Why Music Therapists Should be Employed in Every Hospital

Lyric analysis – Lyric analysis is a popular music therapy method, defined as the expansion from existing song or lyrics to any broader use. Sometimes two songs are chosen, and patients are asked to compare both the similarities and differences in musical style, timbre, lyrical content, levels of emotion, kind of emotions, and ways of expressing those emotions. Songs mark many solid memories from important life events, and the music may improve a person’s ability to look back over their life. Either with patient preferred music or songs that address topics to focus on, lyric analysis may be used to facilitate life review and reminiscence.

Songwriting/Lyric convergence – Another form of music therapy is songwriting and lyric convergence. It helps the creative thought process, enables individuals to sort their emotions, and gives them the ability to communicate grief or joy, and reminiscence on memories. Music therapists use songwriting to assess mental health, and to assist the patient by enhancing the quality of their life. Although some patients are confident writing original songs, there are several other songwriting techniques. Sometimes music therapists and their patients will sing well known songs, substituting individual words or phrases with an appropriate alternative. Sometimes using an existing melody and replacing the original lyrics with inventive words generates parodies of songs. Goodbye songs are an uplifting tactic to close a music therapy session. It gives the patient an opportunity to write about medical milestones and memories.

Active music – Active music is the conception of live music by the patient, including instrument playing and music lessons. By doing this, the patient’s self-esteem i...

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...s that long-term music memory consists of two forms: explicit and implicit functions. Explicit memory involves remembering personal and emotional recollections of the musical experience. Certain songs allow patients to remember contextual elements of their life. Implicit memory involves knowing how to do something, which is facilitated by non-conscious processes, including priming, procedural memory, or motor skills. Some patients with Alzheimer’s disease retain the ability to play instruments they played in their youth.

Music therapy has proven to reduce agitated behavior, decrease wandering, mediate communication, and increase self-identity. In addition, music calms the minds of dementia patients, and helps them feel comfortable.

Some of the most ordinarily used methods include listening to recorded music, group music therapy, and playing instruments.