In celebration of World Music Therapy Day, we explore the transformative power of a good song. Many people use music as a form of therapy, with it often becoming the soundtrack to their lives, according to Toronto-based creative director Talya Macedo. Music has the ability to change our mood and state of mind. For example, we may listen to Kanye West’s “Power” while going for a run, play Adele’s “Someone Like You” to get through a heartbreak, or put on Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 23” to enhance focus while working. However, on World Music Therapy Day, we are delving into the deeper impact of music beyond its ability to uplift us on a bad day.
Music therapy has proven to be beneficial in various rehabilitative practices for those with brain injuries, strokes, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Michael H. Thaut, director of Music and Health Science Research Collaboratory MaHRC at the University of Toronto, along with his team, has been researching and developing Neurologic Music Therapy for over 20 years. This therapy utilizes scientifically-backed techniques to treat the brain through music and rhythm.
Drawing on his background as a former professional violinist, Thaut developed the Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation technique to help stroke survivors and individuals with Parkinson’s disease improve their walking speed and address their compromised gait by incorporating music with rhythmic beats. The effects of this technique are immediate and significant. Thaut explains that once the auditory rhythm enters the brain, it creates a template that synchronizes movement. Additionally, he conducts research using the Melodic Intonation Therapy (MIT) technique, which aids stroke survivors who have lost the ability to speak or have limited speech.
Certified music therapist Sheila Lee, based in Vancouver, has undergone training in using MIT with her patients. She shares a case study of a client who developed expressive aphasia following a stroke in the left hemisphere of his brain. Although he could understand others’ speech, he struggled with speaking and forming coherent sentences. Interestingly, during group music therapy sessions, the client would often fall asleep due to brain injury fatigue but would wake up as soon as the group sang Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” He would energetically and clearly sing every word of the song. Lee attributes this to the fact that singing engages the entire brain and, crucially, can access the undamaged right hemisphere.
MIT aims to help patients convert singing into speech by teaching them melodic phrases using words and phrases they use in their daily lives. By doing so, they can bridge the gap between singing and spoken language.
In conclusion, music therapy has proven to have a profound impact on individuals with various health conditions, offering them a unique pathway to rehabilitation and improving their quality of life.