Three Years on Substack!!

The healing power of music…

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This month celebrates three years on Substack for Music Therapy/Music Musings! First off, thank you for reading and supporting this blog/newsletter. When I sent out my first Substack post I had 32 subscribers. Now I am over 600! I never imagined that many of you would be interested in my writing and reflections on music therapy and the healing power of music. I am so grateful for this community. I am so grateful for you.

Here is what I know:

- Music therapy is an evidence based clinical practice. A music therapist is a clinician who uses music as a tool to help meet a need or a goal.

- Our bodies work like music. The foundation of music is rhythm, and our bodies function in rhythm – our hearts beat in rhythm, we breathe in rhythm, we walk in rhythm. And when the rhythm is off, just like in music, everything is off.

- Our brains work differently when music is involved. Music is the only entity we know that is a ‘whole brain’ activity. Just about everything that we do involves a very specific part of the brain, but when music is involved – playing an instrument, singing, even listening to music – multiple parts of the brain are active, in both hemispheres. We know this by fMRI imaging of brain activity within music experiences.

- Music therapy is a legitimate and viable supportive modality in healthcare, addressing both the physical and psychosocial needs of the patients that we work with.

Here is what I don’t know:

Why was music such a helpful and powerful means for a gentleman, in his 60s, who had been in the hospital for almost two weeks after multiple debilitating surgeries that caused pain and such depression that the patient seemed about to give up any hope of recovering?

The answer may be a combination of some of the points above, or it may be something unexplained:

When I walked into the room he was lying in bed staring at the ceiling. He barely saw me come in and when I quietly said, “Hello” he seemed a little startled. The nurse was apprehensive in sending me in as, “He’s a gruff man. And all of this seems to really have taken a toll. He barely wants to talk to us.”

I asked, “How are you doing?”

“Humph. Horrible.”

“Are you in pain?”

“My stomach has been ripped open three times. What do you think?”

I sat and gave him a minute. Then I said, “I’m Ray. The nurses asked me to visit because we know that you are having a really rough time.”

“Is that a guitar?”

“Yes. I’m a music therapist.”

“I used to play guitar.”

And there was the connection. We eased into a conversation about guitars and music. He mentioned doing some traveling around with a band some years ago and said, “Man, those were the days.” He mentioned loving playing his Gibson Les Paul, “I love 70s rock man”. We spoke about different types of guitars, and then I said, “I have to show you this guitar,” and I pulled out my Breedlove acoustic that I use at the hospital.

Suddenly, his focus seemed to move away from the pain, feeding tube and various ICU monitors. His voice became a little stronger. Perhaps, the conversation brought back a little renewed sense of self, something that you lose when you are in the hospital recovering from a major medical issue. Suddenly we were just two guys hanging out talking about guitars and music.

“Can I play something for you?”

“Sure.”

I went into an easy version of ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ (The Eagles).

During the music, he was again staring at the ceiling. But now, his face was different. There was color, and light in his eyes, he seemed to transform a bit. The tension in his jaw seemed to melt away. (And, I noticed on the monitor that his heart rate was decreasing.)

When the song concluded he said, “Man… that was great. Can you play another one?” I went through a few more songs with themes of comfort and reflection. Then I said, “Here’s a good song for you,” and I played an easy version of Tom Petty’s ‘I Won’t Back Down’.

“Man… this is so great. Can you play a Beatles song?”

“I have the perfect one for you. It’s about looking forward to brighter days ahead.” When I went into the opening riff of ‘Here Comes The Sun’ he smiled and said, “Yes…”

“Man… you don’t know. This is just… this really helped me. Really… I don’t know what to say.”

I said, “Sometimes we just need to get out of our head a little. We need something with beauty, some music. We need the Beatles.”

“You really made a difference man. This was so helpful. Thank you. Really. Please… please come back any time.”

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Did I really make a difference? Well sure, I was there, I was the one providing the music. And yes, everything I played was purposeful. But what really made the difference was music. Why? How? Some songs? It was the music that brought him back into himself? What is going on here?

I got a note later from the physical therapist that said, “Thank you for seeing him! He’s been refusing to work with us, but after your visit, we were able to get him up and moving.”

It’s simple. It’s complicated. But something is happening. Music affects us both physically and emotionally. Music gives something different. Music gives something with beauty and aesthetics. Music gives us what we need when we need it.

Again, thanks for your support during these past three years!!

If you enjoy reading this newsletter, please share with someone you know who may enjoy it too.

The healing power of music…

(The stories presented in this newsletter are based on accounts or experiences and are not actual accounts or experiences.)

Raymond Leone, MMT, MT-BC is a board-certified music therapist based in Northern Virginia and writes extensively about music therapy and music and wellness.

Did you know that if you hit the heart at the top or the bottom of this email you will make my day and it will make it easier for others to find this publication. Thanks!