
from God is tormenting you. Let our Lord now command the servants who attend you to look for
someone who is skillful in playing the Lyre; and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he
will play it, and you will feel better (Anonymous, Music Therapy and The Bible). This verse is
a very early example of using music as a form of medicine. When Saul was tormented by an evil
spirit, it was believed that hearing music from the Lyre would help relieve his pain. Ancient
Greece is another ancient civilization that used music as medicine. In ancient Greece, it was
believed that music had a mathematical relationship to the cosmos (Growney). And so the
ancient Greek philosophers thought it could serve a therapeutic service. Grecians in manic states
were told to listen to the flute, because it had a calming effect. There were also places known as
Healing Shrines, where not only physicians, but musicians or hymn specialists, worked to help
treat illnesses. After the plague of Sparta in 600 B.C, it was believed that the music of Thales
cured the disease (Growney). Grecians were very dependent on music as medicine. In fact, they
were so dependent, they even used music to treat hangovers! (Growney). Plato, a Greek

Sawyer 3
philosopher believed that music had an influence on personality. He called music the medicine
of the soul (Growney). Plato had a theory known as the Theory of Correspondence, which
stated that musica mundane, or the heavenly harmony of the music of the spheres, had either a
positive or negative effect on musica humana, or earthly souls. Plato believed that music went
through re-harmonizing just as the human body goes through re-balancing, thus music has
therapeutic value (Growney).
Music therapy did not have such luck in the Middle Ages, however. Many of the theories
from Greek philosophers and ancient texts were dismissed. Religion, however is something that
helped keep music therapy alive. St. Basil believed that music brought worshipers together, and
to higher states of being. Boethius believed that music had the power to improve the morals of
men. Music and its mystical powers did not reach too terribly far from the religion aspect, but
there were some instances where music was used in a non-sacred way. Arab countries, for
instance, used music as treatment for psychiatric patients in mental wards. While many believed
that mental illnesses were a curse from God, Arabs believed that mental illnesses were a gift
from God. Constantinople was one of the first places to use music therapy to treat psychiatric
illnesses rather than using music in a religious manner (Growney). During the renaissance, an
Italian composer named Gioseffo Zarlino believed that music had healing abilities. Zarlino
claimed that music could treat depression, mania, the plague, and pain relief. He even went as far
to say that music had the power to restore hearing loss (Growney).
As years progressed, music therapy became even more popular. In the WWII era, music
therapy came to America (Music as Medicine). In the year 1943, music therapy became an
official part of the reconditioning of soldiers (Growney), and soon military officials became

Sawyer 4
aware of the affect music had on their soldiers. Soldiers who were exposed to music had more
confidence in not only themselves but their comrades. For wounded soldiers, upholding a
positive morale was very important to their healing process, and music therapy seemed to be
helping them do just that. Many hospitals made music therapy mandatory for their soldiers
simply because music allowed them to come together as a group and release emotion- something
soldiers who had just came home from battle needed (Sullivan, 2007). Some neuropsychiatric
wards had patients who could not be reached by anything but music. Many men laid in bed all
day, with no movement and no speech, but when music began to play they danced and sang
along (Rob, 1999).
Its amazing how music can affect us. We may think we are in control of our emotions
and our brains, but often we are wrong. There are illnesses that can wipe the brain clean of
memory, of common sense, of speech, of movement. But music is the saving grace that brings
back some of the memory. In todays age, music therapy is often used in Alzheimers care units,
Dementia care units, and many other rehabilitation centers. Music therapy is also used to help
children with Autism, ADD, and Downs Syndrome develop motor skills, communication skills,
and channel energy. John Carpente, for example, runs a music therapy clinic in New York, called
the Rebecca Center for Music Therapy. He is also a licensed music therapist, and uses his talent
to help Alzheimers and Dementia patients reclaim their lives. Carpente claims that by getting
elderly people together and exposing them to live music, they are able to outwardly express their
emotions and recall memories that the music brings back to them. He also claims that by
listening to and creating live music, a greater quality of life is possible. Carpente notes that his
music therapy program helps Dementia patients improve their quality of life by doing the

Sawyer 5
following: memory recalls, overall improvement of mood, a sense of control over their own life,
a non-pharmacological management of discomfort or pain, promoting interest, promoting
rhythmic or vocal stimulation and helping their overall physical rehabilitation, and the ability to
interact socially with others.
Music therapy can also help dementia patients speak to others, using whats called
Memory in Sound (Schaffer). Music can act as an interpreter, allowing the patients to express
their feelings through music to others. Dementia is a degenerative disease, so once it has
progressed in a patient, lack of ability to communicate with others can lead to a feeling of
isolation (Schaffer). David Aldridge, chair of qualitative research in medicine at the University
Witten Herdecke (Germany), and editor of Music Therapy in Dementia Care, states that using
songs in therapy promotes communication. Singing has many functions; it offers a
communicative structure, stimulates and regulates, and promotes dialogue. Alicia Ann Clair,
director of music education and music therapy at the University of Kansas/Lawrence, has a
similar view. She claims that music promotes a way to employ cognitive skills, and helps us
avoid losing them (Schaffer). Carpente states that music is one of the most powerful stimuli. It
can have effects on peoples mood, thinking, and physiology, which is probably why music can
make us recall vivid memories. Because emotions and memory are so closely linked, and music
is so charged on emotion, we are able to see vivid memories both good and bad when exposed to
certain types of music. One case in particular proves this true. Lehtonen, a supervisor of music
therapy research, had a camera set up in a dementia patients room. Lehtonen recorded every
session and watched the tapes after the patient was done with his therapy. The patient was an old
man who hadnt spoken in a very long time, and couldnt remember his own name. The therapist

Sawyer 6
sang old Finnish folk songs to him every day, and once the therapists song was over, the old man
would sing his own song, in a broken voice. The man sang Italian arias- which are known to be
quite difficult- from memory. After checking his record, Lehtonen discovered the man spent his
best years in Italy working as an interior architect. Lehtonen also believes that music can not
only help dementia, but prevent it. The after war generation is getting old, Lehtonen claims,
and there are more and more elderly people who are in relatively good condition both
physically and mentally. I think recalling life through music helps keep them active and happy.
Music therapy is also used in the treatment of young children. For example, children with
Autism often have a lack of communication skills and have difficulty with social interaction
(Mayo Clinic). Autistic children, when exposed to music therapy, often have an easier time with
social interaction (De Vivo). A recent study showed that autistic children responded better to
their therapist and their fellow classmates when music was being used during playtime as
opposed to playtime without music (De Vivo). Music therapy also helped improve their
behavior. Many children with autism show restlessness, aggression, and noisiness. After
one-hour music therapy sessions per week, every childs behavior seemed to have improved (De
Vivo). Up to 30% of autistic children are non-verbal, and many have difficulty following verbal
commands. Music uses a method of muscle memory, by mapping sounds to actions, which can
help with the understanding of verbal commands. And after many therapy sessions, these
pathways that have been created within the brain will become reinforced, and will help with
speech. And finally, music therapy can help reduce anxiety in autistic children. Children who are
diagnosed with autism tend to suffer from anxiety more so than the average child (De Vivo).

Sawyer 7
After some music therapy sessions at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, the anxiety in the
children was highly reduced (De Vivo).
Music therapy can turn someones life around. Dementia and Alzheimers patients,
children with disabilities, and it can help people in their everyday life too. Music is a universal
uniter, and it has an extraordinary effect on us as human beings. Music therapy can be used to
essentially turn back time- to rewind the human brain and give them a better life.

Works Cited
Clair, Alicia A., and Concetta M. Tomaino Alzheimers Disease and Music Therapy. Alzheimers
Foundation of America. Alzheimers Foundation of America, 28 Jan. 2016. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
Hirsch, Jenny H., Koenig Jespersen, and Reschef A. Bloch. Music, the Mind, and Healing.
American Psychiatric Association, n.d., Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
Janis, Byron. Music Therapy: A Healing Art. Wall Street Journal May 08 2014. 12 Oct. 2016.
Music Therapy. Perf. Jennifer Puckett, Brooke Ann, Chelsea Kinsler. CNN, n.d. Web. Oct 12,
2016.
Schaeffer, Juliann. Music Therapy in Dementia Treatment- Recollection Through Sound. Aging
well, n.d., Web. 12 Oct. 2016
Trimble, Michael R. "Music and Madness: Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Music."ProQuest. Proquest,
Feb. 2009. Web. 19 Oct. 2016.
Vivo, Macela De. "Music Therapy May Help Children with Autism." ASF Blog. WordPress, 30 Aug.
2013. Web. 06 Nov. 2016.

Sawyer 8
Growney, Claire. "The History of Music and Art Therapy." The History of Music and Art Therapy.
WordPress, n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2016.
Working, By. "Music Therapy and the Bible." Music Therapy and the Bible. N.p., Mar. 2008. Web.
06 Nov. 2016.
Author. "History of Music Therapy." History of Music Therapy. University of Cleveland, n.d. Web.
06 Nov. 2016.
"American Music Therapy Association." What Is Music Therapy. American Music Therapy
Association, n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2016.

Sawyer 9
Regan,
This is a great start to your EIP, and I am very interested to see where the topic takes you. I think
you did a good job of coming up with initial inquiry questions that point you in a clear direction,
and that will provide interesting research and answers. However, I think that in your first
paragraph, it could be made more clear exactly what you hope to accomplish with this paper. It
seems as though there are several facets to this topic that you wish to address, and while they are
all related to one another, as a reader, I felt a little confused when it came to the main point you
were trying to address. During our conversations in class, it seemed as though your central focus
would be on the medically healing aspects of music therapy, which I think is a great topic, and
one that you could certainly find good evidence to support. Not only would that cover the mental
illnesses like OCD, depression, and anxiety, it could cover ADD and ADHD as well, which you
also touched on later on in your piece. With that being said, and while I definitely agree that
music brings people together, I am not sure if that is something that would be an outstanding
contribution to your paper. That is not to say I do not agree or that I think it is stupid, I just think
it would take away from the clarity and direction of what youre writing.