Sound plays an essential part in the way that we interact with our surroundings. Scientific studies show that listening to music can trigger thousands of different neurological reactions. Consider, for example, how different a suspenseful movie would be without eerie noises or a tense score. Recall how it feels to sit on a beach and let the sound of waves lull you into relaxation, or think of how a single song can remind you of a certain person or event. Music and ambient noise have the unique ability to influence our moods, feelings, memories and sensations, making them important tools in therapy.
Music in healing harnesses the power of sound to lift spirits, create a sense of calm or help with remembering a particular time and place. Every aspect of music can be utilized in music therapy — lyrics can provide solace or provoke thoughts, arrangements and melodies can influence mood and memory, moving to music can be freeing, writing music can offer a new form of self-expression and so much more. Through listening to music, dancing, creating music and otherwise experimenting with sound in a guided therapeutic setting, participants in music therapy can find new ways to express themselves, to let go of negative feelings and to connect with others.