Having been used to treat illnesses of all degrees for thousands of years, it is only natural that music therapy has been seen to have a multitude of positive impacts. For example, studies show that the practice is associated with lower blood pressure, less muscle tension, pain management and the like. Because of its numerous uses, people who practice music therapy work with all kinds of people. Those who suffer from chronic pain can find that, when invested in a song, they feel better. Those who suffer from mental health illnesses can find that mood can be better with the involvement of music. Those who suffer from trauma can find that music helps them forget. The list goes on.
Music has long been known to have an effect on the brain. According to APA (American Psychology Association), a study was led by researchers at Beth Israel Medical TCenter's Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine who wanted to determine the effect of music on the brains of very young children. In their research, they examined the effects of playing music that resembled the sounds of the womb. APA states, “The researchers found that the gato box, the Remo ocean disc and singing all slowed a baby's heart rate, although singing was the most effective. Singing also increased the amount of time babies stayed quietly alert, and sucking behavior improved most with the gato box, while the ocean disc enhanced sleep. The music therapy also lowered the parents' stress, says Joanne Loewy, the study's lead author, director of the Armstrong center and co-editor of the journal "Music and Medicine”. This study demonstrates the effects music therapy can have on a patient in that it shows that different music has different effects on individuals, depending on what they are suffering from.