In the United States, the first documented uses of
music therapy were with soldiers during World War II.
The Use of Music Therapy
There were music performances to help the morale of
with the Well Elderly
soldiers overseas and music was used in the rehabilita-
tion of injured soldiers. Eventually, the successful use
By Margery Landis, Arizona State University
of music in the military hospitals, spread to civilian hos-
pitals. Although the field of music therapy is relatively
Dear Maine Music Teachers:
new, the therapeutic use of music has been known for
As many of you know, I took a one year leave of absence
hundreds of years. An apothecary named Richard
from Mt. Ararat Middle School to study music therapy at Ari-
zona State University in Tempe. I know how fortunate I am to
Browne wrote several principles regarding the benefits
have been able to take a year off from "life" and definitely
of music. These principles were published in 1729,
lean into my discomfort! Had I known how challenging it
many years after his death. The relevance of these prin-
would be at first to adjust to the situation, I probably would not
have done it.....I'm not that brave. But, fortunately, ignorance
ciples remains essential in the practice of music therapy
is bliss and I jumped in head first! It's been a wonderful expe-
to this day (Clair, 1996).
rience and I wanted to share some of it with all of you. Music
therapy is not well known in Maine, but it is hopping in other
The principles are as follows:
parts of the country. In fact, it's main stream in Arizona, Cali-
•
The influence of stimulative and seda-
fornia, Florida, and a few other places. I'm enclosing a paper
tive music on human responses, includ-
that I wrote for a class last semester and maybe it will give
you some idea of what music therapy is and does. First se-
ing physiological responses
mester, the focus was on older adults and this semester the
•
The power of music to evoke associa-
focus is on children and adolescents. I've also sent along a
tions and memories
photo of me with a shirt on from my favorite bike shop here in
Tempe. I look forward to coming home in May, even with the
•
The power of music to influence moods
cold that we can't even imagine out here, I miss Maine terri- •
The association between emotions and
bly! Drop me a line if you get a chance. I do keep in touch
with several of you on facebook and I always enjoy hearing
psychosomatic disorders
from people back home.
•
The use of music in preventive health
care
All the best,
Margie Landis
•
The possibility of some music, or some
uses of music, having deleterious effects
•
The use of participation in music for
positive effects on the whole person
•
The therapeutic success with music,
which depends not upon the consumer’s
musical training but upon appropriate
adjustment to the consumer’s ability and
function levels (Clair, 1996, p.3).
During the mid-1800’s the first articles regarding the use
of music as an alternative, holistic approach to medical
treatment appeared. These first writings were mostly
anecdotal, but they were the beginnings of the interest in
using music as a therapeutic practice. The first uses of
therapeutic music are with populations that are ill or in
some sort of need, however, this paper will explore the
possibilities of contemporary uses of music therapy with
older adults that are physically well.
Each age group has their own set of stressors that
are relevant in their lives. This paper will look at what
the causes of stress might be for older adults and how
music therapy can be of use to help prevent and deal
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40