MUSIC THERAPY: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

By T V Sairam

Music is an ancient therapeutic system- recognized all over the world in all ancient cultures and civilizations.

Music is not only time-tested, but also time-honoured.

It has been an inseparable mental companion not only to the aboriginals who feared Nature’s fury but also to the present-day homo sapiens, a variety of species, which is endangered by its own variety.

It is interesting to note that the Science, which always shows great skepticism towards every belief systems, seems to be somewhat partial and accommodative towards music! Otherwise, we may not have now great institutions working for the cause of therapeutic music in almost all developed countries around the globe.

Though music is highly personal and subjective, no scientific work has raised a finger against the emotional experience of a listener. This ‘laissez faire’ policy in respect of music, could have been the major reason for the lack of scientific approach towards music – as a subject - in general, and Carnatic music in particular.

It is unfortunate to come across the lack of adequate scientific research in the field of music therapy, though it is heartening to note that a few scientists, psychologists and music therapists have in recent years inidividually contributed their findings on the impact of ragas on mind and body.

Physiological and psychological impact of various ragas are under scrutiny and it is necessary that more researchers come forward to test the traditional beliefs – which is almost fanatic – on a scientific basis such as double mind, clinical trials etc.

Not only Carnatic music but also all other genres of music – such as Hindustani, folk, trivial, Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Western Classical, New Age Music etc., etc. – should be taken up into the crucibles for scientific assays, for the sake of millions who are suffering from a plethora of ailments – both physiological and psychological.

In this context. It is worth referring here to mention about a novel instrument, developed by the scientists of BARC, Mumbai.

Called ‘medical analyser’, this instrument is capable of giving physiological parameters with variations in large numbers and recording autonomic response of the body, with homoeopathic medicines in higher dilution. (Newsitem dated 25th Nov 2004 in New Indian Express) Perhaps we can explore whether this instrument could help our scientific pursuit on working out the impact of certain selected rhythms and resonance as well.

It is evident that all forms of music – for that matter, all forms of ragas may not have uniform impact on mind and body. There is no guarantee that everyone trying a particular raga would be favourably disposed towards it the same way. Infact, it is the same with the case of medicine as well, where the constitution of a patients differs from others. But at the same time it is the overall impact on the majority of the patients that should determine the efficacy of a particular drug.

There are also areas in music therapy which are still vague and cloudy.

For example, when we talk about the frequency of notes and vibrations in music, the synchronisation of musical rhythms and vibrations with the body rhythms and vibrations, unfortunately, very little is known about the brain functions.

How music could affect the brain and the nervous system is till a million dollar question.

It is also not clear why certain rhythms and certain tempo give us a lively mood while others make us feel rather sad or melancholic.

Like mind, music is also a subject which cannot be easily fathomed.

That should not however deter us from “facing” music. There is all the more reason for taking up the subject for a scientific scrutiny at least so far as the health impact of music is concerned. What we need is less bias and more objective approach towards the subject. In other words, a balanced approach is essential in analysing the musical impact on people suffering from various ailments like depression, hyper-tension etc. Unless we establish credibility in the approach of our research, we may not be able to convince the world with reasonable arguments.

Then we may have to resort to unscientific tactics like idolising music as God and lock it up in a high pedestal so that common man cannot utilize it fully.

It is also essential to recognize that the human mind may not always be responsive to music, even though such music emanates from highly reputed and recognised source. This is possibly due to an individual situation. Particularly those who suffer from acute pain sensations cannot normally enjoy a good piece of music although one may try to market it as a pain relieving music.

It is essential therefore that all such aspects in music ingestion should be well known before one tries to experiment on patients.

Tremendous belief also exists that even in unconscious state, music can work. It appears that there is some substance in such belief as certain sounds (like low frequency tones) can affect the body more quickly than the mind. To that extent it may be true that one need not be conscious or aware of a musical input which he or she may be enjoying unknowingly.

In such circumstances there is a need for spelling out reasons for isolating some music for rational ingestion or appreciation.

MUSIC THERAPY – PROSPECTS

Immense potential exists in the musical heritage of India which is yet to be tapped. Indian music, particularly the Indian raga system can be useful for healing many a disorder of mind and body, particularly the occupational stress, prolonged depression, tension in the mind of children, adults and elders etc.

Thanks to the flexibility of swaras in the raga system, which facilitates full expression of nuances in emotion. Therapeutic value here is rather high and practically unexploited. There is thus a dire need for propagating its potentials to create awareness. A systematic survey and study of the impact of various ragas to gauge their therapeutic value is also an urgent need.

Public places where tension prevails such as long waiting queues, bus stations, railway stations, public offices, hospitals, schools and colleges, prisons and police stations all need de-stressing arrangements with music facilities. Research institutions on music therapy should concentrate on devising appropriate music for all such institutions. Through intensive and extensive research, experimenting not only with Indian music, but also with other forms of music from distant lands and countries, suitable musical structures could be evolved for various purposes/human activities, depending on individual needs. In various parts of the world there has been an established tradition of employing music during occasions such as childbirth, marriage, death etc. Certain exclusive tunes and rhythms have been effectively used for such purposes. Shamanism and Nada Yoga have also employed selective tones and rhythms, aimed at altering ones conscious level. These traditions need to be scrutinized in scientific crucibles so that they can put to use for alleviating the sufferings of those who are terminally ill, closeted in hospices. The Government and the public philanthropists should come forward to set up research and training facilities for developing music therapy as a subject so as to develop a more dependable system of complimentary medicine, through constant research and scientific evaluation. Specialists from the fields such as musicology, psychology, medicine etc., should form a body of the team, which would enquire into all aspects.

Like music, music therapy is also a complex subject. It is easy to recognise it but difficult to understand. In order to avoid criticisms from the sceptics as a quack medicine, a more scientific approach needs to be adopted in all future engagements with music therapy.

As man should not be allowed to go away from Nature, he should also not go away from Nature’s rhythm and sound, which with their low frequencies soothe his mind and body. As we have to control the industrial and urban noises, we have to liberate the nature sounds prevailing all around.

(The Author can be contacted at tvsairam@rediffmail.com)