[…] I was a given an unexpected gift by my client. During the course of our conversation, he mentioned that he enjoyed listening to classical music. He considered it a pleasant and relaxing diversion. Bingo! This revelation opened the door to trying something old as a new form of therapy. Classical music can be therapeutic if it’s used in a therapeutic manner, such as listening on a daily basis for a set amount of time. The exact composition and time required varies from person to person. However, a good starting point is to set aside enough time to listen to a relaxing segment from a classical piece twice daily. In essence, you replace a typical meditation schedule (15 to 20 minutes, early and late in the day) with this form of musical therapy. Adjustments can and should be made based on your experience and preferences and/or guidance provided by those assisting with your health care.
Studies dating back to the 1960′s confirm that classical music positively affects both cognition (attention, learning, memory) and emotional states (motivation, recovery from stress, reduced anxiety) in a variety of patient populations.
To learn more about the studies referenced in today’s column, please click on the following links:
Study 1 - Does Music Enhance Cognitive Performance in Healthy Older Adults? … (link)
Study 2 - The Effect of Defined Auditory Conditions Versus Mental Loading … (link)
Study 3 - Music Can Facilitate Blood Pressure Recovery from Stress … (link)
Study 4 - Influence of Music Training on Academic Examination-Induced Stress … (link)
Study 5 - The Effects of Music on the Cardiovascular System and Cardiovascular … (link)