Blog 8: Revision CATW Practice 1

In this passage, “Is Music a Good Tool for Healing?” the writer, Elizabeth Scott, is discussing how a health care tool called music therapy is used to heal people and ease their pains. Research shows that hospitals now use music to help patients with pain management, depression, to promote movement, calm patients, ease muscle tension and other benefits, which in other words, is known as music therapy. For instance, studies show that music with a strong beat can help make brainwaves more active to synchronize with the beat. The faster the beat is, the sharper your concentration is which allows you to think more alert. A slower beat can result in a much calmer, meditative state of mind. Like Scott, I also believe that “This is not surprising, as music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways.”

The writer explains how breathing and heart rate may be influenced by the changes music can bring, possibly meaning slower breathing, heart rate, and an activation of the relaxation response amongst other things. The writer also states that this is why music and music therapy can help prevent the harsh effects of chronic stress, thereby aiding not only relaxation, but also health. To calm down my attitude and take stress away I listen to mellow music. This type of music helps me keep a positive mindset with a smile upon my face, making my day much easier and joyful.

Healing patients with music is an immense significance. I feel it is because I find this idea to be slightly true. While my mom was in a coma, the doctors played soothing music just above her head to help the pressure in her brain calm down and promote movement. It showed that since they started playing soft music she was more relaxed and fought to show little movement.

Another example of mine is when I was in physical therapy for my knees. My therapist played music to help motivate me to move more during the exercises we did. When we would do slow exercises with little movement to relax my muscles, she would play soft music. When it was time to enhance the exercise, she’d play a more up-beat song. Also, the music would not only relax my body, it would relax my mind as well.

This shows that music can be used to bring a more positive state of mind, to help keep depression and anxiety under control. It is very affective towards the body and mind in various ways. It is also a good used tool to help people.