Page 19 - Joshua's Journal

Music Therapy and Health Care of other music therapists as a role model in the field. Dr. Walter Quan, Jr., Oncologist-Hematologist of Dr. Lane suggests that students in music therapy do St. Luke’s Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio states an internship at a school, hospice or hospital. In that “music therapy has a wide range of applications. addition, she suggests that music therapy can be used Dr. Quan has seen the blood pressure of patients in less clinical situations. Some of the other benefits come down and stabilize through the use of music of music therapy include curing insomnia and reliev- therapy. He also suggests that in the labor and de- ing discomfort from pain. Dr. Lane has worked with livery room, patients who have gone through Lamaze people of all ages, ranging from birth to 100 years training can use music therapy to help them relax old. She describes these experiences as sweet, hilari- and experience relief from labor pains. Though many ous, predictable and tearful. These diverse emotions of his colleagues refute his position, Dr. Quan suggests were the results of working with people with autism, that music therapy is quantifiable and qualitative. people who are mentally and behaviorally disturbed Most physicians are only comfortable using things and with people in comas. that they can count and measure; however, Dr. Quan Music therapy usually begins by engaging the patient/ believes that music therapy is one of those disciplines client/audience in clapping, stomping and moving to where the qualitative effect is equally as or more music. The listeners follow along as the presenter important than the quantifiable impact. leads them. This initial presentation changes the Dr. Susan Shurin, Chief of Pediatric-Hematology, audience’s mood while it immediately captures their Oncology at the Ireland Cancer Center in Cleveland, attention. Dr. Lane believes that music has the Ohio has concluded that music therapy has a benefi- power to make people, as well as animals, change. cial effect in treating patients with neurological She indicates that if you play music for chickens, they impairments. According to Dr. Shurin, “…music lay more eggs; if you play music for cows, they give therapy enables people to sometimes put words more milk. Although it has positive benefits for ani- together in ways that are hard for them to do other- mals, the primary focus of music therapy is for people. wise…” She has concluded that it often seems less difficult if the patient has the rhythm and the ca- Music Medicine Institute dence that comes along with the music. The research Dr. John Armstrong (1709-1779) in his book, The indicates that persons with certain kinds of neurolog- Art of Preserving Health, indicated that “music allays ical deficits have shown greater improvement with each grief, expels diseases, softens every pain and sub- music therapy than with other healing modalities. dues the rage of poison and the plague. The Music Medicine Institute is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organiza- Dr. Joseph Arezzo, Vice Chair, Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, tion dedicated to the proposition that music therapy New York, feels definitively that music therapy has a enhances the quality of life of persons with acute or restorative role in neurology. He specifically states, chronic illnesses. Founded by Elizabeth Jacobi, PhD, “The degree to which function can be recovered is RMT, FAMI, the Music Medicine Institute provides phenomenal and we are just tapping into the extent music therapy, clinical care services, organizes, staffs that we can get recovery following stroke or injury or and manages music therapy programs for a variety of disease. We hope that music might play a particularly healthcare organizations; trains and educates health- important role in helping the regeneration of those care providers and lay persons in the therapeutic use cells, in helping the individual learn to interpret the of music in medical treatment and conducts research pattern and essentially, help the person learn again.” and promotes the advancement of music therapy as an adjunct to professional care. The organization’s website, http://musicmedicine.org, is intended for How Does Music Therapy Work? use by medical professionals, hospital and healthcare The premiere name that seems to consistently surface management, patients suffering from chronic illnesses in music therapy is Dr. Deforia Lane, an internation- and their families, prospective and certified music ally known music therapist who attests to the advan- therapists and educational institutions. If you tageous traits of music therapy for clients who suffer would like additional information on music therapy, from a variety of disorders. In her research, Dr. Lane this website is an excellent resource. Just remember describes a very beautiful and powerful picture of to “put on a happy face!” music therapy. She has been described by a number www.reidtemple.org • 17