"Half an hour of music produced the same effect as ten milligrams of vallium." Dr. Raymond Bahr, St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore "Music is such a powerful tool for alleviating many of the symptoms that the seriously ill and dying experience." Dr. Caroline Lepage, Maissoneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montreal "The power of music to integrate and cure...is quite fundamental. [It is the] profoundest non-chemical medication." Dr. Oliver Sacks, Neurologist The above quotes are from the Music for Healing and Transition Program (TM) brochure. |
Find out more about therapeutic musicSee my collected annotated list of research studies.
See a list of hospitals who employ Certified Music Practitioners The National Standards Board of Therapeutic Musicians has articles and research on therapeutic music. The Music for Healing and Transition Program has information on requirements for Certified Music Practitioners, and for research on the effects of therapeutic music. "The Effect of Music Therapy on Patients' Perception and Manifestation of Pain, Anxiety, and Patient Satisfaction," in MedSurg Nursing 16:1 (February 2007). Therapeutic Music in the News Music as medicine: Docs use tunes as treatment, Today Health "Doctors are increasingly studying--and employing--the physiological dance music does with the body's neurons and blood-carrying cells." Amid ICU's sickness, a harp offers a healing sound, Chicago Sun-times. “They can have a horrible day, and then a 10-minute visit with the music can really change things for people,” Live music's charms, soothing premature hearts, New York Times. Researches concluded that live music, played or sung, helped to slow infants' heartbeats, calm their breathing, improve sucking behaviors...aid sleep and promote states of quiet alertness....[allowing] infants to devote more energy to normal development. Finding the key to healing, The Tampa Tribune. A therapeutic musician (double bass player), and the effects of his music on patients in Florida. "As Goldstein played, Baker [a nurse] watched the patient's vital signs improve. After..., for the first time, the patient began taking an active role in his recovery. 'I later asked him and his wife the reason for the turnaround," Baker said. "He said it was the music.'" Physician uses harp to soothe, heal patients, Medical News Today. "Studies done in the early 1990s...concluded music 'significantly' lowered heart rates and calmed and regulated the blood pressures and respiration rates of patients who had undergone surgery. Therapeutic music aims to ease the pain for the seriously ill, Washington Post. "...the patient leans back and closes his eyes as the music fills the room. He opens his eyes and gazes out the window. His eyelids droop, the close. His chin lowers gently onto his chest, his breathing growing deep and regular. His visitors also appear to have relaxed." |