By : Mrs. Kemelia binti Omar _^K.B.;P.A.

Music has the power to affect emotions and feelings. It can help individuals experiencing stress and anxiety due to health issues. Music therapy, essentially, is a healing method used by certified therapists. Through the skillful use of music, it can improve, restore, and maintain a patient’s physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being.

Music is believed to influence emotions and can boost neurochemicals in the body, including endorphins. Music therapy, also known as active or passive music therapy, is shown to help improve motor control and emotional functioning in patients with various diseases or disabilities. From schizophrenia to Parkinson's disease, music can alleviate symptoms of conditions like depression or anxiety, boost creativity, and enhance communication between patients and caregivers, among many other benefits.

Music therapy is different from just listening to music. The American Music Therapy Association defines it as "the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to achieve individual goals within a therapeutic relationship with a professional." A music therapist assesses the individual’s needs and tailors specific music interventions to their current situation. It is more effective in relieving stress than simply listening to music on your own.

In other words, music therapy is aimed at addressing the psychological or physical health goals of the individual within a clinical setting, conducted by a professional music therapist. Techniques used in music therapy include listening to music to evoke emotions, creating music individually or in groups, singing, improvisation, and more.

Music therapy has been widely used in treatments in many hospitals, including those in the medieval Islamic civilization, such as at Bimaristan al-Mansuri in Cairo, Egypt. Music therapy in this hospital was carried out by a group of musicians who were paid monthly as per endowment documents. The goal of music therapy was to soothe, reduce symptoms or pain, and assist in the recovery process. Therefore, music therapy at Bimaristan al-Mansuri was considered a complementary treatment to conventional medicine, such as medications and surgery.

Benefits of Music Therapy

1. Reduces stress : While there are many variations of music, in general, it has a direct physiological effect through the autonomic nervous system. Music can create motor and emotional responses, especially when combined with movement and stimulation through various senses.
2. Reduces symptoms of depression : Music therapy is one way to treat depression. It not only helps improve emotions but can also improve heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure.

Conclusion: Music therapy has been identified as having therapeutic benefits for human mental health and can improve both the level of health and quality of life for individuals.

Date of Input: 30/04/2025 | Updated: 30/04/2025 | ayna