Development of Music as a Therapy
Development of Music as a Therapy Running head: Development of Music as a Therapy Development of Music as a Therapy Lorie Ceal Grand Canyon University Intro to Human Communication Theory June 21, 2009 Development of Music as a Therapy The development of music as a therapy spans a vast amount of time. On the History of Music Therapy website we discover that music has always been used for therapeutic reasons. The evidence lies in; “cathartic and hypnotic uses of music in primitive tribes, Apollo – who was the god of music and medicine, drumming healers of India at Delphi, and cave drawings of musical shamans”. (History of Music Therapy, n.d.) There seems to have always been a connection between music and emotion. It has a history of influence on both the emotional and physical aspects of one’s health. “Pythagoras, Plato, and Aristotle all wrote about how music
affects health and behavior.” (United Health Services, 2009) Plato stated that musical training was important because “rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul imparting grace, and making the soul of him who is rightly educated graceful”. (History of Music Therapy, n.d.)Even though music was thought of as a healing agent for body, mind and soul in ancient times, according to the History of Music Therapy, It is a “fairly recent phenomenon in Western culture”. (History of Music Therapy, n.d.) Dr Richard Brown wrote the earliest English text in regards to music and medicine, in ...
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affects health and behavior.” (United Health Services, 2009) Plato stated that musical training was important because “rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul imparting grace, and making the soul of him who is rightly educated graceful”. (History of Music Therapy, n.d.)Even though music was thought of as a healing agent for body, mind and soul in ancient times, according to the History of Music Therapy, It is a “fairly recent phenomenon in Western culture”. (History of Music Therapy, n.d.) Dr Richard Brown wrote the earliest English text in regards to music and medicine, in the year 1729. It was titled ‘Mechanical Essay on the Effects of Singing, Music, and Dance on the Human Body”. The context of the paper was to present the case for music therapy and point out fundamental principles and a basis for music therapy practice. (History of Music Therapy, n.d.) Then, according to Notwen, in the United States, in the year 1789 an article was published in Columbia Magazine called ‘Music Physically Considered’. It was a theory consideration piece about the affects of music on healing the human body. Due to this theory “scientific and anecdotal validation occurred”. (Notwen, 2003) In the 1940’s music therapy finally became accepted as a treatment modality in a number of hospitals and treatment centers, due in great part to the support of top psychiatrists like Karl Menninger. (Notwen, 2003)Some of this validation occurred when musicians would visit veteran hospitals after world wars I and II. These musicians played for thousands of soldiers suffering both physically and mentally. The notable physical and mental improvements due to the music had many hospitals looking to hire musicians. A need to have these musicians educated to handle situations in the hospitals prompted the first musical therapy degree program. It was founded at Michigan State University in 1944 and was the first of its kind in the world. (American Music Therapy Association) With music therapy becoming an entity in the medical world It needed some form of governance. This prompted the creation of The National Association of Music therapy or NAMT. The NAMT became the association that “set curriculum requirements and clinical training requirements, along with setting the standards and procedures for certification.” (Notwen, 2003) The NAMT later became the American Music Therapy Association, or AMTA, of today. (Notwen, 2003) The AMTA “is the largest professional association which represents over 5000 music therapists, corporate members, and related associations world wide.” (American Music Therapy Association, n.d.) The AMTA states that their mission is “the progressive development of the therapeutic use of music in rehabilitation, special education and community settings”. (American Music Therapy Association, n.d.) They continue to oversee the curriculum and set standards to become a music therapist in any number of the schools that offer it as a degree program. Once an individual completes an approved program and internship, They are then required to pass a national exam given by the Certification Board of Music Therapy. (American Music Therapy Association, n.d.) We can see music as a therapy has had all of time to develop from its lax beginnings to the professional and regulated entity that it is today. From the beginning of time, until the end, music will remain universally healing. References History of Music Therapy. (n.d.). (ret. May 20, 2009) from http://www.portfolio.mvm.ed.ac.uk/studentwebs/session4/64/history.htm NOTWEN Music. (2003). Music Therapy: History of Music Therapy. (ret. May 20, 2009) from http://www.camnewton.com/music_therapy.htm United Health Services. (2009). Office of Health Education & Promotion: Holistic Health: Music Therapy: What is Music Therapy? (ret. May 20, 2009) from Http://www.unh.edu/health-services/hoep/holistic_music.html