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Mrs.Thomas
3/19/20
UWRT 1104
Synthesis of Sources
In my inquiry process on how music therapy is used to treat trauma and other mental
illnesses I have found sources that discuss the effect of music on the brain to influence mood,
how each part of the brain is affected by music and the history of music therapy and is used
throughout history. The relationship between mental health and music is one that has been
around for years and has helped a variety of people all across the globe.
The first source I provided was an article by the University of Central Florida. It is an
article discussing the relationship between music and the brain. It breaks down the benefits
music can have in relieving stress, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, it provides information
on the way music stimulates parts of the brain and allows for them to further be enhanced by
music and music therapy when trying to cope with these issues. Similarly in a journal pertaining
to the topic by Indian doctors Nizamie and Tikka also discuss the benefits provided for the brain
when dealing with mental illness. They broke down the process of music therapy into the
different types of processing associated with the practice such as emotional, perceptual, and
autonomi processing through the method of therapy. They discuss also how one is to benefit
through this process of music therapy. Lastly, an article by Molly Warren, a music therapist also
flows well with the ideas presented before her. Within the article she gave a good overview into
the practice of music therapy. She then breaks down her process into 4 separate methods of
therapy: Lyric analysis, Improvisation music playing, Active Music Listening and Songwriting.
Through these methods each patient is able to channel whatever problem they may be having
mentally and produce something beautiful from their pain. She too discusses the great benefits
her patients receive from her practice and advocates for music therapy extremely just as the
The ideas of the effect music will have on one’s mood and how the parts of one’s brain
are affected by music go hand in hand. Within the article “Music and the Brain: What Happens
When You’re Listening to Music.” the journal “Psychiatry and Music.” and the article “The
Impact Of Music On Mental Health.” all present these ideas. They provide a great insight on all
the interactions between the brain and music. All come from well known and respected
individuals in the field of music therapy, psychology, or some mental health related field. They
all have similar ideas on how music helps by being a medium for people to be able to cope with
situations that have caused them to develop some sort of mental illness. Furthermore, the sources
provide information on how music can stimulate different parts of the brain such as the frontal
lobe providing benefits with memory. Ultimately these sources compile information that points
to music therapy having extreme benefits for those who struggle with mental illness and provide
Presenting Ideas that correlate towards the history of Music therapy include the articles
by the American Association for Music Therapy and Dr.Greensburgs article of the first music
therapist. The AAMT article presented information on the topic of music therapy but was limited
since it only really documented the medical practices of it. It provided information about the first
instance where music was implemented in the 1800s for medical treatments. And later how the
AAMT was founded and has provided many people will benefit from the practice they support
so much. In contrast, Greenberg's article focuses on his search for the very first instance of music
therapy in history. He describes how the thought entered his mind and he began research and
stumbled upon a religious instance where a servant played music for a kind and eventually cured
the king's depression. This instance was the very first instance he was able to find and provided a
great insight on how this practice has been around far before our civilizations, Furthermore it
shows the benefits music has on mental health even in this instance where technology to prove it
didn't exist. Although these sources do not correlate exactly I believe they provide two sides to
the same story when it comes to the history and use of music therapy throughout history.
The history of music therapy is obvious; the practice has been around for many years it
just wasn't officially “Music Therapy”. The article “The World’s First Music Therapist” and
“The American Music Therapy Association: History of Music therapy” Both present the practice
of music therapy and provide an insight on how much it's changed from its humble origins. Both
articles give an insight into a history that is derived straight from medical history of the practice
and an insight into the history of the practice from a religious aspect. The evolution of the topic
is what is most impressive, seeing how much science goes into seeing how the overall chemical
balance of the brain reacts as it listens to whatever music is played for it. All in all, music
therapy has been around for years and a variety of different people from all around the world
have benefited from it. Although it is said to be a new practice, the usefulness and practice of this