Let’s Make Some Music
It’s not uncommon for me to wake with a song in my mind. What I find odd is often during the night I will wake (at some low level) and listen to the music playing in my head. My mind can remember snippets of lyrics from songs I heard many years ago! More often, however, the songs I hear are often music lyrics I need to hear to calm me. While that sounds odd, studies show that the brain synchronizes with the beat of the music. This enables music to lower stress we’ve encountered during the day and reduce blood pressure.
MUSIC AS WE GROW
Music is not only a balm for the soul, but a natural part of development, and can have a profound effect on our emotions and physical body. This response is carried through as our brain and body continues to grow. Consider the rhythm with which we talk, walk and even breathe. These God given rhythms coincide with the rhythm of music, as we are pre-wired to respond in these natural kinds of rhythms. This can be the forerunner to helping anyone develop musical skills, and especially valuable to a person with a disability.
TURN THE RADIO ON
When a person is sad and lonely, often just turning the radio on and hearing cheerful music can raise the spirits of most anyone. It touches the heart, mind and can move the very core of a person. While music can raise the spirits of someone who is sad, if the ‘right’ song comes on, it can trigger a memory to tears, as well.
MUSIC AS MEDICINE
Studies have shown that music can be a viable asset to a person suffering from Alzheimer’s, a brain injury or other neurological conditions. Some music programs have been hugely beneficial to children suffering from ADHD/sensory disorders, autism and other disabilities to increase auditory processing, memory and concentration and generally improve listening skills. And classical music can help children and adults in a variety of different ways!
It’s interesting to note that music is processed on both sides of the brain. An underdeveloped area of the brain, research has discovered, can actually strengthen these areas, increasing cognitive skills, attention and motor skills to name a few!
MUSIC THERAPY
Other studies concur that music therapy can be a fundamental resource for speech development, verbal memory, and reading ability. Drumming interventions work on coordination, while speech articulation enhancement comes through singing exercises, and dancing with scarves strengthens hand eye coordination to name a few of the methodologies used.
DISABILITY INCLUSION
The idea of music being such an asset to those who have disabilities has inspired some movie producers to even include those with disabilities in their films. While many past musical movies regarded this as risky, the methodology and research suggest that abled and non-disabled alike can share in the drama that is life. These scenarios should be more prevalent rather than rare.
Other producers are jumping onto the band-wagon to create short music videos depicting relationships and life in unique ways for the disability community, which broadens horizons and teaches inclusion about a people group which has long been forgotten! People are recognizing a completely new dimension of inter-relationships which have been relegated to almost non-acceptable for many years!
Music is a gift. We respond through our senses, helping us to create rhythms in other parts of our lives. It matters not if we are abled, or have a disability. When we are singing (or playing music) with the radio or other device, or singing in church with others who are lifting their voices in praise, we are celebrating an intrinsic part of who we naturally are. It’s not about singing perfectly or right on key. It’s about enjoying music (whether singing or playing) and allowing it to help us heal and grow, in profound ways.