BY BETELHEM BEDLU
The health benefit of music, (Music therapy) as depicted on the Bible, dates back to the ancient times where David played his harp and sang for the depressed King Saul. Even though there is no solid evidence what kind of music or song that David played for King Saul, it was a clear indication that his servants knew how to cure their king’s depression.
“Whenever
Saul was attacked by depression, David came to soothe him with his lyre. The
servants sent for David who could play the kinnor (lyre) and “David played it
with his hand, so Saul was refreshed, and the evil spirit departed from him.”
By the same token, as reflected in Jewish History, during the Period of the Old Testament, the Bible emerges as one of the richest sources of knowledge of music and its art of healing during the time of ancient Israel.
History also has it that music had a magical and powerful, almost hypnotic, effect on people, during the earlier period of the Bible. At that time, music was not considered part of rational or scientific discourse. Later, while the Jews were in Babylon, music came to be considered part of the discipline of science adopted by the Greeks. Generally, it was believed that music was a gift of God and bestowed supernatural powers on performers and listeners alike, source indicates.
However, the 20th century discipline was said to begin after the World Wars. It was when the community musicians went to veterans’ hospitals around the country to play for veterans suffering from both physical and emotional trauma and observed their improvement, according to America Music Therapy Association (AMTA).
Music is a powerful feature that could bind people with different backgrounds be it religious, cultural and life style, social and economic class. It has a power to tie people even those who speak different languages.
Music has a unique nature in shifting and lifting up people’s mood. Whenever people feel down or get bothered by something in their lives, they frequently choose to listen to music. The fact that it can easily divert their mind through the beats rhymes and put everything off their minds; it has stayed to be preferable.
According to the AMTA, music therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages.
The therapy touches all aspects of the mind, body, brain and behavior. It can elevate from downheartedness and relax the mind; it can slow the rhythms of the body, and can alter our mood, which in turn can influence behavior, as to the same sources.
The therapy includes singing, playing instruments, improvising, songwriting and listening to music and it seems to be increasing in appeal as it is applied to new areas-such as wellness programs, neonatal care, prisons, hospices, and dementia units.
Various studies have proved that the music therapy has helped to improved self-esteem, decreased anxiety, increased motivation, successful and safe emotional release, increased verbalization, creates stronger connections with other people.
Amongst the most frequent areas where music therapy is being provided includes depression, insomnia, pain management, serious ailments such as cancer, autism, cardiovascular disease, stroke, brain injury etc
According to Yohannes Mengistu, Lecturer at Yared School of Music, AAU, music has the capacity to evoke emotions and has the capacity to regain memories as well as stimulate new neural connections.
He said: “Music is used to bring back memories. In some cases, people in a counseling rooms are made to close their eyes with background music is on, and would be asked questions that are believed to help them bring their memories back.”
He also highlighted the use of music to investigate certain crimes. In some scenarios where a given crime was made, suspects usually get interrogated while playing background music. Then the interrogator along with music therapist would be asked questions so that he could be influenced by the music and tell the truth.
Moreover, in order to help children with autism improve their communication and social skills, music therapy is important, as to him,
A recent review in the World Journal of Psychiatry found out that music therapy can be an effective treatment for mood disorders related to neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, dementia, stroke, and multiple sclerosis.
The study also indicates that music can also play a powerful role in treating and improving enduring conditions of patients. Reviewing about 25 trials, the researchers concluded that music is a valid therapy to potentially reduce depression and anxiety as well as to improve mood, self-esteem, and quality of life.
Moges Ayele, (PhD) Lecturer at Addis Ababa University School of Psychology Department said that though it is not widely being practiced in Ethiopia, music therapy has multipurpose significance to treat mental and physical problems.
He emphasized that music is used to heal mood disorders, speech deficit, amnesia, heart disease, post traumatic disorders, stroke and many others.
The therapy uses music with all its components such as lyrics, beats, rhymes etc in which its theme might focus on aesthetic, religious, other walk of life.
However, music therapy is a single area that is being given to treat mental and physical illness. But generally speaking, there are plenty of areas that need to be addressed in terms of making mental health services widely available for the general public.
Problems with regard to service providing, accessibility of trained professionals and well equipped institutions still remains to be major challenges in the mental health services.
Thus, the government as well as concerned bodies needs to take part in facilitating trainings on music therapy as well as other kinds of therapies in order to provide the service by skilled professionals.
Moreover, considering the multidimensional benefit of the mental health services, much work is needed to create awareness for the society with regard to problems as well as the services that are being provided
The Ethiopian Herald 12 February 2021
