Music therapy has been practiced for thousands of years to benefit mental health. It works by engaging multiple areas of the brain related to emotion, memory, and movement. Research shows music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, pain and improve mood, sleep quality and memory. It works by boosting dopamine and reducing stress hormones while stimulating positive memories. Music therapy is now an established health profession that uses music's ability to engage our emotions and address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs.

1. MUSIC THERAPY AND MENTAL
HEALTH

2. INTRODUCTION
● Music therapy is an ancient and yet very modern practice that has the
power to heal and transform our brains and bodies in significant ways.
● Music therapist explains how music really does have the power to heal
our brain and heart.
● We listen to music to get pumped up about something, to find personal
peace, to sympathize and allow our emotions an outlet.
● It makes sense that music therapy would help us to heal and thrive in
the most difficult times of our lives.

3. Music Therapy : An Ancient yet Modern Practice
● Music today and throughout history has helped in the mental
wellness.
● Since the dawn of humanity music therapy practices have roots
to date as far back as a thousand years.
● Music was initially used for communicate of early man's
necessity to vocalize intrinsic needs.
● Over time, humans develop methods for using music as a tool
for socialization, creativity and healing.
● Over 2,500 years ago, Greek philosopher Pythagoras (born 570
BC) would prescribe musical scales in various modes to treat
different ailments.

4. How Music can heal our brain and Heart?
● Music engages the brain in remarkable ways the brain responds to music
with profound cellular signals that evoke emotions within us.
● If you look at the brain, on a functional magnetic resonance imaging
machine or FMRI, multiple areas of the brain light up when a person is
listening to music.
● Neurons which are brain cells that send messages become activated
during this process, areas involving attention, memory, movement,
coordination, emotion, all become affected when exposed to what we
call preferred or familiar music.

5. Music therapy: Health Benefits
● Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety,
blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood,
mental alertness, and memory.
● Music has the ability to tap into our emotions as it has been used
therapeutically.
● Music therapy is an established evidence-based health profession
practiced by a credentialed therapist in which music is used to
address physical emotional cognitive and social needs..

6. It elevates mood. Music can boost the brain’s production of the hormone
dopamine. This increased dopamine production helps relieve feelings of
anxiety and depression.
It’s heart healthy. Research has shown that blood flows more easily when
music is played. It can also reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, decrease
cortisol (stress hormone) levels and increase serotonin and endorphin levels
in the blood.
It reduces stress. Research has found that listening to music can relieve
stress by triggering biochemical stress reducers.
It stimulates memories. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease or
dementia but music therapy has been shown to relieve some of its
symptoms. Music therapy can relax an agitated patient, improve the mood
and open communication in patients.

7. Conclusion
● Music can improve mood, decrease pain and anxiety, and facilitate opportunities for emotional expression.
The natural world has intrinsic wisdom that needs no words to convey its magnificence. Music and sound
bring our attention to the majesty and mystery of the natural world, both of which are proven to enhance
one’s health and well-being.