New Educational Lecture. Check It Out!!

Hi everyone, I'm very excited to announce my latest offering on musicfromthestart.com. This video lecture is titled: The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Infancy. The lecture comes in two formats, a 15 min and 42 min version. I wanted to do this to consider peoples time considerations. Off course the 42 min version has all of the detailed research explained, etc.

It's free! Please pass this on to expecting moms or families. My initial goal is to get as many people as possible to use the program then give me feedback - to make it better. My main goal is to eventually provide a great service to expecting moms and families, something that they can really benefit from. And know I will be updating this regularly.

Go down the hm pg @ www.musicfromthestart.com and scroll down to the: Video Lecture: The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Infancy, open it up and take it from there.

And please like us Facebook and follow on Twitter!

Merry Christmas and I hope everyone has a great new year!! We'll talk more next year.

Thanks very much, David P.

Music Research Areas part 6

Thanks for visiting musicfromthestart.com topics and conversations. Here I want to address music therapy issues and concepts as they relate to education, health and wellness. Also, I want to let everyone know that my new site: musicfromthestart.com, still in it's infancy, is in the process of producing more offerings. Right now there are two music albums available, David's Basics in Education and Lyrical Imagery. This second album, Lyrical Imagery, is a free download for a limited time.


Hopefully this week I will have my third offering available, a video lecture for expecting parents titled The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood (including Labor and Delivery). The main thrust of this information will be to support moms (and dads) as they put together their own music listening playlists or CDs to support rhythmic breathing, act as a positive diversion from pain and stress, etc., to be used during labor and delivery.

For this weeks post I want to continue explaining the 14 music research areas introduced in part one. These are the last two.  I refer to this information piece often and address it's content specifically in the upcoming video lecture The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood...

So lets finish up with #s 13, and 14!!!

David Putano, HPMT, MT-BC

Music Therapist – Board Certified

 email: vol@bex.net

www.musicfromthestart.com

RELATED MUSIC RESEARCH AREAS

          Music has been clinically proven to:

13. ACT AS AN EMOTIONAL STIMULUS, ELICITING INSTANT FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS (primary cognitive experience)

As mentioned a few times thus far, an aspect of music that I see affect people often, no matter what the age, is that of music being a primary cognitive experience. What this means is that when we hear music we have no control over the feeling and emotions it gives us. All sensory experiences are like this. When we hear, see, smell, feel and taste things, again, we have no control over the feeling and emotions sensory experiences give us. For example... if we are in a mall and a fragrance that reminds us of our grandmother gets our attention, whether we want to think of our grandmother or not, we will think of her.

So, consider identifying favorite music of yours that you know you have personal, positive associations with and listen to it as needed and often.

14. INCREASE COGNITIVE (brain) AND PHYSICAL ENERGY AND DECREASE FATIGUE

In the early 1960s the prominent French ears, nose and throat doctor Alfred Tomatis was called to investigate incidences at European Monasteries where it was reported that monks were experiencing depression, being less productive, sleeping more than usual, etc. Other doctors tried things that did not work. When Tomatis decided to consider what in their lives had changed recently he found that a lot had indeed. In the early 1960s the Vatican II charter had modified the church customs and traditions from age old formal Latin practices to more modern ones. Tomatis found that one age old ritual, chanting (Gregorian Chant – sacred vocalizing with no instruments), was now done much less than previously. When Tomatis had the monks go back to their daily chanting practices they were all amazed to see their reported symptoms subside. They reverted back to their high energy, highly productive and spiritual selves, and went back to being able to function nicely on moderate amounts of sleep. So Tomatis went about finding out why vocalizing for many hours per week was so energizing. Through his research he found out that our brain receives 80% of it's sensory energy from sound. And particularly our own voice, with it's rich mid range frequencies, charge or energize our brain similar to how an alternator charges a car battery. Consider this... what is the classic characterization of an opera singer, one who vigorously uses their voice daily? They usually are very energetic, erect, confident, boisterous and with loud, clear voices. Now, what is the classic characterization of someone who is depressed? In a depressed person we often see someone who is slumped, tired, un-enthused and with a soft, monotone voice.

So our own voice, live music (particularly Mozart) or recorded music listening, in that order, are the sound sources that energize us.

 

In upcoming posts I will continue elaborating on: music research items, using music listening for labor and delivery, the benefits of music experiences for the pre-school, special needs and autistic populations, music listening during surgery and more! As a reminder, the MT Research Sheet addressed in this post is located in the Resource Center, lower left of the home page, at musicfromthestart.com.

My prescription this week??? For something completely different, pull out or download some Mozart or Gregorian Chant music and give it a listen. If this is foreign to you do not evaluate it after one listen, give it a few days then evaluate. If it's not "your cup of tea" check it off your list a say you tried it. If you like it... relax and enjoy!!!!

 
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

Music Research Areas part 5

Thanks for visiting musicfromthestart.com topics and conversations. Here I want to address music therapy issues and concepts as they relate to education, health and wellness. Also, I want to let everyone know that my new site: musicfromthestart.com, still in it's infancy, is in the process of producing more offerings. Right now there are two music albums available, David's Basics in Education and Lyrical Imagery. This second album, Lyrical Imagery, is a free download for a limited time.


Hopefully this week I will have my third offering available, a video lecture for expecting parents titled The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood (including Labor and Delivery). The main thrust of this information will be to support moms (and dads) as they put together their own music listening playlists or CDs to support rhythmic breathing, act as a positive diversion from pain and stress, etc., to be used during labor and delivery.

For this weeks post I want to continue explaining, one by one, the 14 music research areas introduced in part one.  I refer to this information piece often and address it's content specifically in the upcoming video lecture The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood...

So lets continue with #s 10, 11, and 12!!!

David Putano, HPMT, MT-BC

Music Therapist – Board Certified

 email: vol@bex.net

www.musicfromthestart.com

RELATED MUSIC RESEARCH AREAS

          Music has been clinically proven to:

10. PROVIDE REALITY ORIENTATION AND OFFER A POSITIVE DIVERSION FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING CONFUSION, HALLUCINATIONS OR DELUSIONS
As a reminder, an aspect of music that I see affect people often, no matter what the age, is that of music being a primary cognitive experience. What this means is that when we hear music we have no control over the feeling and emotions it gives us. All sensory experiences are like this. When we hear, see, smell, feel and taste things, again, we have no control over the feeling and emotions sensory experiences give us. For example... if we are in a mall and a fragrance that reminds us of our grandmother gets our attention, whether we want to think of our grandmother or not, we will think of her. We can not control the thoughts that come about due to the sensory experience. With this in mind, preferred music listening, used as a positive diversion from confusion, hallucinations or delusions, works nicely.
And if you remember our discussion regarding physical or emotional pain, we said that we have to utilize many neural pathways to feel that pain. Similarly, when we engage in music listening to act as a positive diversion from confusion, hallucinations or delusions, for us to attend to the music we again have to utilize many neural pathways to attend to that music... leaving less (neural pathways) to perceive hallucinations or delusions. Neural pathways are microscopic nerve endings all through our body that ultimately connect to our brain. Often, with this in mind, the purposeful use of music can divert attention away from confusion, delusions and at times, hallucinations. Hallucinations are more difficult to control.
11. BE AN EFFECTIVE “HELPER” DURING EXERCISE/FITNESS TIMES BY ACTING AS A MOTIVATOR, POSITIVE DIVERSION FROM EXERTION, PACE SETTER, ETC.
For this, apply all of #10 to this, i.e., music being a primary cognitive experience and that of music occupying many neural pathways, leaving less to perceive (in this case) stress, exertion, etc. associated with exercise. Also, just like we might dance to the beat of music... Use preferred music (listening) playlists or CDs consisting of songs with specific speeds or tempos to exercise, run or walk to.
12. REDUCE THE CONDITIONED SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY, i.e., NAUSEA AND VOMITING
First we must understand what conditioned side effects are. When individuals receive chemotherapy for cancer treatment the medicine is very strong and toxic. Due to it's toxicity people actually get sick, often experiencing nausea and vomiting. Our bodies, out of survival, always tries to expel toxic agents from our system for our protection. That's why when people drink too much alcohol they throw up. If the person receiving the chemo, lets say, does so in a room that has turquoise walls, after they have gotten sick a few times from the chemo, they might start to feel sick upon entering the room, or might start to feel sick simply seeing the color turquoise. Smells work the same way. Why? The person now associates the color turquoise or the smell of the room with getting sick. That is what conditioned side effects are. Actual physical or emotional side effects prompted by associated conditions.
With regard to preferred music listening, days or weeks before chemo therapy starts (if possible), listen to your prepared music purposefully and with no distractions. The idea is to start associating your wonderful music with comfort and GOOD feelings which will hopefully override the physical conditioned side effects that could occur from the actual chemo therapy experience. Listen to your music 2-3 times per day, with no distractions (the same music) days/weeks prior to chemo, during and after the treatments. ***This strategy will not be as effective if you wait to use your music after you are getting sick, i.e., with no prior use before the treatments started.

In upcoming posts I will continue explaining the research items listed on the MT Research Sheet located in the Resource Center, lower left of the home page, at musicfromthestart.com.

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" or “High 5” and listen to YOUR favorite music and enjoy!!!!

  
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

Music Research Areas part 4

Thanks for visiting musicfromthestart.com topics and conversations. Here I want to address music therapy issues and concepts as they relate to education, health and wellness. Also, I want to let everyone know that my new site: musicfromthestart.com, still in it's infancy, is in the process of producing more offerings. Right now there are two music albums available, David's Basics in Education and Lyrical Imagery. This second album, Lyrical Imagery, is a free download for a limited time.

Very soon I will have my third offering available, a video lecture for expecting parents titled The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood (including Labor and Delivery). The main thrust of this information will be to support moms (and dads) as they put together their own music listening playlists or CDs to support rhythmic breathing, act as a positive diversion from pain and stress, etc., to be used during labor and delivery.

 

For this weeks post I want to continue explaining, one by one, the 14 music research areas introduced in part one.  I refer to this information piece often and address it's content specifically in the upcoming video lecture The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood...

So lets continue with #s 7, 8, and 9!!!

David Putano, HPMT, MT-BC
Music Therapist – Board Certified
 email: vol@bex.net
www.musicfromthestart.com


RELATED MUSIC RESEARCH AREAS


Music has been clinically proven to:

7. BOOST OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM – AFTER A 30 MIN MUSIC EXPERIENCE ENZYMES IN OUR SALIVA, THAT AID IN DIGESTION (thus boosting our immune system), ARE PRODUCED, NAMELY IMMUNOGLOBULIN A (IgA); ALSO PRODUCED, INTERLEUKIN 1 WHICH IS A PROTEIN THAT ALSO AIDS IN FORTIFYING IMMUNE RESPONSE

Similar to the music research on stress, after individuals listened to personally chosen, preferred music, the above mentioned enzymes that boost immune response were produced and measured.

8.  AID IN TISSUE REGENERATION (repair)

This research, called "cymatics" or the science of sound and vibrational healing, was first conducted by Hans Jenny, a Swiss physician and natural scientist. Simply explained, he found that when a powdery substance spread on a taught, rubber membrane was subjected to sound (vibrations) it vibrated into tissue like, cellular like structures. Therapy apparatus' have since been developed, using sound, for ligament and tissue repair.   ***See this article about cymatics.

9. AID IN SURGERY SETTINGS BY: DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF ANESTHESIA NEEDED; DECREASING BLEEDING AND SPEEDING UP RECOVERY TIME 

First, referring back to #3, i.e., "music has been clinically proven to - increase the positive effects of medications.." for medication to benefit us it has to be properly absorbed. And for absorption to be maximized it has to stay in our system and/or gut the longest amount of time possible. So, when we can be more relaxed, medications will stay in our system longer.  When meds stay in our system longer more will be absorbed. When more is readily absorbed they become more effective. When they are more effective less medication is required. When less medication is given side effects are minimized and recovery time is sped up. It doesn't matter what we do to relax, but music is a great way to do it. 

Decreased bleeding occurs when an individual relaxes. For example, a relaxation response causes decreased heart rate therefore decreased bleeding.  

In upcoming posts I will continue explaining the research items listed on the MT Research Sheet located in the Resource Center, lower left of the home page, at musicfromthestart.com.

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" or “High 5” and listen to your favorite music and enjoy!!!!

 
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

Music Research Areas part 3

Thanks for visiting musicfromthestart.com topics and conversations. Here I want to address music therapy issues and concepts as they relate to education, health and wellness. Also, I want to let everyone know that my new site: musicfromthestart.com, still in it's infancy, is in the process of producing more offerings. Right now there are two music albums available, David's Basics in Education and Lyrical Imagery. This second album, Lyrical Imagery, is a free download for a limited time.

Very soon I will have my third offering available, a video lecture for expecting parents titled The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood (including Labor and Delivery). The main thrust of this information will be to support moms (and dads) as they put together their own music listening playlists or CDs to support rhythmic breathing, act as a positive diversion from pain and stress, etc., to be used during labor and delivery.

For this weeks post I want to continue explaining, one by one, the 14 music research areas introduced two week ago. I refer to this information piece often and address it's content specifically in the upcoming video lecture The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood...

So lets continue with #s 4, 5, and 6!!!

David Putano, HPMT, MT-BC
Music Therapist – Board Certified
 email: vol@bex.net
www.musicfromthestart.com


RELATED MUSIC RESEARCH AREAS


Music has been clinically proven to:
4. DECREASE THE PERCEPTION OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL PAIN
Here I will discuss physiologic reasons how and why experiencing music can decrease the perception of pain.   
First, if we are experiencing physical or emotional pain we have to utilize many neural pathways to feel that pain. Similarly, when we engage in music listening to act as a positive diversion from pain, for us to attend to the music we again have to utilize many neural pathways to attend to that music... leaving less (neural pathways) to perceive pain. Neural pathways are microscopic nerve endings all through our body that ultimately connect to our brain. An example I'll use here is lets say we were on our couch with a splitting headache and someone at our door said that a youngster on a bike was just struck by a car outside. Most of us, getting up off the couch, going outside where neighbors and paramedics would be attending to the youngster, would not feel the pain in our head anymore. Why? Because we would be utilizing many neural pathways to perceive the commotion outside (task at hand) leaving less to perceive pain.    
And second, regarding music’s psychophysiologic effects, Helen Bonny, PhD (as cited in Tsao et al., 1992), alludes to studies with coronary intensive care patients finding that those who listened to sedative music increased their tolerance for pain and decreased their need for pain medication. Ms. Bonny’s explanation for this: “sedative music is capable of stimulating the brain to produce peptides which are natural pain killers.”   
***For more in depth information about music therapy and pain management go to the resource center at the bottom left of the home page at: musicfromthestart.com.    
5. DECREASE BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART RATE AND RESPIRATION RATE WHILE INCREASING OXYGEN TO THE BLOOD
As a reminder, for any of these benefits to be ideally achieved by purposefully using music, preferred music and listening to that specific music enough to develop a conditioned response are the two important keys to success.
The big implication for this #5 and #6 below is the fact that music has been clinically proven to induce a relaxation response, i.e, decreasing heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate and brain wave activity. Also, a relaxation response measures decreased levels of stress hormone. Researchers essentially measure this by putting vital sign apparatus on individuals. After listening to preferred music the above listed results are common. 
Increasing oxygen to the blood happens because the person relaxes. When a relaxation response is achieved not only do our muscles relax but our veins and arteries do also. This results in more blood flow thereby increasing oxygen levels in the blood. Increased body temperature occurs for the same reason. *** Ever have to kick off covers in the winter after you've been asleep for a while? 
6. DECREASE STRESS LEVELS (increasing endorphin levels, our body's natural opiates) 
#5 above addresses stress levels. 

In upcoming posts I will continue explaining the research items listed on the MT Research Sheet located in the Resource Center, lower left of the home page, at musicfromthestart.com.

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" or “High 5” and listen to your favorite music and enjoy!!!!

 
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

Music Research Areas part 2

First, thank you veterans and God Bless You!

Thanks for visiting musicfromthestart.com topics and conversations. Here I want to address music therapy issues and concepts as they relate to education, health and wellness. Also, I want to let everyone know that my new site: musicfromthestart.com, still in it's infancy, is in the process of producing more offerings. Right now there are two music albums available, David's Basics in Education and Lyrical Imagery. This second album, Lyrical Imagery, is a free download for a limited time.

Very soon I will have my third offering available, a video lecture for expecting parents titled The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood (including Labor and Delivery). The main thrust of this information will be to support moms (and dads) as they put together their own music listening playlists or CDs to support rhythmic breathing, act as a positive diversion from pain and stress, etc., to be used during labor and delivery.

For this weeks post I want to start explaining, one by one, the 14 music research areas introduced last week. I refer to this information piece often and address it's content specifically in the upcoming video lecture The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy... So lets get to it!!!

First of all, I'll start by reminding us that the two keys to us benefiting from the purposeful use of music are: 1) we must choose the music to engage in, or preferred music and 2) ideally we should listen to it often (and with no distractions) to develop a conditioned response, e.g., if we want to benefit from music listening for sleep, after we choose our slow music, listen to it often enough to where you associate that exact music with comfort and sleep.

David Putano, HPMT, MT-BC

Music Therapist – Board Certified

 email: vol@bex.net

www.musicfromthestart.com

RELATED MUSIC RESEARCH AREAS

Music has been clinically proven to:

1. PROVIDE A POSITIVE DIVERSION FROM NEGATIVE EMOTIONS – NOT COMPATABLE WITH WORRY
   
   First, an aspect of music that I see affect people often, no matter what the age, is that of music being a primary cognitive experience. What this means is that when we hear music we have no control over the feeling and emotions it gives us. All sensory experiences are like this. When we hear, see, smell, feel and taste things, again, we have no control over the feeling and emotions sensory experiences give us. For example... if we are in a mall and a fragrance that reminds us of our grandmother gets our attention, whether we want to think of our grandmother or not, we will think of her. We can not control the thoughts that come about due to the sensory experience. With this in mind, if you want to use music listening as a positive diversion from worry listen to your favorite music, with no distractions - a lot!
   
   And second, to perceive anything (stressful thoughts, pain, etc.) we have to utilize many neural pathways. If we are utilizing many neural pathways to attend to, and perceive positive emotions from a favorite piece of music, we leave less neural pathways to perceive stress, pain or worry.
   
   
   
2. ALLOW THE MIND AND BODY TO RELAX AND ACT AS A NON-ANALGESIC SLEEP AID (with no side effects)
   
   First, non-analgesic means: not drug like. 
   
   Second, music has been clinically proven to induce a relaxation response, i.e., decreased stress hormone, lower blood pressure, slower brain wave activity, decreased heart rate, etc. 
   ***Again, all this occurs when someone uses preferred music in a purposeful manner as described above.
   
   And lastly, music used in this manner will produce no negative side effects. 
   
   
3. INCREASE THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF MEDICATIONS
   
   First, for medication to benefit us it has to be properly absorbed. And for absorption to be maximized it has to stay in our system and/or gut the longest amount of time possible.  
   
   Did you ever experience or hear someone say, for example, "with the funeral last week I was so stress the everything went right through me..." When we are stressed out and our metabolism is in a heightened state our bodies do expel toxins faster (all medications are toxins) and digestions is sped up, ultimately not allowing medications to be fully absorbed. When all this happens, often times more medications are administered, allowing for more negative side effects, etc, etc, etc.
   
   So, when we can be more relaxed, medications will stay in our system longer.  When meds stay in our system longer more will be absorbed. When more is readily absorbed they become more effective. When they are more effective less medication is required. When less medication is given side effects are minimized and recovery time is sped up. It doesn't matter what we do to relax, but music is a great way to do it. 

In upcoming posts I will continue explaining the research items listed on the MT Research Sheet located in the Resource Center, lower left of the home page, at musicfromthestart.com.

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" or “High 5” and listen to your favorite music and enjoy!!!!

 
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

Music Research Areas part 1

Thanks for visiting musicfromthestart.com topics and conversations. Here I want to address music therapy issues and concepts as they relate to education, health and wellness. Also, I want to let everyone know that my new site: musicfromthestart.com, still in it's infancy, is in the process of producing more offerings. Right now there are two music albums available, David's Basics in Education and Lyrical Imagery. This second album, Lyrical Imagery, is a free download for a limited time.

Very soon I will have my third offering available, a video lecture for expecting parents titled The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy Through Toddlerhood (including Labor and Delivery). The main thrust of this information will be to support moms (and dads) as they put together their own music listening playlists or CDs to support rhythmic breathing, act as a positive diversion from pain and stress, etc., to be used during labor and delivery.

For this weeks post I want to introduce an information piece that I refer to often and address specifically in the upcoming video lecture The Purposeful Use of Music From Pregnancy...

David Putano, HPMT, MT-BC

Music Therapist – Board Certified

 email: vol@bex.net

www.musicfromthestart.com

RELATED MUSIC RESEARCH AREAS

Music has been clinically proven to:

1. PROVIDE A POSITIVE DIVERSION FROM NEGATIVE EMOTIONS – NOT COMPATABLE WITH WORRY
2. ALLOW THE MIND AND BODY TO RELAX AND ACT AS A NON-ANALGESIC SLEEP AID (with no side effects)
3. INCREASE THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF MEDICATIONS
4. DECREASE THE PERCEPTION OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL PAIN
5. DECREASE BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART RATE AND RESPIRATION RATE WHILE INCREASING OXYGEN TO THE BLOOD
6. DECREASE STRESS LEVELS (increasing endorphin levels, our body's natural opiates)
7. BOOST OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM – AFTER A 30 MIN MUSIC EXPERIENCE ENZYMES IN OUR SALIVA, THAT AID IN DIGESTION (thus boosting our immune system), ARE PRODUCED, NAMELY IMMUNOGLOBULIN A (IgA); ALSO PRODUCED, INTERLEUKIN 1 WHICH IS A PROTEIN THAT ALSO AIDS IN FORTIFYING IMMUNE RESPONSE
8. AID IN TISSUE REGENERATION (repair)
9. AID IN SURGERY SETTINGS BY: DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF ANESTHESIA NEEDED; DECREASING BLEEDING AND SPEEDING UP RECOVERY TIME
10. PROVIDE REALITY ORIENTATION AND OFFER A POSITIVE DIVERSION FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HALLUCINATIONS OR DELUSIONS

11. BE AN EFFECTIVE “HELPER” DURING EXERCISE/FITNESS TIMES BY ACTING AS A MOTIVATOR, POSITIVE DIVERSION FROM EXERTION, PACE SETTER, ETC.
12. REDUCE THE CONDITIONED SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY, i.e., NAUSEA AND VOMITING
13. ACT AS AN EMOTIONAL STIMULUS, ELICITING INSTANT FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS (primary cognitive experience)
14. INCREASE COGNITIVE (brain) AND PHYSICAL ENERGY AND DECREASE FATIGUE

***The above mentioned benefits of music are more readily attainable when

we utilize music in a purposeful manner, i.e., preferred music

used often with no or minimal distractions.

In upcoming posts I will explain first, the research items listed that directly relate to the aforementioned video lecture then, in future posts, explain all of research areas listed.

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" or “High 5” and listen to your favorite music and enjoy!!!!

 
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

Music Listening to Optimize Sleep

 With MFTS.com's latest music offering, “Lyrical Imagery,” which is designed to support stress management and relaxation and sleep, I want this post to explain in detail how we can use music listening to be an effective sleep aid to promote and support relaxation and to encourage the use of music as part of one's sleep ritual – for children and adults. I have said in the past that when we us music to aid in health and wellness, a great thing is, there are no side effects. Before I get started I want to remind us that my previous three blog posts have talked about the research and rationale of “Lyrical Imagery,” i.e., why it was written, how music affects us, etc. Also, visit musicfromthestart.com for the free download of “Lyrical Imagery.”

This subject of using music listening for relaxation and sleep has been talked about and researched for years, for ex, "Music Improves Sleep Quality in Students" and "Music Enhances Sleep in Preschool Children"

To get started I want to first mention two important keys that optimize the use of music for sleep, they are 1) that the person chooses their favorite music, or preferred music and 2) that once the music is decided on, that music should be listened to every night as part of a sleep ritual, thus developing a conditioned response.

What is a conditioned response? A conditioned response is an unconscious physical or emotional reaction to a stimulus. For our purposes here... if I use the Lyrical Imagery music (or any music) every bed time to fall asleep to, after a short while I will start to associate relaxation and sleep with that specific music. That is a conditioned response. Another common example is when someone in the summer starts to use a fan at bed time... Again, after a short time, because the fan drowns out noise or the air movement is comforting, whatever, they also start to associate relaxation and sleep with the fan... using it even in the winter.

When we choose music that we like, that we have positive associations to, music can be a positive diversion from negative thoughts and stressors. Used in this manner we get to the point where our favorite, preferred music played nightly, elicits the conditioned response first, of relaxation, then sleep.

Also, because we humans make associations so easily, wellness support modalities such as music are good, as I said earlier, because there are no side effects. And I'll add that music is something we essentially can use as much as we want. Another aspect of music that makes it so effective, mentioned in a previous post, it is that music is a primary cognitive experience. What this means is that when we hear music we have no control over the feeling and emotions it gives us. All sensory experiences are like this. When we hear, see, smell, feel and taste things, again, we have no control over the feeling and emotions sensory experiences give us. For example... if we are in a mall and a fragrance that reminds us of our grandmother gets our attention, whether we want to think of our grandmother or not, we will think of her. We can not control the thoughts that come about due to the sensory experience. Primary cognitive experience equals conditioned response.

To summarize, when we choose our favorite music (preferred music), and listen to that preferred music every night, we start to associate that music with sleep and comfort, i.e., a conditioned response.

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" or choose another favorite CD, artist or style, play that music every night and pleasantly relax as you go to sleep with your favorite music... Ahh

 
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

Relaxation Music - "Lyrical Imagery" research and rationale - part 3

To summarize the last two weeks blog posts... we introduced my concept of "Lyrical Imagery." Typically relaxation music consists of instrumental music or music with nature sounds. And typical relaxation exercises such as imagery or progressive muscle relaxation consist of, again, instrumental music with (or without) nature sounds with spoken imagery or directives. Lyrical Imagery uses sung imagery (lyrics) that utilize right and left hemispheres of the brain. Some universal imagery topics such as ocean, mountains and snow are used. See (printable) research and rationale about Lyrical Imagery in the Resource Center - MT Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3. 

Last week we discussed the important issue of how music affects us. Part 3, lets continue...

Download "Lyrical Imagery" for FREE! - Click Here  Lyrical Imagery is a collection of relaxation and stress management pieces. I particularly like this modality to establish sleep rituals for children (and adults). I will address this specifically in future blog posts.

Continued below is associated research and rationale for this project which can be accessed in full under the name "Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3" in the Resource Center... (see bottom left of home pg)

 

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What is entrainment music? The entrainment mechanism that is utilized in "Lyrical Imagery" is a technique in which stimuli, particularly periodic or rhythmic events, time lock thus affecting similar actions or behaviors (Rider, 1985). It is quite common to use sedative music that approximates the tempo of an individual's relaxed heart rate (60 to 66 beat per minute) or respiration rate (12 to 16 breaths per minute) to slow down an individual's vital rates. A chain of events can occur where a less rapid respiration rate leads to decreased heart rate, which leads to less brain wave activity and decreased anxiety and stress levels, overall eliciting a relaxation response. Bonny (1986) also points out that tempo is not the only concern, mood states that influence body imbalance can be effected by the "mood" of the music. In research by Rider (1985) and Karim (1988) using entrainment music with spinal pain patients results indicated that pain and EMG levels were reduced. Lenard (1978) "characterized entrainment music as an underlying mechanism describing the pull one dynamic system has on another, and it is explained in physics as nature's way of preferring the most efficient energy state" (as cited in Rider, 1887).***NOTE: the above vital rates are for healthy adults

What are overtones and bow do they affect us? Webster's

dictionary defines overtone as: "an accompanying tone produced over the basic tone by a musical instrument". Guitar and piano are two particular instruments that produce many overtones. In 1975 Carmon, Lavy, Gordon and Portnoy found that patients who listened to classical guitar music as opposed to speech experienced an increase in blood flow to their brain's right hemisphere (as cited in Rider, Mickey, Weldin & Hawkinson 1991). And Sidtis (1980) found that "the more harmonic overtones embedded in the sound, the greater the right hemisphere advantage" (Rider et al., 1991). This is significant as it relates to "Lyrical Imagery" because it is well documented that the right cortical hemisphere functions in a nonverbal,holistic, imagistic, visual-spatial, metaphoric, intuitive manner (Hodges, 1980). Therefore it is most beneficial, with regard to inducing imagery and relaxation, to stimulate our brain's right hem1sphere. The "Lyrical Imagery" pieces utilize the acoustic guitar as to maximize the effects of overtones.

Overview... the purpose of past three weeks post information regarding "Lyrical Imagery" was to highlight the uniqueness of this concept, i.e., using sung lyrics (imagery directives) that affect us positively at a higher level than spoken imagery directives. Unique benefits to sung imagery directives include music being processed differently and at a deeper subconscious level than speech, music having the capability to induce a relaxation response, etc. Also, as opposed to imagery experiences or exercises that do not include music Lyrical Imagery employs the advantages of entrainment and overtones. So, as to not reiterate all of the information from the past three weeks, review the last two blog posts, including this one, to comprehend a complete summary of Lyrical Imagery's distinctive benefits.

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" and use it to relax with. But listen to it with NO DISTRACTIONS!!! Enjoy...  
AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.

 

Relaxation Music - "Lyrical Imagery" research and rationale - part 2

To summarize last weeks blog post... we introduced my concept of "Lyrical Imagery." Typically relaxation music consists of instrumental music or music with nature sounds. And typical relaxation exercises such as imagery or progressive muscle relaxation consist of, again, instrumental music with (or without) nature sounds with spoken imagery or directives. Lyrical Imagery uses sung imagery (lyrics) that utilize right and left hemispheres of the brain. Some universal imagery topics such as ocean, mountains and snow are used. See (printable) research and rationale about Lyrical Imagery in the Resource Center - MT Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3. 

Also, last week we defined imagery and talked about how music therapy and imagery benefit us. Part 2, lets continue...

 Download "Lyrical Imagery" for FREE! - Click Here  Lyrical Imagery is a collection of relaxation and stress management pieces. I particularly like this modality to establish sleep rituals for children (and adults). I will address this specifically in future blog posts.

Continued below is associated research and rationale for this project which can be accessed in full under the name "Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3" in the Resource Center... (see bottom left of home pg)

David B. Putano, HPMT,MT-BC

Musicfromthestart.com

 

How does music benefit us? Similar to imagery, there are vast

amounts of literature that illustrate the emotional and

physiological effects of music. Regarding emotions Critchley and

Hensen (1977) conclude that: 1) music is processed differently

and at a deeper subconscious level than speech, filtering

through the auditory cortex to the limbic system which is the

center of emotional processing, and 2) music can be used to .

stimulate endorphins that create a positive kind of emotional

arousal (as cited in Tsao, Gordon, Maranto & Murasko, 1991). In

their 1987 article titled "Use of Music Therapy in Pain Clinics"

Sedei and Godley reported: patients accepted for treatment at

the pain clinic found that music helped them produce and guide

imagery, and helped them more deeply relax (p. 26). McFarland

(1985) as cited 1n Tsao et al., 1991 states that in his study of

100 subjects, each listening to one sedative and one stimulative

piece of music, the sedative music consistently increased individual's skin temperature (indicating relaxation). These results are significant in that the increased temperature levels correlate directly with the degree of physiological relaxation(p. 94.) Numerous studies, Tsao et al., 1991; Dillon & Baker,1985; Lane, 1991; Maranto & Scartelli, 1992; Rider, Achterberg, Lawless, Goven, Toledo & Butler, 1990 speak of music's effect's producing increased levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA). IgA is an antibody that is found in body fluids and is an essential component of our humoral immunological system defending against foreign invaders (antigens) that cause disease. Other studies including one by Bartlett (Kaufman and Smeltekop, 1993, and a 1994 article in the Detroit Free Press titled "Peace of Mind Does a Body Good" report that music listening, relaxation, and imagery boost the body's production of the disease fighting protein interleukin-1. Finally, Kibler and Rider (1983) (as cited in Tsao et al., 1991) studied the effects of relaxation and music on stress. Results indicated that while music and relaxation as individual treatments were effective stress reducers, their combined treatment was more effective (p. 94).

To be continued...

More information about relaxation music and from Lyrical Imagery 1, 2 & 3 in upcoming blog posts...

My prescription this week??? Again, grab the free download of "Lyrical Imagery" and use it to relax with. But listen to it with NO DISTRACTIONS!!! Enjoy...

AND!!!! Please share with others, like us on Facebook  and follow us on Twitter ... Thanks, David P.