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Piano Playing for Your Health
by Catherine Shefski
As adult piano students we have all felt the relief from tension and anxiety that comes after a productive practice session. But that is not where the health connection ends. Every day, the body of scientific evidence grows linking music to wellness.
Jonathan Goldman, author of Healing Sounds, The Power of Harmonics, discusses the concept of "entrainment," the ability to change less powerful rhythmic vibrations to synchronize with the more powerful rhythmic vibrations affecting heart rate, respiration and brainwaves. Illness occurs, according to Goldman, "when some sort of contra- vibration intrudes on the normal one. Sound can be used to change these disharmonious frequencies back to normal, healthful vibrations, thereby restoring health."
Vibrations have been used to affect health and healing throughout history. The drumbeats of the Native American shamans can change brain waves to slower alpha and theta states, thereby promoting healing. The singing bowls of the Tibetans produce healing vibrations. Overtone singing and chanting has been used as a powerful transformational tool for centuries.
Today music therapists use entrainment to elevate the mood of patients under emotional duress. By first matching the music to your mood, and then slowly changing the music to reflect your desired mood, patients are able to significantly reduce depression. Another way to use music to alter your mood is to actually play out your feelings. Music can express emotion that words sometimes cannot. By releasing feelings of grief or despondency through music, a shift onto the path to recovery and acceptance is likely to occur. Sound and vibration has also been used in the treatment of pain. Music therapist, Hope Young, who works with obstetricians and women to incorporate music in the delivery room, says that the stimulation from music "increases endorphin release, and this decreases the need for medication. It also provides a distraction from pain and relieves anxiety."
The Music Making and Wellness Project based in Miami, conducted a study of 130 people in 1998. Two groups of seniors, one in Florida and a control group in Michigan, were tested to measure how piano lessons taught in a supportive group environment would enhance physical and emotional wellness in healthy older adults. After 10 weeks of lessons, anxiety decreased which in turn improved cognitive performance and general feelings of well being for the adult piano students. Another side effect noticed in the musician group, was an increased level of human growth hormone, important for maintaining a healthy immune system and reversing some of the effects of aging. As with any activity we embark on as adults, we choose to participate because of the pleasure we derive from it whether it is a sport, art, or music. For music making to be a positive life affirming experience, we must set our intent from the beginning. Many teachers are learning that the adult student may need a social group setting for music making. Others may want to express themselves through improvisation, popular tunes, or jazz. Repertoire, expectations and goals need to be discussed between student and teacher to make sure there is mutual understanding and agreement.
Knowing how music can help steer us to greater life success and happiness, let's resolve to spend time each day listening to and playing the music we love.
Copyright 2003 Catherine Shefski
Pianist Catherine Shefski offers online coaching to adult piano students.
Visit her on the web at http://www.piano-mentor.com
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