Music a Modality for Counseling
Randy Melick, M.A. QMHP/Therapeutic Musician
Telephone: 660-619-5999
Email: melickmusic@gmail.com
Available: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
"Sample Whales and Music" by Randy Melick. Released: 2020. Genre: Relaxation.
Music in and as Medicine
- Music is processed by both sides of the brain.
- Music is a sensory stimulation provoking response due to familiarity, predictability, and feelings of security.
- All lobes of the brain are involved with recognizing and storing music memory.
Benefits of Music Interaction
With recent evidence supporting mental health benefits of music interaction, this modality offers diverse & accessible therapeutic benefits, supporting the protective factors designated as tools aiding mental health.
Music Represents the Emotional States such as:
Symmetry - such as harmony, balance, rhythm, harmony, and equilibrium. It is often related to beauty, truth, and good which represent positive values in the arts and sciences in addition to several emotions and social interaction.
Repetition - Repetition is an often overlooked yet powerful part of the way we process music, whether that music is a classical symphony or a song that gets stuck in your head. Ever had that happened?
What Happens to Our Brain When We Listen to Music
- The brain treats music differently than other stimuli.... Our brain is encouraging us to keep listening to music due to a release of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
- This dopamine rush — Dopamine is linked to eating, anticipating going out for dinner with family or close friends.
Other Neurotransmitter (s)
Serotonin is another transmitter, involved with your mood, sleep cycle, pain control, and digestion. In fact, the majority of serotonin in the body can be found in the gastrointestinal tract, and only about 10% is found in the brain.
Original Music with Nature Sounds
Listening to music with combined with nature sounds of the same frequency can have encouraging results.
Instead of ADDING sounds to the music (most relaxation music fills this category), I simply compose and record the music around nature’s frequencies.
Fun Fact: Male Humpback Whales sing to a female and his song may travel hundreds of miles underwater before reaching her. At times other males along the way will sing his song just to make sure it gets to her. How cool is that?
Music Tones are Measured
Hz is simply how we measure sound. Musical instruments are usually tuned to a standard pitch A=440. I find out the frequency of the sound and adjust the music to it. This gives the music a chance to become harmonious and easy to listen to.
There are many sounds we can benefit from; Ocean waves, Thunderstorms, Crickets, Birds, Waterfalls, the list goes on. I have various Album’s with these combinations available in a 1 gig USB.
Benefits using Sounds of Nature in Music
- Autism
- Dementia
- Medical Procedures
- Pain Control
- MRI’s
- OBGYN
- Infants
- Emergency Rooms
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Counseling
- Stress
- Racing thoughts
- Relaxation
Benefits using Sounds of Nature in Music
- Reduces Stress and promotes wellness
Improves communication - Supports positive mood and emotional states
- Enhances awareness of the environment
- Allows for participation in client treatment
- Enhances memory
- Promotes physical rehabilitation and movement
- Music Therapy-teaching others to play instruments