Music therapy is the recommended use of music and musical interference to reinstate, uphold, and improve emotional, physical, physiological, and spiritual health and well-being. Music becomes a part of our life since the time we are born. The mother sings lullabies to make the child fall asleep. From the starting of the school days, basics like ABC, 123 and nursery rhymes have been taught through music.

Music surrounds our lives—we hear it on radio, on television, while traveling, on home stereos and so on. We come across it in the smooth tunes of a classical concert or in the devotional strains of a bhajan, the wedding band, or the cutter in the fields breaking in an impromptu song. Even bathroom singing gives a cheerful start to the day.

Music has been a very effective tool in dealing with children, adolescents and adults. In a therapeutic setting, music therapy can be a powerful way to help people express their feeling. It has been one of the most effective ways to release stress. Music in any form either listening or playing a musical instrument becomes a way of liberating us from tension. Listening to music helps a person to calm down. Playing any musical instruments like guitar, tabla, bongo, sitar, etc., helps to release aggression. It is normally seen that people who have interest in classical, semi-classical or soft music are more poised, calm and balanced. On the other hand, very loud music such as hard rock, jazz, blues, R&B, etc., makes a person restless, impatient and creates negative vibrations.

Soft music soothes both mind and body. Music therapy is based on associative and cognitive powers of the mind. Sound generates certain kind of vibrations, which are recognized and augmented by the human ear. These waves are then picked up by the sensory nerve going into the middle of the brain and redistributed throughout the neuron network to other parts of the brain to distinguish the pitch, tone, and frequency of that sound.

Research has shown that it is the right side of the brain, which responds to the creative arts, including music. Different kinds of music have different effects on the mind. Rock music, which has a sequence of recurring notes, mainly high-pitched and low-pitched and dense toned figures, requires an immediate adjustment.

Music therapy is used by psychologists as an alternate method of healing. These therapies can be used to deal with physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of an individual. It improves a person’s way of thinking which in turns improves the quality of life. Playing of music in the background while working also helps to reduce stress levels, even though the person seems to be unaware of the music

Music leads to reduced heart rates and higher body temperature, which indicate the onset of relaxation. Relaxation therapy along with music has been known to show greater results than relaxation therapy when done without music. One should choose music that has a slow rhythm and is soothing to the ear. Music that has a repeating or cyclical pattern is found to be very effective in most people.

After a stressful day, put on some music of your choice, take a deep breath and gradually let it out. Focus on your breath, let it deepen slowly and become more regular. Concentrate on the music. Thus, you can analyze the music that is being played and this would make relaxation more complete. If stimulation is needed after a long day at work, go for faster music rather than a slow or soothing number. When going gets tough, go for music you are familiar with, such as, favorite old songs/music. Anything familiar makes you feel more comfortable and helps you calm down.

While you are going for a morning or an evening walk put your favorite music on the walkman, inhale and exhale in tune with the music. Slowly you would be involved in the music unaware of the surroundings. This proves to be a great stress buster.

Listening to the sounds of nature, such as ocean waves or the calming silence of a deep forest, chirping of birds, etc., can reduce stress. Music helps in improving sleep patterns. If you are unable to sleep, put on some soft music on a low volume, which is soothing to the ear. It is observed with such music one tends to fall asleep easily.