Music Therapy | Blog by 13 year old from Mumbai

By definition, music is vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.  But it is so much more than that.

Music is pleasing and relaxing – for the practitioner and the listener. It is well known that it has numerous health benefits.

In fact, music is a language, and the more ‘words’ you learn, the more you will be able to speak. You will soon find yourself wanting to apply the information you’ve learned to create music of your own and express your own voice. Music is not just about knowing how to play specific songs, it is about expressing emotion through sound.

So what are its benefits?

1) It is heart healthy: Research has shown that blood flows more easily when music is played. It can also reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, decrease stress hormone levels and increase serotonin and endorphin levels in the blood.

2) It elevates mood: Music can boost the brain’s production of the hormone dopamine. This increased dopamine production helps relieve feelings of anxiety and depression. Music is processed directly by the amygdala, which is the part of the brain involved in mood and emotions.

3) It reduces stress: Research has found that listening to music can relieve stress.

4) It relieves symptoms of depression.

5) It improves memory.

6) It increases workout endurance: Listening to workout tracks can boost physical performance and increase endurance during a tough exercise session.

Music is like a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to imagination and life to everything.

“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed hearts open.” -Maria von Trapp.