Healing through music

This Music Notebook focuses on the therapeutic benefits of music and music therapy. It also provides some tips on how to protect our ears from the noisy environments we encounter in our daily lives.

The therapeutic power of music

Songs and musical pieces have a unique ability to affect the body, memory, and emotions. They can take us back to a happy memory, reveal an emotion that had remained hidden or that we didn’t dare admit to ourselves. Music can make us so happy that we feel like dancing, energize us during a workout, and ease our fatigue during long periods of work or when performing repetitive tasks.

It’s hard to imagine social events without music. It amplifies moments of joy, energizes fans, and motivates sports teams during games. Singing and music are part of many religious ceremonies. They also accompany tears of joy or sadness during weddings and funerals.

The therapeutic power attributed to music is not new. It has been used to help heal the sick for centuries. Several ancient societies, such as Greece, Egypt, China, and India, used it. But it was not until the 20th century that the discipline of music therapy emerged.

Introduction to music therapy

Music therapy is practiced by professionals trained in music and therapy. This method of intervention is effective for people of all ages and for treating a wide variety of issues: emotional trauma, developmental problems, mobility disorders, behavioural disorders, physical rehabilitation, and support for people with disabilities or special needs.

One of the main goals of music therapy is to empower the individual. Contrary to what one might think, the patient does not need to have any prior musical knowledge, since music is used as a creative tool that allows them to express their full potential. Musical instruments serve as a bridge between the patient and the therapist. The aim is not to achieve a performance worthy of great musicians, but to open up a space for sincere expression through which an exchange can take place between the music therapist and the patient.

There are many reasons for using music as a therapeutic tool. It is a creative, instinctive, emotional, and structured means of expression. Music facilitates contact between the therapist and their patients, who can express themselves without using words. This makes it a particularly well-suited method for children.

Music therapists have a vast catalog of music (and sheet music) at their disposal, allowing them to adapt to the tastes and needs of their patients. Listening to music is one of the many tools they use, as it has the ability to ease pain, regulate certain behaviours, and express emotions that words cannot convey. In addition, there are a variety of techniques focused on the patient’s expression and creativity, such as musical improvisation, vocal improvisation, physical movement, etc.

Music therapy is a gentle approach. Above all, it is a discipline that seeks to establish a non-directive, non-judgmental environment that allows individuals to discover and flourish.

Tips for caring for your ears

Our ears are under a lot of strain every day. They are exposed to a variety of loud sounds and noises that can be harmful to them. Exposure to excessively loud noise sources can lead to irreversible hearing loss, which is why it is important to protect our ears. Intense sound stimuli also have an effect on our well-being. They increase stress levels and fatigue, as well as potentially disrupting sleep.

Sound intensity is measured in decibels (dB). The area considered high risk for the human ear is only 85 decibels. For example, a noisy restaurant or heavy traffic reaches 80 decibels. This means that many everyday noises exceed the limit recommended by audiologists: a lawnmower (90 dB), a train (100 dB), a rock concert (110 dB), a jackhammer (120 dB), a clap of thunder (130 dB), and a jet plane (150 dB).

Here are a few tips to keep your ears healthy and continue enjoying music:

  • Turn off devices you are not using.
  • Turn down the volume whenever possible.
  • Avoid prolonged exposure to noisy environments.
  • Stay away from very loud sources of noise.
  • Wear protective equipment when exposed to very loud sounds (earplugs, noise-canceling headphones).

We look forward to seeing you again soon for another winter Music Notebook! Until then, we wish you peaceful surroundings and gentle music.