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Research has shown that music can have significant
restorative effects. For example:
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When healthy adults listened to 15 minutes of music they
liked, their blood tests afterwards revealed higher levels
of interlukin-1, a polypeptide hormone necessary to
immunological reactions, and lower levels of the stress
hormone cortisol, both signs of stronger immunity1.
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A
Strauss waltz and a piece by Ravi Shankar lowered blood
levels of immunity-attackers cortisol, t-PA antigen,
noradrenaline2.
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Regular music and relaxation sessions have
been shown to match up body temperature, electrolytes (fluid
balancers), corticosteroids (hormones), and neuro transmitters (brain
chemicals) – your circadian rhythms – with daily patterns and
activities.3
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Music
can be used to alleviate depression, anger and loneliness4; improve awareness and
insight
5; increase motivation, endurance,
psychological well-being and physical comfort
6; increase
relaxation, alleviate anxiety7; and
increase pain tolerance.8
Many
organizations and individuals have created “designer music”
specifically intended for restorative use. Much of it boasts research
showing its restorative effects. A partial list of providers of
designer music is included below.
In a restorative space, music (or other
sounds – see section on Sounds) might be used in some or
all of the following ways:
(1) as general background to the entire space
(2) in certain selected places
(3) made available for individual listening (e.g., through headphones)
Examples of each are provided below.
As General Background
It seems unlikely that it would be desirable to fill
the entire space with music at all times. Even as
“background,” some of that music might be distracting or
even irritating to people embarked on other restorative
tasks (e.g., meditation). However, the decision might be
made to do that at certain specific times.
In Selected Places
A designated “music area” might be possible. In
addition to playing “designer music” or other demonstrably
restorative music in such places, there are systems created
specifically for limited areas. For example, there is the
C.A.R.E. (Continuous Ambient Relaxation Environment) Channel, a 24-hour
environmental channel that provides original instrumental music and
nature images on a television screen. This system is in use in hospitals
in over 30 states. There is also a music-only version, used in hospital
corridors and public spaces9.
Individually
With headphones or in some other individualized
environment (e.g., a listening booth), people could
experience a wide range of restorative music. To choose just
one example (there are many more below), HeartMath has
created and tested several designer tapes/CDs, and its
“Heart Zones” spent 50 consecutive weeks on the Billboard “Adult
Alternative” chart.10
It is also possible to provide more expansive
restorative opportunities with music, by making information available to
individuals about potentially healing processes they might undertake
while listening to music.
Here is an example of one (of many) such
process recommended in one of many books on the subject, Tune Your
Brain: Using Music to Manage Your Mind, Body, and Mood11:
To let out aggression with music, try this visualizing
sequence:
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Put some Cleansing music on the stereo or Walkman and
turn it up to a satisfying but safe volume.
- As you listen, picture the limbic system at the base
of your brain, right where your spinal column connects to
your head. Feel your anger originating there and flowing to
all your tension spots: the back of your throat, the front
of your head, your pounding heart, and knotted stomach.
- Feel the energy of the music electrify the spot where
your anger begins. Imagine it as a whirling, cleansing ball
of fire while it flows through and vibrates your entire
limbic system. Your anger is the fuel and the music is the
flame; and as the fire burns, it sucks the aggressive
feelings from the far reaches of your body.
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Let the fire burn bright and hot for a moment,
consuming the anger until, with the last chord of your song,
it burns itself out.
When you’re listening to violent music for the purpose
of discharging anger, keep it short. Extended listening can stress your
body with the symptoms of hyperarousal – and might reignite your
anger all over again. Stop as soon as you’ve dispelled your
explosive symptoms, and then move on to recovery.
An important step in catharsis of any kind is
returning to normal. Just as you jump in a lake or take a
shower after a sauna, should cleanse yourself of the negative feelings
you express listening to Cleansing music. To come down from
a Cleansing session, first listen to some calming music.
Relax, until your heart rate has returned to normal and your emotions
have subsided. You might like to follow this with [uplifting] music, to
return to a positive mood. Don’t skip this step! Retransitioning to
calmer thoughts and behaviors helps prevent further explosions in your
overexcited system.11
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General, as opposed to
individualized, sound raises the important restorative issue of
control. Having a sense of control over one’s environment is an
important aspect of restoration – and having too little control is a
contributor to stress. |
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It’s wise to remember that even a “Walkman”-type listening device
with headphones emits sound that can be heard by others within some
range. |
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There could be substantial logistical/administrative issues related
to managing a number of listening devices and a collection of
tapes/CDs (maintenance, security, etc.).
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A consultant to healthcare institutions says this about the sound
environment: “In working with hospitals across the country, I have
found that by looking at the design of the auditory environment, it
forces administrators to consider the issues at stake in the whole
environment.”
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Music and Sound in the Healing Arts by John Beaulieu (Barrytown,
NY: Station Hill Press, 1987) |
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Music for Inner Space: Techniques for Meditation and
Visualization by Nevill Drury (San Leandro, CA: Prism Press,
1985)
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The New Music Therapist’s Handbook by Suzanne Hanser (New
York: Berklee Press, 1990)
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Self-Transformation through Music by Joanne Crandall (Wheaton,
IL: Theosophical Press, 1986)
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Sound Choices: Using Music to Design the Environments in Which
You Live, Work, and Heal by Susan Mazer and Dallas Smith
(Carlsbad, CA: Hay Press, 1999)
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The Tao of Music: Sound Psychology by John Ortiz (Samuel
Weiser, 1997) |
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Tune Your Brain: Using Music to Manage Your Mind, Body, and Mood
by Elizabeth Miles (New York: Berkley Books, 1997)
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Articles
Ortiz, J. “Sound Psychology: The Tao of Music” |
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Volk, J. “Sound Insights” |
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Recordings of "Designer Music"
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“Healing
Music Project.” The Relaxation Company |
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“Healing
with Great Music” and “Heal Yourself with Sound and Music.” |
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“Heart Zones.” HeartMath Institute |
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“Magic
Of Healing Music.” Center for Mind/Body Health |
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“Reclaiming
the Spirit.” Sarah Hopkins |
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“The Soothing Pulse.” |
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“Tune Your Brain” series. |
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Footnotes
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[1]Bartlett, D., D. Kaufman, and R.
Smeltekop, “The Effects of Music Listening and Perceived
Sensory Experiences on the Immune System as Measured by
Interluken-1 and Cortisol,” Journal of Music Therapy 30/4 (1993):
194-209 |
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[2] Mockler, M., T. Stork, et al. “Stress Reduction
Through Listening to Music: Effect on Stress Hormones, Hemodynamics, and
Mental State in Patients with Arterial Hypertension and in Healthy
Persons,” Deutsche Medizinische Wockenschrift 120/21 (1995):
745-52 |
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[3] Rider, M.S., J.W. Floyd, and J. Kirkpatrick,
“The Effect of Music, Imagery, and Relaxation on Adrenal
Corticosteroids and the Re-entrainment of Circadian Rhythms” Journal
of Music Therapy 22 (1985): 46-58 |
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[4] Cordobès, T. K. (1997), Group songwriting
as a method for developing group cohesion for HIV-
Seropositive adult patients with depression. Journal of Music
Therapy,34,
pp. 46-67. |
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[5] Wijzenbeek, G. & van Nieuwenhuijzen, N.
(1993), Receptive music therapy with depressive and neurotic patients.
In r. R. Pratt (Ed.), Music therapy and music education for the
handicapped (pp. 174-175). St. Louis, MO: MMB Music, Inc. |
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[6] “The effects of music therapy on motivation,
psychological well-being, physical comfort, and exercise endurance of
bone marrow transplant patients.” Journal of Music Therapy, 33, pp. 164-188. |
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[7] Standley, J. M. (1986), “Music research in
medical/dental treatment: Meta-analysis and clinical applications.” Journal
of Music Therapy, 23,
pp.56-122. |
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[8] Bailey, L. M. (1986), Music therapy in
pain management. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management,1, pp. 25-28; Beck, S. L.
(1991). The Therapeutic use of music for cancer-related pain. Oncology
Nursing Forum, 18,
pp. 1327-1337; Hekmat, H. M., & Hertel, J. B. (1993),
Pain attenuating effects of preferred versus non-preferred
music interventions. Psychology of Music, 21, pp.
163-173. |
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[9] From Healing HealthCare
Systems, 100 W. Grove Street, Suite 175, Reno, NV 89509,
(800)348-0799,
http://www.healinghealth.com/
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[10] 14700 West Park Avenue,
Boulder Creek, CA. 95006. (800) 450-9111,
http://www.heartmath.com
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[11] by Miles, E. (New York:
Berkley Books, 1997): 192-193
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[12] Mazer, S. E. “Patients
Find Comfort in Auditory Interventions” at
http://www.healthdesign.org/mazer2.html
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Restorative Properties of Music
