Music and Rhythm- It’s good for you!
Wednesday, May 31st, 2006It’s no secret that music is good for you. Whether it’s bicycling through the countryside or for me: listening to Metallica’s Master of Puppets while I work out. It’s all good for you. Music Therapy (as defined by wikipedia.org) is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Read more about music therapy at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_therapy.
The benefits of music can be seen in newborn children from the moment they come in this world. Newborns instinctively know the rhythm of the mother’s heart and feel comforted by being close to her moments after birth. Music played while child is in the womb has been known to be recognized by the child after birth also.
New research from Italy’s University of Pavia and UK’s University of Oxford housed 24 subjects (half musicians) and played them everything from techno music to techno. They were studying the psychological effects of playing short excerpts of music and found that more complicated rhythmic activity actually sped up breathing and circulation while less tense music slowed it down. The conclusion was that music could improve movement in neurologically impaired patients, cut stress and enhance athletic performance. Oh and improve milk production in cattle- just in case you were wondering.
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