Music therapy is a therapy using music to treat various social, emotional, and behavioral problems; cognitive, motor, and sensory problems in all individuals of all ages. This therapy is often used by people who suffer from certain diseases, but the benefits of this therapy can be felt by everyone. According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy is a clinical music intervention and is based on evidence by a person of professional standard who has legally completed a music therapy program.

How does music therapy work?

Music is processed by all areas of the brain, then music accesses and stimulates areas of the brain that may not be accessible by other modalities. The parts of the brain that can be affected by music are:

• Orbitofrontal Cortex (social behavior)
• Prefrontal Cortex (explain and solve problems)
• Anterior Cingulate Cortex (emotion and motivation-based learning)
• Amygdala (social, emotional, and memory processing)
• Basalt Ganglia (motor control)
• Hippocampus (learning and spatial memory)
• Auditory Cortex (hearing)
• Broca's Area (speech production)
• Cortex motor (voluntary movement)
• Sensory Cortex (touch and other sensations)
• Wernicke's Area (understanding speech)
• Angular Gyrus (complex language functions)
• Visual Cortex (vision)
• Cerebellum (coordination, balance, and motor memory)
• Brainstem (vital body functions and sensory input)

Music therapy function for health

Not only calming, music therapy also has four main functions in the health of the human body.

1. Music for healing

Pain relief

According to a paper in Journal of Advanced Nursing, listening to music can reduce chronic pain from a variety of conditions, including osteoarthritis, joint problems, and rheumatoid arthritis by up to 21%, and depression by up to 25%. Music therapy is widely used to reduce postoperative pain, childbirth, and also to complement the use of anesthesia during surgery.

There are several theories about how music can have a positive effect on pain, namely:

• Music produces a distracting effect
• Music can give the patient a sense of control
• Music causes the body to release endorphins (pleasure hormones) to fight pain
• Slow music relaxes your body by slowing your breathing and heart rate

Lower blood pressure

Listening to music that can relax the body every morning and evening will make people who have hypertension lower their blood pressure and stay in a low position. According to research reported at the meeting American Society of Hypertension in New Orleans, listening to classical music or other soothing music for 30 minutes every day on a regular basis can lower high blood pressure.

Heart healthy

Music is very good for your heart. Research shows that it is the tempo of the music, not the genre, that matters. The researchers looked at the changes in the young people's heart rates when listening to 6 different styles of music. And the result is when they listen to music with fast tempo, their heart rate also becomes faster, and vice versa. So whether you like certain music or not has no effect on your heart rate. It is the tempo or speed of the music that has the greatest effect on relaxing the heart.

Promotes post-stroke recovery

Pop, classical, or jazz melodies can speed up recovery from a stroke. Listening to classical music can increase visual attention in patients experiencing physical impairments after stroke. Recent research has also shown that listening to music not only restores patient behavior, it also induces subtle neuroanatomical changes in brain recovery.

Cure chronic headaches and migraines

Music can help migraine sufferers and chronic headaches reduce the intensity, frequency, and duration of headaches.

Helps increase immunity

Music can help boost the immune system. Pera scientist explains that certain types of music can create positive and deep emotional experiences, which will lead to the secretion of hormones.

2. Music improves physical performance

Music enhances athletic performance

Choosing music that motivates you will make it easier for you to walk, move, dance, or any other type of exercise that you enjoy. Music makes exercise feel more like recreation than work. Music's ability to enhance athletic performance includes:

• Reduces feelings of fatigue
• Increase psychological arousal
• Improve motor coordination

Music improves body movement and coordination

Musical rhythms have an extraordinary ability to move our bodies. Music can reduce tension in muscles, and improve body movement and coordination. Music can play an important role in developing, maintaining and restoring physical function in the rehabilitation of people with mobility disorders.

3. Music helps to work more productively

Against fatigue

Listening to music upbeat can be a great way to find some extra energy. Music can effectively relieve the tiredness and fatigue that results from monotonous work. Keep in mind that listening to too much pop and music hard rock can make you more restless than energized.

Music increases productivity

Many people like to listen to music while working. Based on the facts, listening to music will make you do a better job. According to a report in the journal Neuroscience of Behavioral and Physiology, a person will recognize visual images, including letters and numbers, faster when music is classical or rock accompany.

4. Music can calm the mind

Relaxing music can help sleep

Classical music is the cheapest and most effective way to treat insomnia. Many people who suffer from insomnia find that Bach music can help them sleep. Researchers have shown that 45 minutes of listening to relaxing music can give you a rest at night. Relaxing music can also reduce sympathetic nervous system activity, anxiety, blood pressure, heart and breathing. This can have a positive effect on those of you who often have trouble sleeping.

Music lowers stress and promotes relaxation

Listening to slow music or quiet classical music has been shown to reduce stress. Numerous studies have shown that the effects of relaxing music can be seen in anyone, including newborns.

Here's how music reduces stress:

• Physical relaxation. Music can promote relaxation of tense muscles, and allow you to release some of the tension from stressful days.
• Reducing negative emotions. Music, especially upbeat songs, can take your mind off what's bothering you and help you feel more optimistic and positive. Researchers have found that music can reduce the amount of cortisol (stress hormone) in the body.