Last week, Karen Agro traveled from Toronto to the DMV to lead workshops on healing and music. A classical guitarist, Agro is also a pharmacist, so her claim that music is “sonic medicine” is not just metaphorical. It’s also personal–she witnessed music’s healing power when she played for her dementia-stricken father during his last moments.
Hosted by Marlow Guitars International, the workshop titled “Striking the right chord, Music’s power to heal,” explored the science of what most of us already know–music gives us every gamut of emotion.
But how do we harness its power for healing?
After attending the workshop she led at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals in Silver Spring, I asked Agro to share some of her favorite takeaways from her research.
1. Can you briefly summarize your thoughts on music for healing?
Music is the ultimate science-based wellness tool for your mental, physical and emotional health. It is far more powerful than you think, yet is highly underutilized.
Music’s impact on your mind and body stems from its ability to activate more parts of your brain than any other stimulus. It alters both your neurochemistry and your physiology. Music aids in the healing process, as an adjunct to traditional therapies, for a wide variety of medical conditions.
Think of music like “personalized sonic medicine.” It has the effect of suspending time–especially in stressful or anxious situations–creating a sense of relief. Music brings you into the present moment enabling you to connect with yourself, your situation and those around you so you can assess your options. It gives you the power of choice in the moment. When you’re able to stay present, your well being is maintained, your productivity and motivation are enhanced. Over time, you build your resilience.
2. What is one eye-opening study on the subject that’s interesting to you?
One of the first studies that really caught my eye, when diving into this area, was the Music as Medicine study by the British Academy of Sound Therapy (in conjunction with Deezer) where they found the “dose” of music that could your shift mood. They even have a “recommended daily allowance” of music!
The literature on music and health is vast, but of particular interest to me is the effect of music on cognitive arousal and mental performance. Let’s face it: In today’s society, we are all facing cognitive overload. Music, as a readily available tool to regulate mood and cognitive performance, may ultimately impact productivity. Recent studies on the power of music on cognitive arousal and the effect of music listening prior to classroom work in school could have far reaching effects on personal, academic and corporate productivity.
3. What is one thing I can do everyday for music to benefit my health?
Incorporating conscious music listening into daily routines can be a simple, yet profoundly beneficial, intervention for your health. Three easy, yet impactful, examples include:
Music microbreaks
- Using music on microbreaks (of 5-minutes or less) as rest in your workday between cognitively demanding tasks. Listening to music gives your brain the mental rest needed to recharge, as opposed to checking your social media, which serves as a distraction that takes you off task.
Habit stacking
- Incorporating music with “habit stacking” (a term from James Clear’s book, “Atomic Habits”). Habit stacking simply means creating a new habit by pairing it with a current habit. We all brush our teeth, often without thinking. How about creating this habit stack: “While a brush my teeth, I will listen to a song to set the tone for my day.” The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day, which just happens to be the approximate length of a song.
Music rituals
- Creating a “morning music ritual.” We’ve all heard of the impact of meditation and journaling, but so many of us struggle with those. Music can either create the space to allow for meditation and journaling, or music can be its own form of meditation to create relief within your mind.
4. Many adults think it’s too late to start a new instrument later in life. What are your thoughts?
It is never too late to start learning a new instrument. Adult learners bring a wealth of life experiences and often a greater appreciation for the learning process itself, which can enhance their musical training.
My father started learning classical guitar in his 70’s. He was self-taught, with music books from my childhood. Playing gave him, and his neighbors who listened, great joy. To this day, they still talk about hearing him, over the fence, on warm summer nights.
Starting an instrument later in life can offer significant cognitive benefits, such as improved memory and concentration, as well as emotional benefits, including stress relief and personal satisfaction. Engaging in music education as an adult can be a fulfilling experience that enriches life and improves health.
5. Tell us more about your “playlist prescription.”
The concept of a “playlist prescription,” or purposeful playlist(s), involves curating a set, or sets, of songs tailored to positively influence health and emotional states. It is based on the idea that certain types of music can trigger specific physiologic responses, such as relaxation or invigoration.
You can dial up any emotion through purposeful playlists. Start by identifying music that impacts you, and organize the tracks intended for different purposes such as calming anxiety, creating an emotional release, energizing morning routines or facilitating sleep.
Think of purposeful playlists as a form of self-therapy through music, that you can use on a daily basis, to manage your thoughts and emotions.
To learn more about personal playlists, please visit Music and Mood on my website and sign up for more information on music, emotions and how you can design a purposeful playlist.
Any final thoughts?
Music is personalized sonic medicine–and you can even write your own prescription! Be intentional about to what and how you listen and think about the positive effects on your mental, physical and emotional health.
To learn more, visit Karenagro.com
Featured Image: Karen Agro (Photo/Live Pixels Photography)
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