Fostering Music Appreciation at a Young Age

My husband and I were sitting down to dinner the other night and imagine to our surprise when we noticed our one-year-old son sitting there in his high chair bobbing his head in time to the music on a commercial jingle. His hands were slapping on his high chair tray, his little feet were kicking about a hundred miles an hour and he had the biggest smile on his face -- it was priceless.

Most all children love music, and research has shown that music enhances a child’s comprehension level and helps them with the development of fine motor skills. Many children with autism or other special needs have been known to be reached with the right melody and tempo. Even though a child may be unable to communicate in other ways, music seems to reach them on a level beyond normal understanding. Music has a way of enhancing the lives of children and adults as well.

Research has shown time and again that children can hear music before birth. Some children seem to be drawn to a certain type of music just from being exposed to it in utero. Age-appropriate music programs can be very beneficial and challenge and awaken a person of any age.

Classes for mothers and infants are a great place to begin. A child can begin to appreciate music as early as 6-8 months of age. The classes typically last 30-40 minutes in length and require active participation from the parents. Programs geared towards toddlers provide fun and excitement and are also very popular and children engage in the classes on many different levels.

For children ages 3 and up, something that can be fun and entertaining is playing a musical instrument. A child will learn music appreciate from a parent who actively encourages, supports and cultivates the love. A child can integrate music games, arts and crafts into the scenario which will add endless opportunities for inner growth and expanding the mind. Loving music is something children can do and share with a parent, which enhances and enforces the bond between the two.

Most middle and elementary schools foster a child’s interest in music by offering band classes. This will provide a springboard for a lifetime love of music by inviting the child to participate in a band or orchestra with other child. Sharing a love of music is a positive experience that will foster a stronger bond between parent and child and last a lifetime.

The Healing Power of Music

Music can change a person’s mood, regulate and control circulation, breathing, internal secretions and other bodily features and functions.  Science has found a direct correlation between music and a person’s bioelectric currency of the heart and brain.  Music is soothing and can influence pulse rate, blood pressure, breathing, body temperature and many other things.  Music and the effects it has only a human being is only recently being understood.

 Music therapists believe that music can also sooth the muscles of the respiratory tract and reduce airway resistance.  A piece of light, classical music or a violin concerto has the capacity to reduce the blood pressure by as much as 15 to 20 percent.  The affects of music on the various systems of the body and on emotion is well documented, and medical science is in agreement, music in therapy is a beneficial and irreplaceable asset.  There is no denying how much music can affect someone in a coma, someone with a head injury and music is also used in occupational and art therapy by people who swear by the many benefits it brings.

 Music has been proven to influence the central nervous system, improve memory, trigger imagination and fuel creativity. Can you remember the last time one of your favorite songs truly inspired you to get up and get moving?  Music can polish and affect a person’s well-being and personality with time and exposure.  How can music do all these things?  The main affects of music can be witnessed in emotional release, relaxation and communication.

 The act of listening to a certain type of music is also the process some people go through when releasing negative emotions.  Once the negative emotions have been released, the positive mood inside will take over and help a person to feel relief and inner peace.  By enjoying music, people can calm down, relax and let go of anger and rage.  The principle of music therapy is to teach people ways to use music, to remove toxins and negativity from their life.

 

Paint With Music

Music is art, but when people hear the word "art," they think of paintings, sculpture, photography, or other art forms. Yes, music is played by musicians, but the musicians consider themselves artists. There is also the term "folk art" and then there is folk music. The point being made is that confining the act of creation to mental images is limited thinking.

 

Think about the lyrics of a song and they will conjure up different images for different people. Then when the music is put on a television in the form of a music video, the music is played out in a different format. When a movie is played on the big screen it is now an art form. Music has form and shape, sound, and yes, even color. A music video tells a story like a movie, thus to be perfectly candid, music is art.

 

What if you were to listen to music and imagine the colors, listening to only instrumental music? Could a person paint what they hear or see in their mind what they hear? Could sound be an actual image transformed into a two-dimensional picture on a piece of paper based on what the mind creates when the sound travels through the airwaves and stimulates neurons and translates that into images? Yes, it could be, but people don’t traditionally think of music as art or art as music. 

 

When you go to an art gallery, a person doesn’t stand around and listen to music, they go in an look at art. A street performer is doing sidewalk art, or is the only art on the sidewalk done with chalk and a keen mind. No, a persons mind is complex and art can be in many forms. Nude art is an art form. Paintings another art form. Why not music as a form of art, played by artists that use the medium of notes, rhythm, and sound as their brush, the microphone as their easel and your ears as the canvas.

 

It is funny when a paradigm shift occurs, altering a standard concept and framing it differently. Music is art and music as art in the non logical assumption happens if we let it. For fun, find some folk music and see if you can’t find the art in it. Listen with your ears, shut your eyes and imagine the canvas in your mind. If a determined person had a mind too, they could paint music as art.

The Artist In You

   Everyone can be an artist. Art is not specific to people who have a talent for painting or drawing. In fact, anything that someone puts their heart into creating is an art form. Art can range from pottery to singing, from graphic design to writing a novel. There is no limit to what an artist is. And, there is no limit to finding the artist in you. Each of us contains an artist. Though it may be hidden away our whole lives, that artist is within us, and it does not take much to find it. 

      Think about what you love. If your heart is in card playing, then that can be an art form if you play with passion and you work hard on it. If you like designing websites and you seem to have a knack for it, and then the artist in you is a graphic designer, creating both beautiful and useful sites for people. Your artist may be an amazing singer, or maybe you can do sign language to songs and create a beautiful dance. There are many ways to be an artist, and so many people think that they could never be an artist for they feel that only a select few have the talent and ability. That is not true. Just because you have talent in another area does not mean you are not just as much of an artist as your friend who can paint. Maybe you can design awesome children’s clothing or maybe you can sit down and write a heartfelt poem. All of these things are art forms. There is no limit.

 

    So you may wonder how to develop the artist hiding in you. It is simple. Find something you love, be it scrapbooking or personalizing your car, and follow your passion. Accept that you are in fact an artist and let those skills and talents show. Do not be afraid to be proud of your art form. In fact, sharing the fact that you have found the artist in yourself can lead other people doing the same. Art of any type can be fun and therapeutic, and if it has your heart, it can be perfect. So do not be afraid of the artist in you.

Artistic Creation as Therapy

Many psychologists believe that allowing patients to express themselves through art will result in a stronger and more rehabilitated therapy than traditional methods. By allowing the patient to tap their creative mind, they are often freeing that person from the problems they are experiencing. Art therapy has become a commonly accepted method of psychological rehabilitation for children, teens and adults. The therapy usually involves the creation of some sort of visual art, including but not limited to photography, clay modeling, sketching and painting. Licensed therapists who use these methods have been trained to look for keys or indicators in their patient’s expression. Often, even if the patient never meant to express a problem or a specific feeling in the art, it will come through in small ways that the therapist can then interpret. This gives the professional a better picture of what the patient is struggling with and how to proceed in treatment. The therapy also gives the patient a sense of release as they can put their emotions into their work.

 

Sometimes, a therapist uses a certain method of art therapy if they feel it is needed. There are several specific methods used. These are: House-Tree-Person (the patient is asked to draw these three items, and the professional uses the drawing to ask pointed questions about the drawing to get a better interpretation of the patient’s issues), Diagnostic Drawing (commonly used for major psychological disorders, this involves the patient using colored chalks to draw certain items, and then the professional interprets the drawing based on colors and design choices), and Mandala Assessment Research Project (the patient is asked to draw a design from a card in the color of their choice. The patient is then asked to explain any meaning behind their color choice and their overall design). These are only a few of the types of art therapy that a professional may choose to use. The decision on type of therapy is made by the professional and is only one part of the patient’s therapy sessions.

 

     Professionals who use art therapy are board certified as a psychologist as well as a licensed art therapist. There are many different types of therapy available for professionals to utilize, but art therapy has proven to be quite valuable and successful.

The Beauty of Music Therapy

Music therapy is a type of treatment using musical notes and sounds that can relieve stress and tension, and it can also improve quality of life for average people and people with mental disabilities and illnesses. People of all ages can find music therapy helpful, for it can be used to help with learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, alcohol and drug abuse, effects of aging, physical and mental disabilities, chronic pain, brain injuries, and the pain of labor. It is amazing the list of problems that music therapy can help with. 

   

  When considering music therapy to help with any problem, a patient should consult a professional therapist. This person will evaluate the problem or problems with which the patient is dealing. The therapist will then consider different types of music therapy treatment before making a decision on the correct path for the patient. They will then set up sessions of therapy. These sessions can involve more than just listening to music. In fact, sometimes they involve writing music, repetitive listening, performances or musical imagery. The therapist will then continue evaluations and modify the therapy to suit the patient’s changing needs.

 

     Many people think that the only ones who will benefit from a music therapy regime are those who are musically inclined in the first place, but this is, in fact, not true. Anyone can benefit from music therapy sessions, no matter how much they do or do not know or care about music. The beauty of music therapy is that it can help anyone with their problems.

 

     Because music therapy has been so widely accepted by medical associations and therapy associations alike, many states and private insurances will even pay for the therapy like they would any other type of counseling. This makes it easier for anyone to have access to the therapy program. It is important to remember to consult one’s health insurance before hand though to confirm that music therapy is covered and to what extent the coverage is available.

 

     Music therapy is often used in psychiatric hospitals to help rehabilitate those with mental illness. Many therapists work with patients in nursing homes, because the therapy has proven helpful with many age related diseases. And, finally, music therapy is often implemented in school settings for its positive effects with learning disabilities. No matter what the situation, music therapy has become a tried and true method of dealing with many different issues.

 

Meanings in Music

Music is a wonderful way for an artist or song writer to express emotions that they are experiencing at that time but do you know it is also a wonderful way for you to release your inner feelings and emotions? The various music selections allow you to actually relate to the words the music is expressing and be able to release inner anxiety, anger, sadness, happiness, even feelings of love. Maybe you have a hard time saying how you feel about something or someone, or perhaps you have been experiencing different emotions that you are trying to work through by yourself. The good news is that you can feel that you are not alone when you release yourself in your music.

There are many different ways to relax that are available to the world; however, through the assistance of music you can not only find your relaxation but self fulfillment as well as becoming one with the words in the songs. You will be able to discover your inner self and emotions and not have to hide them from the world when you are in a positive setting with the music of your choice. You can allow yourself to work through the emotion you are experiencing as well as find yourself being able to express your feelings in a way you never imagined possible. Discover a whole new world when you lose yourself in the variety of music you choose to listen to and relate to.

Becoming one with the songs that are in the music you listen to will help you relate to the feelings and emotions the songwriter is putting into words for you. Enjoy a new life that lets you become one with the music and enjoy the release of emotions you will experience when you discover the wonderful world of music that is available to you on line. Find new ways to express yourself through your choice in music that you surround your daily life with and the life of your loved ones. You will discover a whole new level of expressing your love for your spouse or special person in your life when you share your love for music with them during different times in their lives. With the assistance of different songs you can express the different levels of love you have for that special person in your life when before you had a hard time finding the right words and expressing your deep felt emotions. Welcome to the wonderful world of music where you can discover your inner self and experience the different feelings that come with the music you choose.

Music For Life

We’ve all heard of using music for relaxation and stress relief, but did you know that music can also help to heal the body as well as a spirit? In fact, science indicates that regular exposure to music can help enhance brain function, can help improve sleep patterns, can help calm cravings in emotional eaters, and can even help in the treatment of migraine headaches. But the buck doesn't stop there. If you're interested in learning more about the many benefits music can bring to the human body as well as other life forms, read on for some additional information.
Interestingly enough, when testing the theories of music for health on humans, scientists also conducted a series of tests to find the results of how music affects animals as well as plants. For brevity sake we will first concentrate on only domesticated dogs and cats. First of all, cats that were exposed to music on a daily basis were found to be more affectionate and less aggressive around small children. And the dogs that were exposed to music on a regular basis, had fewer indoor accidents, and appeared to have a more calm demeanor in general.
Perhaps more interesting than results found when studying pets were the results found when studying plants. Research indicates that plants exposed to any style of music on a daily basis, through their gestational life produced more fruit, grew taller in height, shed less foliage, and had better coloring than did their nonmusical counterparts. It seems the old adage about talking to your plants may be overshadowed by singing to your plants. The findings of these studies may potentially improve the crop potential by many of American farms.
It stands to reason, that if music can improve the health and well-being of cats, dogs, and even plants, the results that music therapy will have on humans (and our highly complicated physiology) should be quite impressive.
We challenge you to spend some time discovering your own musical tastes. Whether you plan to continue listening to music simply for stress relief or you're hoping music therapy can help relieve the symptoms of a chronic ailment, choosing a genre and the style of music that suit your tastes will be undoubtedly beneficial. Don't spend another day without experiencing the joy and the freedom that music can bring to your life.

Healing Music

We often hear that music has the power to heal. Some people believe this to be true and others believe that it's holistic nonsense. However, scientific research is recently revealed that music actually has a tangible power for healing the human body.
In fact, depending upon the type of music in question, men and women find themselves relief from the symptoms of chronic ailments like arthritis, and the tension headache, as well as from some of the more obscure ailments that so commonly plague modern Americans like indigestion, joint pain, and even sinus pressure.
While doctors and scientists have proven that music can hold healing properties, it's not exactly clear as to how the music actually benefits the body. It is argued that music can relieve levels of stress they are by improving symptoms and relieving subsequent elements elsewhere in the body. Either way, the key to finding healing through music is simple as selecting the right music.
In order to reap the benefits music can offer in terms of health and well-being, one should select music that relieves tension and can help the body relaxed. In most cases, individuals who choose hard rock or heavy metal music do not reap healing benefits. However, individuals who select music of the more soothing genre find themselves with a noticeable relief of symptoms in a relatively short period of time.
If you're interested in learning more about the potential of music to heal your ailments, consider doing your own homework and your own research on the healing power of certain genres of music. You may also find it of benefit to spend some time seeking out artists who specialize in music that promotes peace, love, and humanity. Typically, artists to promote peace, all-encompassing human ideals produce music that can be counted among the "healthy ".
You may find it interesting to note that art and music are both utilized in a wide variety of therapies. Professionals therapists often utilize both music and art in their efforts to heal the human mind. Because the human mind such a complicated machine, the utilization of simple tools like music and art for healing proves fascinating to most. You may believe that music therapy and music in healing is a hokey alternative choice to mainstream medicine. However, thanks to scientific evidence proving the success of music therapy, even the skeptics have to stop and take notice.
If you're searching for music with true healing powers, consider listening to some of the enchanting pieces by Julien Aklei.