Music is truly a powerful aspect in our culture, community, and natural world. And one of the fundamental questions that researchers often ask is, why music? Why does it resonate with us so deeply?
There are many theories of where music derived from and it is still debate on the direct source. Here is a sample of some theories in current research:
- Natural Rhythm: Music is derived from the natural rhythms in our world.
- Relational Engagement: Music is derived from the ability and motivation to attune to and influence the affective states of other humans.
- Music in the Womb: Music is derived from the natural biological rhythms in the mother’s body to hearing the mother’s speaking and singing voice in the womb.
- Parent-Child Communication: Music is derived from the natural babbling of infants through imitation of parent speech to learn language and communication skills.
You may find that one of these theories resonates with you or perhaps it is a combination of factors between many of them. Whatever the answer is we all know that music impacts our life greatly. We listen to our favourite song and our mood and energy is effected immediately. We attend a church service or spiritual gathering and music is directly integrated into the ceremony. We hear music around us at a social gathering, as it was this past holiday season, to create ambiance and provide connection with community. We know music does something to us! It has been apart of our lives for centuries, since our ancestors gathered around the first fires many many years ago, and is prevalent across all cultures!
Nationally, Accredited Music Therapists (MTA) have obtained research on how music impacts the body, mind, and spirit and in turn health and wellness. When working with people MTA’s look at the whole person and how music is impacting the whole self. The domains that MTA’s assess include: social, physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual health.
The mystery of why music connects with us so deeply continues to reign on. But we certainly know through countless results from research that music does indeed effect our bodies. And this is why the field of music therapy is flourishing. As more research is collected the world is recognizing the validity of using music as a form of therapy for individuals of all abilities, backgrounds, and needs. Keep your eyes peeled on my blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In pages for articles about the latest research in music and health, and music therapy.
1- Music, Thought, and Feeling: Understanding the Psychology of Music- William Forde Thompson