Music Therapy
WHY MUSIC THERAPY FOR PWP?
The evidence is clear — playing a musical instrument, singing and listening to music can positively affect brain health and fitness.
This brain-boosting effect is evident at all stages of life, benefiting everyone from babies to seniors.
Music can improve mood, increase intelligence, enhance learning and concentration, and ward off the effects of brain aging. Singing by yourself and better yet in a group choir helps our muscles which allow us to breath and swallow.
Music therapy also helps various mood and brain disorders and improves the quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s. Music improves brain health and function in many ways.
No matter your age, it’s never too soon or too late to fill your life with music!
Advances in neuroscience have enabled researchers to measure just how music affects the brain.
The interest in the effects of music on the brain has led to a new branch of research called neuro-musicology which explores how the nervous system reacts to music.
And the evidence is in — music activates every known part of the brain.
One of the ways music affects mood is by stimulating the formation of certain brain chemicals.
Listening to music increases the neurotransmitter dopamine. As we know dopamine is the brain’s “motivation molecule” and an integral part of the pleasure-reward system. It’s the same brain chemical responsible for the feel-good states obtained from eating chocolate and runner’s high. When listening to a playlist, you can further increase dopamine by choosing shuffle mode. When one of your favorite songs unexpectedly comes up, it also triggers an extra dopamine boost.
Playing, singing and even just listening to music can make you smarter, happier, healthier, and more productive.
Most of us are aware of what happens to the body when we exercise. We build more muscle and stamina. We feel how daily activities like climbing stairs becomes easier if we exercise regularly.
At the same time, endorphins, another chemical to fight stress, is released in your brain.
Music produces the same endorphins that exercise does. It does this through a different part of our brains. Most importantly using our singing muscles will strengthen our swallowing and breathing muscles which are critical for people living with Parkinson’s.
Come try our new music classes at PWP!
Jillian