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.