One patient's breakthrough from music therapy
Chipping away at trauma through music
For someone who has been traumatized by accident or illness, sometimes music can provide a breakthrough. One of Herman's patients was an 18-year-old who was hit by a car when riding her bike and thrown 20 feet.
"At the rehab centre, if you saw her, you would not believe that this was once a very beautiful young girl," says Herman. Her teeth had been knocked out, her hair was shaved, she couldn't feed herself, she could hardly speak. She was antagonistic, uncooperative, and no one -- not the nurse, the occupational therapist, the physiotherapist, the speech therapist-- could get anywhere with her."But she was willing to come to music. She did not speak to me, she did not look at me. She just sat in the room," recalls Herman, who would play different kinds of music either by cassette or at the piano. Sometimes Herman would talk to the teen, sometimes she would not.
Then, on the fifth day, Herman sat down at the piano and played some blues. "I looked at her and she lifted her head and gave me eye contact for the first time ever. I just kept playing. I didn't say anything. She just looked at me and muttered, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah.' Music, that day, finally got through to her. It was the beginning of her rehabilitation." The teen continued with music therapy, and, although there was no miracle cure, as time passed she was able to try other rehabilitation activities.
The future of music therapy
More research on music's influence on the brain and role in therapy is being done as scientists discover just how much of an effect music can have on an individual. "Music is a part of our lives. It's a part of every culture. It's a part of every day," explains Brodeur. "So it is crucial to really understand the impact music -- harmony, sound, rhythm -- has on a person's life."
More than 200 years ago, German Romantic poet and theorist Novalis knew just how important music was to our health and well-being. "Every disease is a musical problem," he mused. "Every cure is a musical solution."
Find suggestions on what to listen to, depending on your mood: Music therapy for your mood and mind is your guide to choosing the right tunes.
Page 5 of 5
For someone who has been traumatized by accident or illness, sometimes music can provide a breakthrough. One of Herman's patients was an 18-year-old who was hit by a car when riding her bike and thrown 20 feet.
"At the rehab centre, if you saw her, you would not believe that this was once a very beautiful young girl," says Herman. Her teeth had been knocked out, her hair was shaved, she couldn't feed herself, she could hardly speak. She was antagonistic, uncooperative, and no one -- not the nurse, the occupational therapist, the physiotherapist, the speech therapist-- could get anywhere with her."But she was willing to come to music. She did not speak to me, she did not look at me. She just sat in the room," recalls Herman, who would play different kinds of music either by cassette or at the piano. Sometimes Herman would talk to the teen, sometimes she would not.
Then, on the fifth day, Herman sat down at the piano and played some blues. "I looked at her and she lifted her head and gave me eye contact for the first time ever. I just kept playing. I didn't say anything. She just looked at me and muttered, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah.' Music, that day, finally got through to her. It was the beginning of her rehabilitation." The teen continued with music therapy, and, although there was no miracle cure, as time passed she was able to try other rehabilitation activities.
The future of music therapy
More research on music's influence on the brain and role in therapy is being done as scientists discover just how much of an effect music can have on an individual. "Music is a part of our lives. It's a part of every culture. It's a part of every day," explains Brodeur. "So it is crucial to really understand the impact music -- harmony, sound, rhythm -- has on a person's life."
More than 200 years ago, German Romantic poet and theorist Novalis knew just how important music was to our health and well-being. "Every disease is a musical problem," he mused. "Every cure is a musical solution."
Find suggestions on what to listen to, depending on your mood: Music therapy for your mood and mind is your guide to choosing the right tunes.
Page 5 of 5
 | This article was first printed in the Summer 2008 issue of Homemakers Magazine. Click to subscribe online and never miss an issue. |
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