Recently there’s been a ton of controversy in the recording industry surrounding the matter of music streaming websites (such as Spotify) versus directly purchasing music (such as iTunes). In an interview with Yahoo! Music, Taylor Swift stated, “[And] I just don't agree with perpetuating the perception that music has no value and should be free." Was Taylor only referring to the commercial value of her own music if she had permitted her latest release to be streamed on Spotify? I don’t know what she really meant, but congrats to her on 1989 selling 1.2 million copies in its first week.
Although it’s great for talented artists to make a living from their work, I believe that music is priceless in several ways.
According to NYU Steinhardt (which offers a Masters of Arts Degree in the subject), music therapy is “the use of music in the treatment of people of all ages who have problems of a mental, physical, and/or emotional nature”.
Music therapists can work with a wide variety of people: those affected by Parkinson’s disease, underweight premature babies, children with autism, elderly affected by dementia, etc. The possibilities seem to be endless.
On January 8th, 2011, former U.S. congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot in the head at point-blank range during a “Congress On Your Corner” constituent meeting in Arizona. After undergoing emergency surgery, she was put into a medically induced coma in order for her brain to rest. Miraculously, Giffords’s condition improved enough for her to start basic physical therapy and music therapy. Damage done to the language pathways in the left hemisphere of her brain had caused her to suffer from aphasia, or the inability to speak.
In a poignant article, Giffords’s music therapist, Meaghan Morrow, compared language pathways to a freeway detour. She mentioned music as "[…] that other road […],” which evidently played an important role in Gabby Giffords’s journey to learn how to use her voice once again. "Happy Birthday," "American Pie" and "Brown Eyed Girl" were some of the jingles that helped Giffords to gain back her power to talk.
Depression is a common illness, affecting more than 350 million people all over the world. As widespread as depression and other diseases are, there is still stigma around mental illness. It can be uncomfortable for people to talk about, especially when most are not informed on the subject. In various cultures, depression is sometimes incorrectly viewed as a flaw in character. This is one of many reasons why those suffering may choose not to seek help.
Alongside therapy and medication, music is a great utility in the treatment of depression. The simplest arrangement of notes can stimulate the reward center in the brain (nucleus accumbens) where dopamine is produced. In music therapy, music is used to develop the patient’s needs and health in a positive way. This can consist of listening to and interpreting, writing songs, playing musical instruments, and more. There have been no proven adversities in people who practice this type of therapy. Prior knowledge of or experience with music is not necessary for patients to benefit from music therapy.
Music therapy and meditation are both classified as mind-body interventions, or varieties of alternative medicine. Music allows individuals to release emotion, even if they don’t realize it. This is similar to the effects of meditation, in which the meditator (with practice) can eventually focus their mind completely to be free of excess thought. The relationship between therapist and patient is a crucial one, as they delve into the patient’s thoughts, feelings, and conflicts together. Another essential part of this process is whether the music is therapeutic or not. Music is defined as therapeutic when its qualities (tempo, rhythm, beat, lyrics, etc.) suit an individual’s need/problem/situation.
Another common hindrance of the mind is how to deal with stress. Even the most calm, cool, and collected person in the world will encounter stressful circumstances at some point in life. Some people are just naturally proficient at managing their worries, while it is more challenging for others. I can personally say that I am one of the latter. Even the tiniest setback that would seem ludicrous and insignificant to someone else, I could lose my mind over. It’s quite reassuring to know that anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, but upsetting that only about one-third of those affected receive treatment.
Like I said before, even people not diagnosed with an anxiety disorder can and will experience worry in life. School, work, and home environments are all potential places for stress to raise its ugly head. Stress can be incapacitating by itself and furthermore, it increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. Fear not, however! In addition to healthy diet and exercise, music can help to eliminate stress. Have a big test tomorrow? Instead of wasting time visualizing yourself failing, put on some classical music (tremendous for concentration) and study. Can’t sleep because you’re trying to envision your future? Pop in some earphones and get lost in the sound of someone’s voice instead.
Ultimately, music has such massive benefits. Whether an infant, toddler, child, adolescent, or adult is experiencing a social, cognitive, emotional, or physical problem, it can be solved with the help of a specialist. The more music you discover, the more you can understand your own preferences and what genres, bands, or singers make you happy. If you’re having a bad day, perhaps simply listening to, singing, or playing a song can brighten your mood.
So yeah, T-Swift, I also disagree with “perpetuating the perception that music has no value”. It’s worth so much more than just money.
Written by: Caitlin Usui
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