As a violinist and composer, my deepest hope has always been that my music will bring joy and health to listeners. It surprised me at first, and has since brought me great satisfaction, to learn that many healers, from Dr. Bernie Siegel to Dr. Joan Borysenko, have used my musical interpretations to assist in relaxation and guided imagery.
Research study results are in that push our boundaries of understanding our brains, stress, and the effects of music stimuli on mental states. There was a one-day symposium at Stanford University in May of 2006 http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/pr/2006/pr-brainwave-053106.html that gathered ethnomusicologists, musicians, and scientists to discuss the human musical experience, and the exchange of ideas encouraged continued research. Among their discussions was the way music can affect physiological activities such as heartbeat and blood pressure, change brain function, and even be used to treat neurological conditions.
Stress results from the collision between our perceptions and our reactions. In other words, you and I may react differently to the same experience; you might remain calm, I might become agitated. When stress accumulates, it can lead to many physical, psychological and emotional symptoms.
If you can recognize your own personal reactions to situations and identify the sources of your personal stress, you can learn to change your response. This is where music comes in. We all know that music can help you to “feel good,” but did you know that research has shown that this good can last far past the actual listening experience? It’s true – music changes your brainwave activity levels and this also helps your brain accomplish this on its own.
