Treatment That's in Tune: A Study of the Healing Power of Music Therapy

There has been considerable research into the healing powers of music. Yes, the songs that we listen to on a daily basis or the musical works of classical and contemporary composers is widely accepted as another form of medical treatment for a variety of physical, mental, and psychological medical conditions.

Music helps to build mental capacity because we tend to associate the songs we listen to with particular events in our lives such as our first date, our wedding day, along with the many other events that define our lives. By recalling certain songs, we allow our minds to take us back to those special times in our life.

Music also helps to build our memory through the melody and the lyrics of the songs to which we listen. Chances are that any of us know the words to at least 100 songs, and can at least try to sing any of those songs at any given time. The memory aspect comes into play when we have to match up the melody of the song with the lyrics of the song.

I have seen firsthand how music therapy can help to improve memory and mental capacity. My Grandmother suffered from Alzheimer's disease for a time before she passed away. One day, she was visiting my house while I was listening to a CD of Jim Reeves' songs. On this particular day, her Alzheimer's seemed to be in one of its worst states. She was having trouble remembering my name, my Dad's name, as well as with forming her thought process. When I played one of Jim Reeves' biggest hits, "He'll Have to Go" My grandmother started singing the song word for word. For a time, her memories of the 1950s and 60's, along with some of her other long-term memory returned.