Music is basically sound, which is harmonious, melodious and soothing in nature and which is abundantly evident in myriad forms around us . Music also has the potential to create euphoria, a state of ecstasy, extreme distress and outright pain. As such music, depending on the nature of its delivery and the environment in which it is delivered, connects and communicates with us in different individual ways.
It is already recognized and has been inducted into the public and private domain where people are singing, playing or listening to derive personal pleasure and entertainment.
Its general utility is indisputable but its scientific utility and persuasion for employment needs to be rigorously pursued keeping the overall general nature of human beings.
Music Therapy has been gradually emerging as a potential means of addressing various health related problems in the wellness area and more specific medical therapeutic goals. There can be broadly two approaches to these goals.
Music Therapy a Non-Invasive independent means of Wellness and Healing
There are any number of people who with very limited or no knowledge of the subject have assimilated music as a means of mental solace, support to meditation, release of mental stress and means of recreation.
In all of the above, individuals are exercising a personal choice of selecting, approving and employing the music which is available to them. They also consciously reject what is not appealing to them. These are choices exercised by people reasonably in command of their faculties.
Thus individuals who are reasonably in control of their faculties can be evaluated, guided, educated and trained by a Music Therapist to exercise these choices of selecting music which best helps them achieve their wellness goals.
Creating convergence……………. music with medicine!!
The term Music Therapy as Alternative-Medicine is misleading. In the current environment of its emergence as a treatment tool, it is desirable to recognize Music Therapy in the context of hospital, nursing, rehabilitation and rejuvenation setups as Supplementary Therapy rather than alternative therapy.
It is imperative that any primary or supplementary discipline of therapy in medical nursing or rehabilitation intervention must provide for calibrated delivery
Carnatic Music as a viable medium for Music Therapy
The concept of “Music Therapy” traces its origins in Indian history into the Vedic period. The history of Indian Music chronicles various events and occurrences which enlightens our knowledge of the scope of employing this alternative and supplementary intervention concurrent with other methods of therapy and treatment. The effect of various Raagas (Scales) and Swaras (Notes) on any living body is evidenced in several references in Ancient and Medieval Indian Texts through the centuries. Today, modern science is increasingly accepting this fact and acknowledges the therapeutic value of Indian Classical Music.
The single most striking development in Carnatic Music was after the bifurcation and the development of the Raaga – the Musical scale. The birth of the raaga is traditionally said to be from the Sama Veda itself which is the most ancient of musical scales. The raaga was called by various names in the Ancient, Medieval and Modern periods of History of Music. The present form of the raaga came into vogue around the 17th century.
The other monumental development in Carnatic Music is the 72 Melakarta Scheme This is a scheme of 72 mother ragas – primary or janaka ragas which all have all the seven notes, but with a combination of flat and sharp notes. From these main ragas many more ragas - pentatonic and hexatonic are born. Different Ragas give rise to different Raga Rasa - or moods / emotions – very much akin to evolution of a molecule and the generic in pharmacopeia.
72 Melakarta or Mother Ragas employed to reach out and communicate with 7 Chakras or Primary Energy Centres and their associated 72 Thousand Naadis or Nerve Endings was the base for initiating and progressing the employment of Carnatic Music in Music Therapy
Contemporary research has conclusive evidence that musical notes do have specific effects on the bodies of most living beings and human bodies are a veritable storehouse producing and resonating various ragas. Carnatic Music with its extremely precise and arithmetical structure of ragas, swaras and taalas largely facilitates the requirement of specific designed and calibrated delivery.
Music Therapy to supplement medical intervention is client specific
Music Therapy prescription must desirably emanate from the clients’ treatment team which can include doctors, psychologists, teachers, caseworkers and in the case of children with disabilities, their parents. A detailed preliminary evaluation of each client is imperative. Based on the analysis of the inputs and data provided , interaction with individual client and the degree and capabilities of the support system(s) available, Music Therapy sessions are carefully structured. It must be emphasized that no time frame can be prescribed to perceive positive results. Regular, systematic and dedicated sessions will establish noticeable changes in approximately a ten to twelve week period
Sessions are carefully planned, executed and evaluated based on the specific needs of each client. Evaluation of progress in the designated goal areas is completed on a regular basis.
About Me
- Rajam Shanker
- I am a graduate in Carnatic Music from the Telugu University, Hyderabad and have completed post graduate programs, Sangeeta Visharada and Sangeeta Alankara with distinction from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, the National Music University. I have continued a long association with this noted institution as teacher, moderator and music examiner for senior level assessments. I have been tutoring music students between the ages of 5 to 50 for over two decades. I am associated with Nada Centre for Research in Music Therapy, Chennai and Sandipani wing - dealing with autism -of Little Hearts Children's Hospital, Hyderabad.