Music As Stress Reliever

INTRODUCTION

Chapter I - Introduction

A. Background Study

Music is everywhere can be heard, can be sing, can be feel but you cannot touch them. In our daily life there is some instancing that we listen to music to entertain our mind, everyone loves music! Music is entertaining especially if we enjoy the music we listen.

Many of us listen to the music just to cure our boredom and for fun? But majority of us we use music just for entertainment! Music is used for mostly singing and dancing. It also entertains us just by listening to our favourite playlist. Since it entertains us, it makes our mind think clearly and positively. With our cutting edge technology with internet handy, listening and even watching music videos possible! Watching our favourite music video makes us feel better. Different category of music depends on where our mind would respond best. Our mood also depends on the type of music we listen to. It makes us feel out of the box which makes us think more positively.

Zen Master created a short article entitled “The importance of music”. In his article, he stated that, “Music can cheer us up and help us to have a good time or simply helped us think. Whatever you listen to do a little bit daily, things in life inspire us to create music. ”(http://www.booksie.com/editorial_and_opinion/article/zen_master/the-importance-of-music-a-short-essay)



Our brain works from the moment we sleep until we open our eyes. Our brain is like a super computer that can manage to work specific tasks logically and keeping our external and internal work as well. Either we’re working, studying, driving, or whatever we’re doing; we unconsciously use music as our past time.  Being in a past time doesn’t mean we’re on idle but music can work together while we’re working on our daily tasks. Music can make us work further and makes us think vividly.

Jonathan Berger wrote an article entitled “How Music Hijacks our perception of time.” In this article, he stated that “In recent years, numerous studies have shown how music hijacks our relationship with everyday time. For instance, more drinks are sold in bars when with slow-tempo music, which seems to make the bar a more enjoyable environment, one in which patrons want to linger—and order another round.1 Similarly, consumers spend 38 percent more time in the grocery store when the background music is slow.2 Familiarity is also a factor. Shoppers perceive longer shopping times when they are familiar with the background music in the store, but actually spend more time shopping when the music is novel.3 Novel music is perceived as more pleasurable, making the time seem to pass quicker, and so shoppers stay in the stores longer than they may imagine.” (http://nautil.us/issue/9/time/how-music-hijacks-our-perception-of-time)



However, music has another role in our life, unconsciously it has a lot of benefits that aside from making us feel good, and music can be a cure for mental and physical issues at the same time. Music makes us feel good every time we tune in to our favorite songs. Even listening to radio while driving is also a soothing feeling during a stressful day. Listening to music changes our mood.

Naomi Coleman made an article entitled “why listening to music Is the key to good health.” In this article, she stated that “there’s no doubt that listening to your favorite music can instantly put you in a good mood. But scientists are now discovering that music can do more than just lift your spirits.” (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-137116/Why-listening-music-key-good-health.html)


A problem that many of us think that music is just for entertainment and to cure our boredom during killing time which is to alleviate our mood. They believe music is just for fun for us to listen and sing it out loud.

Another thing is that we take advantage of music thinking that it is just a music video or something that we just hear in our gadgets. Most us would think that it is a piece of genuine that artists must construct geniusly to generate income, not knowing that it has other benefits.

We usually focus on one thing. We usually look at things as a 2 dimensional phase, not exploring what else music can do or help us. It’s like, “”what you see / hear is what you get.” We may know the meaning of each song represents, not knowing that artists compose their genuine art because it makes them feel good as well.


The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence and prove that music is like water as we know it. Just like water, it is harmless and spontaneous in a way that music can be applied in every way. Music is not just a form of entertainment but it is also a cure for the ill. Music can divert our mind that relieve our stress that improve the quality of our daily task that we encounter most of it are stressful to us. Music therapy helps people to improve their mental state of mind in a way their mind recovers from being distress to calm state of mind.
Depressed people listening to music help them decrease the level of anxiety. It is also to help the future researcher about an alternative cure for patients. This is to provide supplemental knowledge about another kind of therapy that can be a cure for patients.


B. Statement of the Problem

This study aims to answer this question:
Music prove that can help to ease our mind and body and it can be use in medical shall as music therapy?



C. Significance of the Study

1. Patient – this study would be able to elaborate with proven tests on how music therapy works. This study shows that it is now being practiced in some countries.
.
2. Students – this research paper would explain that music is not just an entertainment. It would serve as an eye opener that it is also part of culture and serves also as a cure.

3. Workers – this research paper would show.

4. Future Researcher – This will help other researcher to help them to their research by providing guides and information that will be useful to them.



D. Scope and Delimitation

The information collected in this paper are read and gathered from articles posted online relevant to the topic of Music as stress reliever.
The articles are usually advice or essays, but occasionally there are personal stories provided from music by analyzing this accumulated information, they can be presented in this writing through the method of listing down Music benefits and connecting them with how they are useful to the therapist.


E. Materials and Method

The researcher gathered the information through various blogs, articles and studies. The researcher gathered datum to provide supplemental knowledge about the topic I chose for future researchers. This research will also provide answers that music therapy is now considered as cure.


F. Definition of Terms

1. Diversion - an activity or recreation that diverts the mind from being in a serious or tedious manner.

2. Music - is an art that written either words or notes that produces harmony. It can be vocal or instrumental

3. Therapist - is a skilled person conducting a therapy in a particular kind. A person qualified and trained to assess the problem and an effective cure that works on case to case basis on a certain patient.

4. Therapy - is an activity conducted by a professional trained to diagnose and cure mental and emotional problem of a patient.




CHAPTER II

Definition of Musical Therapy

Musical Therapy is a program being used in some hospital to help the patient to recover anxiety, physical and emotional state of the person that bother them in their daily task, with this program its promote and maintain their good state of behaviour that will help them to balance their human behavior.


What are the benefits of Music

A. Definition of Music Therapy

MT is a type of treatment used in various patients in need of a supporting and effective way for them to either communicate, focus, and many more. It targets all ages in a harmless way, MT has procedures and programs used by highly educated and well trained therapists that diagnoses each patient’s issues.

Elizabeth Scott made an article entitled “why is music a good tool for health.” The article says “Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring.” (http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/music_therapy.htm)


B. Music Is Therapeutic

Typically, we just listen to music to alleviate our mood. Not knowing that by just simply listening to it is already therapeutic. Music caters people of all ages from an infant to elderly. Even watching music videos can make us be a calm state that makes our mind work. Music is now being used in therapies. In fact, most of the hospitals all over the world accredit therapists to conduct music therapy. MT is now being used a short term treatment since patients do cooperate and communicate by music either singing, dancing or playing an instrument.

Megan Hinman wrote an article about her study entitled “Music Therapy: Myths and Misconceptions” which purpose is to inform that it is possible to use music as a therapy. The article says “for most people, the idea of music being therapeutic seems pretty logical. But did you know that music therapists are highly educated professionals with special standardized training.” (http://brooklynletters.com/2010/12/blog/music-therapy-myths-and-misconceptions-by-meghan-himan/)

C. Short term treatment

Origin and studies is the perfect recipe for a well accredited therapy. As we all know, music can make us feel by the way we comprehend a piece. Our brain responds to a music that makes us feel relaxed. In medical field, MT is considered a short term treatment since music can easily make a patient respond or communicate as well. MT is already an accredited type of therapy depending in each country. In example, MT is being used for people with ADHD or autism, during the sessions; therapists have their patients dance, and sing or even play an instrument which makes it easier for their cooperation makes the patients to uplift their mood. It is a kind of treatment that doesn’t take long terms. People suffering from depressions as well uses music since we believe that music is therapeutic and it may only take us hours or days to get over our negative feeling.

Barbara Dozier wrote a study about “Music a stimulus: Effectiveness of Music therapy intervention on sleep disorders in adults suffering from depression. ( https://www.barbradozier.wordpress.com)

She stated that “selected rehabilitation centers that practice the use of music therapy interventions in the treatment of sleep disorders among people with depression.” She stated that during the MT is conducted, because of its restrictions, they usually rely on the somewhat effectiveness and response of MT in a certain patient. Just like the study she made about depression, the patient responds to the session every time the therapist questions about their emotion and reaction. Despite of its limitations, MT is used as a way to communicate with their patient whereas MT could serve like a brain scan. The patient reacts to it and even talk about it with the therapist which can also help the activity be more definitive.

D.   Stress Reliever

We have a lot of ways to relieve stress, music is one of them. It is a harmless thing that elevates of senses to a different level. Aside from entertaining our mind, it also diverts our attention which makes us focus more on our tasks. The lyrics and the harmony of the songs we listen to makes us picture even ourselves to somewhat be calm. Sine stress targets our vulnerable parts of our body; music is more like a cure for it.

Saarikallio S &Erikilla J. wrote an article about “Seven ways Music Influences Mood” In this article, it talks about how music influences the behaviour of a human and how it reacts to different types of music. The author also mentioned that some people have their own style of listening to music that appreciates or feels the essence of music which will help them relieve their stress and boost their inner emotion. One of the great goals of listening to music is that it improves their mood and it can actually make us control our emotion in a certain situation. That “Good music has direct access to the emotions. As such it’s a fantastic tool for tweaking our moods.”  (http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/03/seven-ways-music-influences-mood.php.)



Conclusion

Music is a powerful art that serves as a tool that makes us one. It defines our culture and origin through music. It also serves as tool for treatment. Just like any other proposed cure, it is still being studied on how it can increase the effectiveness of music therapy. MT must be conducted by a qualified and highly trained therapist since it can cause a negative reaction for the patient. Therapists must use a case to case basis treatment in each patient and uses the right category   of music that can positively make a good reaction on improvement on a patient’s case. Music is not just a form of entertainment; it also soothes an injured soul, mind and body.




Chapter III

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMENDATIONS


Summary

This paper is an effort to find out different benefits of music and music as a therapy.
The research design used in this study is the descriptive research method wherein data from interviews, article and studies found online were used to answer the research question posed.

The research findings are the following:
1. Music is a form of entertainment that serves as a mood elevator.

2. Most of us don’t know that there is a benefit of listening music for our health.

3. A lot of therapist use music to help patients concentrate and focus in their task without             using any medication drugs.
4. A lot of patients require to take a lot of medication while the therapist help you
         to prescribe the right program for your need and medication while they are in your side          to  advice and guide you on what to do.

Conclusion

Base on the findings of this study, the following conclusions are drawn:

1.      Music is not just for entertainment but also for the good benefits of the health.

2.      Music is therapeutically.

3.      Music therapy is caters of all people of all ages.

4.      It is a harmless tool use as a cure that being use in some hospital.



Recommendations

The researcher hereby makes the following recommendations:

1.      Choose your music that will make you feel relax and comfortable to ease your mind              and body.

2.      Collaborate your favorites song with your daily task to help you think more and stay              focus.

3.      Music can also be a soothing solution for your mental and physical issue.

4.      Always consult a highly trained professional therapist first for necessary actions.



References

Berger, J. (2014) How Music Hijacks Our Perception of Time. Retrieved on: November 4, 2014 From: http://nautil.us/issue/9/time/how-music-hijacks-our-perception-of-time

Coleman, N. (ND) Why Listening is the Key to Good Health. Retrieved on: November 5, 2014 from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-137116/Why-listening-music-key-good-health.html

Dozier, B. (ND) a stimulus: Effectiveness of Music therapy intervention on sleep disorders in adults suffering from depression. Retrieved on: December 11, 2014 from: https://www.barbradozier.wordpress.com

Hinman, M. (2010) Therapy: Myths and Misconceptions. Retrieved on: December 14, 2014 from: http://brooklynletters.com/2010/12/blog/music-therapy-myths-and-misconceptions-by-meghan-himan/

Master, Z (2009) The importance of music. Retrieved on: December 15, 2014 ). From:  http://www.booksie.com/editorial_and_opinion/article/zen_master/the-importance-of-music-a-short-essay)

Scott, E. (2014) Why is music a good tool for health. Retrieved on: Novemeber 18, 2014 from: http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/music_therapy.html

Saarikallio, S. and Erikilla, J. (2007) Seven ways Music Influences Mood Retrieved on: November 25, 2015 from: http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/03/seven-ways-music-influences-mood.php/

Music As Stress Reliever

INTRODUCTION


Chapter I - Introduction

A. Background Study

Music is everywhere can be heard, can be sing, can be feel but you cannot touch them. In our daily life there is some instancing that we listen to music to entertain our mind, everyone loves music! Music is entertaining especially if we enjoy the music we listen.

Many of us listen to the music just to cure our boredom and for fun? But majority of us we use music just for entertainment! Music is used for mostly singing and dancing. It also entertains us just by listening to our favourite playlist. Since it entertains us, it makes our mind think clearly and positively. With our cutting edge technology with internet handy, listening and even watching music videos possible! Watching our favourite music video makes us feel better. Different category of music depends on where our mind would respond best. Our mood also depends on the type of music we listen to. It makes us feel out of the box which makes us think more positively.

Zen Master created a short article entitled “The importance of music”. In his article, he stated that, “Music can cheer us up and help us to have a good time or simply helped us think. Whatever you listen to do a little bit daily, things in life inspire us to create music. ”(http://www.booksie.com/editorial_and_opinion/article/zen_master/the-importance-of-music-a-short-essay)



Our brain works from the moment we sleep until we open our eyes. Our brain is like a super computer that can manage to work specific tasks logically and keeping our external and internal work as well. Either we’re working, studying, driving, or whatever we’re doing; we unconsciously use music as our past time.  Being in a past time doesn’t mean we’re on idle but music can work together while we’re working on our daily tasks. Music can make us work further and makes us think vividly.

Jonathan Berger wrote an article entitled “How Music Hijacks our perception of time.” In this article, he stated that “In recent years, numerous studies have shown how music hijacks our relationship with everyday time. For instance, more drinks are sold in bars when with slow-tempo music, which seems to make the bar a more enjoyable environment, one in which patrons want to linger—and order another round.1 Similarly, consumers spend 38 percent more time in the grocery store when the background music is slow.2 Familiarity is also a factor. Shoppers perceive longer shopping times when they are familiar with the background music in the store, but actually spend more time shopping when the music is novel.3 Novel music is perceived as more pleasurable, making the time seem to pass quicker, and so shoppers stay in the stores longer than they may imagine.” (http://nautil.us/issue/9/time/how-music-hijacks-our-perception-of-time)



However, music has another role in our life, unconsciously it has a lot of benefits that aside from making us feel good, and music can be a cure for mental and physical issues at the same time. Music makes us feel good every time we tune in to our favorite songs. Even listening to radio while driving is also a soothing feeling during a stressful day. Listening to music changes our mood.

Naomi Coleman made an article entitled “why listening to music Is the key to good health.” In this article, she stated that “there’s no doubt that listening to your favorite music can instantly put you in a good mood. But scientists are now discovering that music can do more than just lift your spirits.” (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-137116/Why-listening-music-key-good-health.html)


A problem that many of us think that music is just for entertainment and to cure our boredom during killing time which is to alleviate our mood. They believe music is just for fun for us to listen and sing it out loud.

Another thing is that we take advantage of music thinking that it is just a music video or something that we just hear in our gadgets. Most us would think that it is a piece of genuine that artists must construct geniusly to generate income, not knowing that it has other benefits.

We usually focus on one thing. We usually look at things as a 2 dimensional phase, not exploring what else music can do or help us. It’s like, “”what you see / hear is what you get.” We may know the meaning of each song represents, not knowing that artists compose their genuine art because it makes them feel good as well.


The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence and prove that music is like water as we know it. Just like water, it is harmless and spontaneous in a way that music can be applied in every way. Music is not just a form of entertainment but it is also a cure for the ill. Music can divert our mind that relieve our stress that improve the quality of our daily task that we encounter most of it are stressful to us. Music therapy helps people to improve their mental state of mind in a way their mind recovers from being distress to calm state of mind.
Depressed people listening to music help them decrease the level of anxiety. It is also to help the future researcher about an alternative cure for patients. This is to provide supplemental knowledge about another kind of therapy that can be a cure for patients.


B. Statement of the Problem

This study aims to answer this question:
Music prove that can help to ease our mind and body and it can be use in medical shall as music therapy?



C. Significance of the Study

1. Patient – this study would be able to elaborate with proven tests on how music therapy works. This study shows that it is now being practiced in some countries.
.
2. Students – this research paper would explain that music is not just an entertainment. It would serve as an eye opener that it is also part of culture and serves also as a cure.

3. Workers – this research paper would show.

4. Future Researcher – This will help other researcher to help them to their research by providing guides and information that will be useful to them.



D. Scope and Delimitation

The information collected in this paper are read and gathered from articles posted online relevant to the topic of Music as stress reliever.
The articles are usually advice or essays, but occasionally there are personal stories provided from music by analyzing this accumulated information, they can be presented in this writing through the method of listing down Music benefits and connecting them with how they are useful to the therapist.


E. Materials and Method

The researcher gathered the information through various blogs, articles and studies. The researcher gathered datum to provide supplemental knowledge about the topic I chose for future researchers. This research will also provide answers that music therapy is now considered as cure.


F. Definition of Terms

1. Diversion - an activity or recreation that diverts the mind from being in a serious or tedious manner.

2. Music - is an art that written either words or notes that produces harmony. It can be vocal or instrumental

3. Therapist - is a skilled person conducting a therapy in a particular kind. A person qualified and trained to assess the problem and an effective cure that works on case to case basis on a certain patient.

4. Therapy - is an activity conducted by a professional trained to diagnose and cure mental and emotional problem of a patient.




CHAPTER II

Definition of Musical Therapy

Musical Therapy is a program being used in some hospital to help the patient to recover anxiety, physical and emotional state of the person that bother them in their daily task, with this program its promote and maintain their good state of behaviour that will help them to balance their human behavior.


What are the benefits of Music

A. Definition of Music Therapy

MT is a type of treatment used in various patients in need of a supporting and effective way for them to either communicate, focus, and many more. It targets all ages in a harmless way, MT has procedures and programs used by highly educated and well trained therapists that diagnoses each patient’s issues.

Elizabeth Scott made an article entitled “why is music a good tool for health.” The article says “Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring.” (http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/music_therapy.htm)


       B. Music Is Therapeutic

Typically, we just listen to music to alleviate our mood. Not knowing that by just simply listening to it is already therapeutic. Music caters people of all ages from an infant to elderly. Even watching music videos can make us be a calm state that makes our mind work. Music is now being used in therapies. In fact, most of the hospitals all over the world accredit therapists to conduct music therapy. MT is now being used a short term treatment since patients do cooperate and communicate by music either singing, dancing or playing an instrument.

Megan Hinman wrote an article about her study entitled “Music Therapy: Myths and Misconceptions” which purpose is to inform that it is possible to use music as a therapy. The article says “for most people, the idea of music being therapeutic seems pretty logical. But did you know that music therapists are highly educated professionals with special standardized training.” (http://brooklynletters.com/2010/12/blog/music-therapy-myths-and-misconceptions-by-meghan-himan/)

        C. Short term treatment

Origin and studies is the perfect recipe for a well accredited therapy. As we all know, music can make us feel by the way we comprehend a piece. Our brain responds to a music that makes us feel relaxed. In medical field, MT is considered a short term treatment since music can easily make a patient respond or communicate as well. MT is already an accredited type of therapy depending in each country. In example, MT is being used for people with ADHD or autism, during the sessions; therapists have their patients dance, and sing or even play an instrument which makes it easier for their cooperation makes the patients to uplift their mood. It is a kind of treatment that doesn’t take long terms. People suffering from depressions as well uses music since we believe that music is therapeutic and it may only take us hours or days to get over our negative feeling.

Barbara Dozier wrote a study about “Music a stimulus: Effectiveness of Music therapy intervention on sleep disorders in adults suffering from depression. ( https://www.barbradozier.wordpress.com)

She stated that “selected rehabilitation centers that practice the use of music therapy interventions in the treatment of sleep disorders among people with depression.” She stated that during the MT is conducted, because of its restrictions, they usually rely on the somewhat effectiveness and response of MT in a certain patient. Just like the study she made about depression, the patient responds to the session every time the therapist questions about their emotion and reaction. Despite of its limitations, MT is used as a way to communicate with their patient whereas MT could serve like a brain scan. The patient reacts to it and even talk about it with the therapist which can also help the activity be more definitive.

             D.   Stress Reliever

We have a lot of ways to relieve stress, music is one of them. It is a harmless thing that elevates of senses to a different level. Aside from entertaining our mind, it also diverts our attention which makes us focus more on our tasks. The lyrics and the harmony of the songs we listen to makes us picture even ourselves to somewhat be calm. Sine stress targets our vulnerable parts of our body; music is more like a cure for it.

Saarikallio S &Erikilla J. wrote an article about “Seven ways Music Influences Mood” In this article, it talks about how music influences the behaviour of a human and how it reacts to different types of music. The author also mentioned that some people have their own style of listening to music that appreciates or feels the essence of music which will help them relieve their stress and boost their inner emotion. One of the great goals of listening to music is that it improves their mood and it can actually make us control our emotion in a certain situation. That “Good music has direct access to the emotions. As such it’s a fantastic tool for tweaking our moods.”  (http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/03/seven-ways-music-influences-mood.php.)



Conclusion

Music is a powerful art that serves as a tool that makes us one. It defines our culture and origin through music. It also serves as tool for treatment. Just like any other proposed cure, it is still being studied on how it can increase the effectiveness of music therapy. MT must be conducted by a qualified and highly trained therapist since it can cause a negative reaction for the patient. Therapists must use a case to case basis treatment in each patient and uses the right category   of music that can positively make a good reaction on improvement on a patient’s case. Music is not just a form of entertainment; it also soothes an injured soul, mind and body.




Chapter III

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMENDATIONS


Summary

This paper is an effort to find out different benefits of music and music as a therapy.
The research design used in this study is the descriptive research method wherein data from interviews, article and studies found online were used to answer the research question posed.

The research findings are the following:
1     1. Music is a form of entertainment that serves as a mood elevator.

       2. Most of us don’t know that there is a benefit of listening music for our health.

       3. A lot of therapist use music to help patients concentrate and focus in their task without             using any medication drugs.
4     4. A lot of patients require to take a lot of medication while the therapist help you
         to prescribe the right program for your need and medication while they are in your side to      advice and guide you on what to do.

Conclusion
Base on the findings of this study, the following conclusions are drawn:
1.      Music is not just for entertainment but also for the good benefits of the health
2.      Music is therapeutically
3.      Music therapy is caters of all people of all ages
4.      It is a harmless tool use as a cure that being use in some hospital



Recommendations
The researcher hereby makes the following recommendations:
1.      Choose your music that will make you feel relax and comfortable to ease your mind and body.
2.      Collaborate your favorites song with your daily task to help you think more and stay focus.
3.      Music can also be a soothing solution for your mental and physical issue.
4.      Always consult a highly trained professional therapist first for necessary actions.

References
Berger, J. (2014) How Music Hijacks Our Perception of Time. Retrieved on: November 4, 2014 From: http://nautil.us/issue/9/time/how-music-hijacks-our-perception-of-time

Coleman, N. (ND) Why Listening is the Key to Good Health. Retrieved on: November 5, 2014 from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-137116/Why-listening-music-key-good-health.html
Dozier, B. (ND) a stimulus: Effectiveness of Music therapy intervention on sleep disorders in adults suffering from depression. Retrieved on: December 11, 2014 from: https://www.barbradozier.wordpress.com)
Hinman, M. (2010) Therapy: Myths and Misconceptions. Retrieved on: December 14, 2014 from: http://brooklynletters.com/2010/12/blog/music-therapy-myths-and-misconceptions-by-meghan-himan/
Master, Z (2009) The importance of music. Retrieved on: December 15, 2014 ). From:  http://www.booksie.com/editorial_and_opinion/article/zen_master/the-importance-of-music-a-short-essay)
Scott, E. (2014) Why is music a good tool for health. Retrieved on: Novemeber 18, 2014 from: http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/music_therapy.html

Saarikallio, S. and Erikilla, J. (2007) Seven ways Music Influences Mood Retrieved on: November 25, 2015 from: http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/03/seven-ways-music-influences-mood.php/

Music As Stress Reliever

INTRODUCTION


Chapter I - Introduction

A. Background Study

Music is everywhere can be heard, can be sing, can be feel but you cannot touch them. In our daily life there is some instancing that we listen to music to entertain our mind, everyone loves music! Music is entertaining especially if we enjoy the music we listen.

Many of us listen to the music just to cure our boredom and for fun? But majority of us we use music just for entertainment! Music is used for mostly singing and dancing. It also entertains us just by listening to our favourite playlist. Since it entertains us, it makes our mind think clearly and positively. With our cutting edge technology with internet handy, listening and even watching music videos possible! Watching our favourite music video makes us feel better. Different category of music depends on where our mind would respond best. Our mood also depends on the type of music we listen to. It makes us feel out of the box which makes us think more positively.

Zen Master created a short article entitled “The importance of music”. In his article, he stated that, “Music can cheer us up and help us to have a good time or simply helped us think. Whatever you listen to do a little bit daily, things in life inspire us to create music. ”(http://www.booksie.com/editorial_and_opinion/article/zen_master/the-importance-of-music-a-short-essay)



Our brain works from the moment we sleep until we open our eyes. Our brain is like a super computer that can manage to work specific tasks logically and keeping our external and internal work as well. Either we’re working, studying, driving, or whatever we’re doing; we unconsciously use music as our past time.  Being in a past time doesn’t mean we’re on idle but music can work together while we’re working on our daily tasks. Music can make us work further and makes us think vividly.

Jonathan Berger wrote an article entitled “How Music Hijacks our perception of time.” In this article, he stated that “In recent years, numerous studies have shown how music hijacks our relationship with everyday time. For instance, more drinks are sold in bars when with slow-tempo music, which seems to make the bar a more enjoyable environment, one in which patrons want to linger—and order another round.1 Similarly, consumers spend 38 percent more time in the grocery store when the background music is slow.2 Familiarity is also a factor. Shoppers perceive longer shopping times when they are familiar with the background music in the store, but actually spend more time shopping when the music is novel.3 Novel music is perceived as more pleasurable, making the time seem to pass quicker, and so shoppers stay in the stores longer than they may imagine.” (http://nautil.us/issue/9/time/how-music-hijacks-our-perception-of-time)



However, music has another role in our life, unconsciously it has a lot of benefits that aside from making us feel good, and music can be a cure for mental and physical issues at the same time. Music makes us feel good every time we tune in to our favorite songs. Even listening to radio while driving is also a soothing feeling during a stressful day. Listening to music changes our mood.

Naomi Coleman made an article entitled “why listening to music Is the key to good health.” In this article, she stated that “there’s no doubt that listening to your favorite music can instantly put you in a good mood. But scientists are now discovering that music can do more than just lift your spirits.” (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-137116/Why-listening-music-key-good-health.html)


A problem that many of us think that music is just for entertainment and to cure our boredom during killing time which is to alleviate our mood. They believe music is just for fun for us to listen and sing it out loud.

Another thing is that we take advantage of music thinking that it is just a music video or something that we just hear in our gadgets. Most us would think that it is a piece of genuine that artists must construct geniusly to generate income, not knowing that it has other benefits.

We usually focus on one thing. We usually look at things as a 2 dimensional phase, not exploring what else music can do or help us. It’s like, “”what you see / hear is what you get.” We may know the meaning of each song represents, not knowing that artists compose their genuine art because it makes them feel good as well.


The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence and prove that music is like water as we know it. Just like water, it is harmless and spontaneous in a way that music can be applied in every way. Music is not just a form of entertainment but it is also a cure for the ill. Music can divert our mind that relieve our stress that improve the quality of our daily task that we encounter most of it are stressful to us. Music therapy helps people to improve their mental state of mind in a way their mind recovers from being distress to calm state of mind.
Depressed people listening to music help them decrease the level of anxiety. It is also to help the future researcher about an alternative cure for patients. This is to provide supplemental knowledge about another kind of therapy that can be a cure for patients.


B. Statement of the Problem

This study aims to answer this question:
Music prove that can help to ease our mind and body and it can be use in medical shall as music therapy?



C. Significance of the Study

1. Patient – this study would be able to elaborate with proven tests on how music therapy works. This study shows that it is now being practiced in some countries.
.
2. Students – this research paper would explain that music is not just an entertainment. It would serve as an eye opener that it is also part of culture and serves also as a cure.

3. Workers – this research paper would show.

4. Future Researcher – This will help other researcher to help them to their research by providing guides and information that will be useful to them.



D. Scope and Delimitation

The information collected in this paper are read and gathered from articles posted online relevant to the topic of Music as stress reliever.
The articles are usually advice or essays, but occasionally there are personal stories provided from music by analyzing this accumulated information, they can be presented in this writing through the method of listing down Music benefits and connecting them with how they are useful to the therapist.


E. Materials and Method

The researcher gathered the information through various blogs, articles and studies. The researcher gathered datum to provide supplemental knowledge about the topic I chose for future researchers. This research will also provide answers that music therapy is now considered as cure.


F. Definition of Terms

1. Diversion - an activity or recreation that diverts the mind from being in a serious or tedious manner.

2. Music - is an art that written either words or notes that produces harmony. It can be vocal or instrumental

3. Therapist - is a skilled person conducting a therapy in a particular kind. A person qualified and trained to assess the problem and an effective cure that works on case to case basis on a certain patient.

4. Therapy - is an activity conducted by a professional trained to diagnose and cure mental and emotional problem of a patient.




CHAPTER II

Definition of Musical Therapy

Musical Therapy is a program being used in some hospital to help the patient to recover anxiety, physical and emotional state of the person that bother them in their daily task, with this program its promote and maintain their good state of behaviour that will help them to balance their human behavior.


What are the benefits of Music

A. Definition of Music Therapy

MT is a type of treatment used in various patients in need of a supporting and effective way for them to either communicate, focus, and many more. It targets all ages in a harmless way, MT has procedures and programs used by highly educated and well trained therapists that diagnoses each patient’s issues.

Elizabeth Scott made an article entitled “why is music a good tool for health.” The article says “Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring.” (http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/music_therapy.htm)


       B. Music Is Therapeutic

Typically, we just listen to music to alleviate our mood. Not knowing that by just simply listening to it is already therapeutic. Music caters people of all ages from an infant to elderly. Even watching music videos can make us be a calm state that makes our mind work. Music is now being used in therapies. In fact, most of the hospitals all over the world accredit therapists to conduct music therapy. MT is now being used a short term treatment since patients do cooperate and communicate by music either singing, dancing or playing an instrument.

Megan Hinman wrote an article about her study entitled “Music Therapy: Myths and Misconceptions” which purpose is to inform that it is possible to use music as a therapy. The article says “for most people, the idea of music being therapeutic seems pretty logical. But did you know that music therapists are highly educated professionals with special standardized training.” (http://brooklynletters.com/2010/12/blog/music-therapy-myths-and-misconceptions-by-meghan-himan/)

        C. Short term treatment

Origin and studies is the perfect recipe for a well accredited therapy. As we all know, music can make us feel by the way we comprehend a piece. Our brain responds to a music that makes us feel relaxed. In medical field, MT is considered a short term treatment since music can easily make a patient respond or communicate as well. MT is already an accredited type of therapy depending in each country. In example, MT is being used for people with ADHD or autism, during the sessions; therapists have their patients dance, and sing or even play an instrument which makes it easier for their cooperation makes the patients to uplift their mood. It is a kind of treatment that doesn’t take long terms. People suffering from depressions as well uses music since we believe that music is therapeutic and it may only take us hours or days to get over our negative feeling.

Barbara Dozier wrote a study about “Music a stimulus: Effectiveness of Music therapy intervention on sleep disorders in adults suffering from depression. ( https://www.barbradozier.wordpress.com)

She stated that “selected rehabilitation centers that practice the use of music therapy interventions in the treatment of sleep disorders among people with depression.” She stated that during the MT is conducted, because of its restrictions, they usually rely on the somewhat effectiveness and response of MT in a certain patient. Just like the study she made about depression, the patient responds to the session every time the therapist questions about their emotion and reaction. Despite of its limitations, MT is used as a way to communicate with their patient whereas MT could serve like a brain scan. The patient reacts to it and even talk about it with the therapist which can also help the activity be more definitive.

             D.   Stress Reliever

We have a lot of ways to relieve stress, music is one of them. It is a harmless thing that elevates of senses to a different level. Aside from entertaining our mind, it also diverts our attention which makes us focus more on our tasks. The lyrics and the harmony of the songs we listen to makes us picture even ourselves to somewhat be calm. Sine stress targets our vulnerable parts of our body; music is more like a cure for it.

Saarikallio S &Erikilla J. wrote an article about “Seven ways Music Influences Mood” In this article, it talks about how music influences the behaviour of a human and how it reacts to different types of music. The author also mentioned that some people have their own style of listening to music that appreciates or feels the essence of music which will help them relieve their stress and boost their inner emotion. One of the great goals of listening to music is that it improves their mood and it can actually make us control our emotion in a certain situation. That “Good music has direct access to the emotions. As such it’s a fantastic tool for tweaking our moods.”  (http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/03/seven-ways-music-influences-mood.php.)



Conclusion

Music is a powerful art that serves as a tool that makes us one. It defines our culture and origin through music. It also serves as tool for treatment. Just like any other proposed cure, it is still being studied on how it can increase the effectiveness of music therapy. MT must be conducted by a qualified and highly trained therapist since it can cause a negative reaction for the patient. Therapists must use a case to case basis treatment in each patient and uses the right category   of music that can positively make a good reaction on improvement on a patient’s case. Music is not just a form of entertainment; it also soothes an injured soul, mind and body.




Chapter III

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMENDATIONS


Summary

This paper is an effort to find out different benefits of music and music as a therapy.
The research design used in this study is the descriptive research method wherein data from interviews, article and studies found online were used to answer the research question posed.

The research findings are the following:
1     1. Music is a form of entertainment that serves as a mood elevator.

       2. Most of us don’t know that there is a benefit of listening music for our health.

       3. A lot of therapist use music to help patients concentrate and focus in their task without             using any medication drugs.
4     4. A lot of patients require to take a lot of medication while the therapist help you
         to prescribe the right program for your need and medication while they are in your side to      advice and guide you on what to do.

Conclusion
Base on the findings of this study, the following conclusions are drawn:
1.      Music is not just for entertainment but also for the good benefits of the health
2.      Music is therapeutically
3.      Music therapy is caters of all people of all ages
4.      It is a harmless tool use as a cure that being use in some hospital



Recommendations
The researcher hereby makes the following recommendations:
1.      Choose your music that will make you feel relax and comfortable to ease your mind and body.
2.      Collaborate your favorites song with your daily task to help you think more and stay focus.
3.      Music can also be a soothing solution for your mental and physical issue.
4.      Always consult a highly trained professional therapist first for necessary actions.

References
Berger, J. (2014) How Music Hijacks Our Perception of Time. Retrieved on: November 4, 2014 From: http://nautil.us/issue/9/time/how-music-hijacks-our-perception-of-time

Coleman, N. (ND) Why Listening is the Key to Good Health. Retrieved on: November 5, 2014 from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-137116/Why-listening-music-key-good-health.html
Dozier, B. (ND) a stimulus: Effectiveness of Music therapy intervention on sleep disorders in adults suffering from depression. Retrieved on: December 11, 2014 from: https://www.barbradozier.wordpress.com)
Hinman, M. (2010) Therapy: Myths and Misconceptions. Retrieved on: December 14, 2014 from: http://brooklynletters.com/2010/12/blog/music-therapy-myths-and-misconceptions-by-meghan-himan/
Master, Z (2009) The importance of music. Retrieved on: December 15, 2014 ). From:  http://www.booksie.com/editorial_and_opinion/article/zen_master/the-importance-of-music-a-short-essay)
Scott, E. (2014) Why is music a good tool for health. Retrieved on: Novemeber 18, 2014 from: http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/music_therapy.html

Saarikallio, S. and Erikilla, J. (2007) Seven ways Music Influences Mood Retrieved on: November 25, 2015 from: http://www.spring.org.uk/2007/03/seven-ways-music-influences-mood.php/

Blogpost 9: a brighter future for musical therapy

Either physical or emotional therapy can be tricky. Therapists make sure that the activities held within therapy sessions should be on a case to case basis. So goals and techniques should be explained to the patient so that it will be realistic and can be an advantage not just to the current patient but for the future use for the medical field. Just like any other therapy, it has a sequence that fits to every needs of a patient. Expectations should be explained and realistic even if it for a minor or complex kind of patient. Since we’ve been tackling music therapy about all the advantages it has and how it works for mankind, here are some citation of our generous researchers or bloggers more about the therapy.

I read an article about “The Anatomy of a Music Therapy Goal” by Andrew Littlefield from www.thegeorgecenter.com.  He was so informative that he was able to separate music as entertainment from being therapeutic. You might ask yourself while listening to your favorite music right now like, what’s my goal of listening to my favorite song anyway? What makes it my favorite? Is it because of the beat or the meaning itself? You might want to find out why on this post.

According to Littlefield, “One of the defining characteristics of music therapy is that it separates us from simply “music AS therapy”, is the fact that we have non-music goals for clients we collect and track data on. Typically, we want our goals to be S.M.A.R.T, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Limited”.  

From the word it about their goals for MT is truly self-explanatory but we’ll tackle a bit more of each one. Their strategy works on a case to case basis but of course, it is always use on every client since they have to set expectations as well. Being specific would be the first goal or first part of the therapy whereas they have explain the activity and how long it will take since learning is not a piece of cake, it consumes time for us to move forward to our next stepping stone. Measurable can be indefinite since conducting a therapy will always depend on a client’s need. It may take some time for a client to learn and unlearn things. For example, for client’s suffering from stroke, a therapist would say that it might take a client maximum of 5-6 months for them to learn to walk by themselves. Having an attainable activity for the client would be a priority of a therapist. Since the goal is to take the client to next high level. Being realistic is also similar or having the therapy be attainable. Examinations for the client will be conducted for them to measure what to do and when to do a specific task for the client. Lastly, having a therapy be time limited. Not because they have to assist other patients but to set a time for the client so that the client will have some to look forward as the day pass by conducting a series of activities. It can also make the client be goal setter as well. 

Another article that I found in the website that talk about the music therapy in the next generation and this is "Future of Music Therapy" by Olivia Andrews from www.articlesbase.com. she is the writer of music-future.com is a freelance journalist and she wrote about education, finance and many more especially the review. The article talks about how music therapy can be used in the future especially there is a lot children, adult who are having a hard time to release there stress and interact with there friends or family.

According to Andrews "Music therapy is applied by a qualified practitioner whereby music is used in a systematic manner to achieve therapeutic goals or purposes. These purposes or goals may include self awareness, social development, cognitive development and spiritual enhancement. Therefore, music therapy helps in the fulfillment of physical, psychological, communicative and social needs of the individuals. The future of music therapy is quite promising because the level of effectiveness gained in the therapeutic use of music is high."

Nowadays therapy is safest and effective program for us to promote awareness that we can use therapy in our body without using any dangerous chemical drug that we take in our body, we know that drugs can help us but with this kind of program we can help our body to overcome or cope up with our own without using any drugs.

Natural healing is best way for human being to cure our self or this is what we called therapy, therapy help you and your body to ease your minds and there is a lot of usage of using this kind of program that which we are not familiar with. Therapy help our motor skills to develop and vocabulary skills but if we are we going to explore about this we can use this in our daily life without using any drugs that might affect our body.

Blogpost 7: Music in Games?

Music is a independent source can be used by everyone, you can play it with any instrument that we have but using a little twist it will give everyone a lot of choices to use. Why is music is being use? how did we find out is a stress reliever? We found out  that music can help us relax and focus especially if we use in games, like in kiddie game, arcade game, music game, but how? well we will discuss it with the article that I research in the website.

I read an article discuss about Music therapy can used in the games. This article "Music Therapy and Fun Rhythm Games" by Martianne Stanger from www.special-ism.com. She mentioned why do we need to play rhythm games and how its help us to build our mind and body. It help us to expand our sense of attentiveness and responsiveness that essential to us.

According to Stanger, "The two main components of a musical rhythm are the beat/pulse and the rhythmic unit. They both appear repeatedly in almost every piece of music. The pulse is simple and repeats in a continuous sequence from beginning to end, while the rhythmic unit is a little bit more complicated as it is a note-pattern that appears along the regular pulse but divides the duration between the beats."

Rhythm games can be use not for kids but also can be use by everyone its up to us on how we are going to use music as stress reliever, with a simple games it help us to improve our response and coordination skills with a different level of games and motor skill work. Music for us is just a plain music that we listen if we get bored, but for some of us can help us to improve our meditation, the calmness of our mind and body, improve our attention and concentration.

As you can see we can mix together the music, games and activity that can be used as a stress reliever there is a therapist who use music and a twist of game and this is what we called Rhythm Games. For therapist its help the children and adult to communicate more to there friends by using drum techniques.

I read an article called "Rhythm in communication, the fundamental basis of music therapy" by Benjaman Schöglerby from http://skoogmusic.com. The author talks about how Rhythm play a role as a link to the other people. If you play drums with other people you can create a communication with them, with that you can easily express yourself and release your anxiety or stress that hinder your response and attention.

Accordin to Schöglerby "Music therapy does provide a safe platform to explore rhythmic capacity; it is defined by the American music therapy association as “the prescribed use of music by a qualified person to effect positivechanges in the psychological, physical, cognitive or social functioning of individuals with health or educational problems”. A key element is the therapist’s skill or strength in providing supportive and sensitive rhythm, human rhythm, in synrhythmia, the act of sharing time constructively (Trevarthen, 2007). As musicians we focus on manipulating rhythm in sound, making it overt, available to others and crucially inviting/pleasing or engaging. The importance of human rhythmus in communicative behaviour is borne out by the positive impacts music therapy has for individuals with linguistic or communicative deficits when combined with more traditional speech and language therapies (Brotons and Koger, 2000; Wigram, 2002).

Rhythm games can be used by individuals its up to us on how were are we going to apply it to our self especially if we have a group of friends who wants to relax and release there stress. This kind of activity help people to communicate and interact mo re often to the other at the same time its decrease the level of anxiety because you are part of the game and you lively interact with them freely just by tapping the drum or singing with them while playing an instrument.

Music is a mix of rhythm games and therapy which help us to release our enormous emotion inside our body and mind at the same time its improve our ability to interact with other and help our communication skill by expressing our emotion using music which is the link to the other people that who are shy or difficulties to communicate or interact with them.

Blog post 8: Patients that mostly caters music therapy

Music is amazing in a way that it is universal. Anyone can use it either for personal and medical purposes. Music therapy is used in a variety of populations including children and adults with developmental disabilities (autism, mental retardation, stroke, etc.)

We take advantage of our youth times. We do things without sometimes thinking twice. During old-school times, a person’s life expectancy would go around 80 – 90 years of age. Since most of the food they consume before are all organic. Engaging to sports and educational stuff would be the thing that they consider as technology whereas being witty is what they consider a trend. Nowadays, we would consume any living thing and since there’s a mass production of food and resources, fast foods pops up like mushrooms where literally “fast foods” are served with some are highly intoxicated for our body which shortens the life expectancy of a person from 45 – 80 years of age. Technology would be the one considered as a trend since we have to go with the flow of a lifestyle we look up to. These two (2) are the most that uses music as a part of medical field which is clinically proven since during therapies; brain stimulation and studies are proven.

I read an article about “Stroke Rehabilitation and Music Therapy” by one of the contributors and editor from www.medicalnewstoday.com Wiley Blackwell. He researched and introduced how music therapy helps a patient suffering from stroke.

According to Blackwell, “Music therapy techniques, including listening to live and recorded music were employed to try to improve speech, behavior and pain in patients with brain injuries, and although outcomes in some cases were positive, evidence was limited. It is expected that larger samples sizes will be used in future studies to enable sound recommendations for clinical practice.”

Now, having said the difference of our lives from past to present, there’s one thing that we all trying to avoid, stroke. It is an unavoidable brain injury that either a healthy or unhealthy person can have. Imagine no one can escape this kind of brain injury. Since we are on the hype of high end technology, doctors studies all possible ways to somewhat cure a person with a stroke. More than a million people suffer from stroke each year. They would even produce a medicine to somehow lessen the brain injury but now, music therapy came into the picture. It is now practiced and used all over the world to help a person suffering from stroke.

During pregnancy, a series of tests is performed to check if there are some impurities, if in case there are, it can be somewhat cured on the early stage of pregnancy. Unfortunately, ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder cannot be detected unless a child is born. It can only be detected if a child had grown to a toddler. There are indications that a child is a victim of ASD. Nowadays, people on medical field are striving to know, detect, and of course prevent autism. There are therapies that cater a child with ASD. Since music is universal, music therapy is also part of their medical tool to help a patient recover or do better.

I was lucky to find an article that shares insights about music therapy, an article about “Music and Autism Research” by a medical group of San Diego Music Therapists from www.coastmusictherapy.com  They shared their experiences and ideas on how it works especially for a patient with complex disability.  

According to the writers of San Diego Music Therapy, "Music and autism research support the benefits of music as a processing strength and the positive effects music therapy has in the treatment of individuals with autism.  Coast Music Therapy has compiled the latest studies with the most persuasive results and regularly updates this list to reflect the most current research. Individuals with autism show equal or superior abilities in pitch processing, labeling of emotions in music, and musical preference when compared to typically developing peers. The most compelling evidence supporting the clinical benefits of music therapy lies in the areas of social-emotional responsiveness and communication, including increased compliance, reduced anxiety, increased speech output, decreased vocal stereotypy, receptive labeling, and increased interaction with peers. Preliminary findings also support the potential for music to assist in the learning of daily routines”.

Since communication is also a hindrance for a victim of ASD, music is used for them to feel involved. For example, a child with ASD is introduced to a music instrument; it engages the emotional part of their brain that reacts every time they play an instrument. They use it as a communication to us and it makes them express themselves.

I've learned that during this research about MT, it plays a major role to the medical field. Since at first I thought that music only caters the fulfillment of our emotion, it also caters people in need to communicate and be able to express.