A Report on Music Therapy and the Individual Impact of Music on Humans
An Interview with Thomas Stegemann
What makes music therapy so special?
Music affects several areas of the brain simultaneously: on the one hand, it reduces fear and tension; on the other, it activates reward and motivation systems. Precisely because of this multifaceted effect, music therapy has a wide range of applications and can influence both psychological and physiological processes.
How is music used therapeutically?
Music therapy does not consist solely of active music-making. In some cases, simply listening to music can already have a therapeutic effect. In certain situations, this effect can even be compared to that of calming medications such as tranquilizers.
This form of passive music therapy is widely used, especially:
-
in neonatal intensive care units,
-
during surgical procedures or in the preoperative period.
Active music therapy, on the other hand, is mainly oriented toward psychotherapy. By creating or performing music, people can gain new insights into their inner world, emotions, and pain. The primary therapeutic goal is to provide individuals with a channel to express their experiences through music and to develop this expression together with the therapist.
For example, a woman suffering from chronic pain may be invited to find a sound that expresses her headache. She is then encouraged to modify this sound. Through this process, she discovers that she can influence the sound—and that this influence can also change how she feels. As a result, she begins to create her own “healing music.”
There are many types of music therapy. Which one is more effective?
Today, it is clearly understood that the most effective music is the music chosen by the individual themselves. This principle applies to both passive and active forms of music therapy.
Modern approaches are primarily patient-centered. The key questions are:
-
What does this person need at this moment?
-
Which symptoms are we trying to influence?
-
Which type of music might best serve this purpose?
For a long time, attempts were made to identify the “ideal music” to be played before surgery. Over time, however, all such standard recommendations were abandoned because the approach proved to be flawed. The effect of music varies depending on the situation and from person to person. The concept of “the right music” cannot be considered universal—it is different for everyone.
For this reason, patients today are often encouraged to bring their own music.
Does this also apply to loud and aggressive music?
Yes, absolutely.
In general, calm and harmonious music tends to have a relaxing effect, while loud and sharp sounds may produce the opposite effect—something that can even be measured in animal studies. However, this fundamental effect is influenced by many factors:
-
personal experience,
-
individual preferences and dislikes,
-
social attitudes toward specific musical genres.
For example, it is incorrect to assume that classical music always has a calming effect. Some people become more irritated or aggressive when they are forced to listen to classical music.
On the other hand, observations conducted in Hamburg, Germany, have shown that for some young people who engage in self-harming behavior, loud and aggressive music can play a calming role. According to them, such music provides emotional release and reduces the impulse to harm themselves. In this context, music functions as a kind of mechanism for “emotional cooling.”