Bob Lord, one of Victoria’s resident mando players and frequent festival goer sent me through an article last week citing the possible health benefits of playing, listening to appreciating music.
It seems that more and more health professionals, are playing therapeutic music for patients in hospitals, hospices and other clinical environments in an effort to improve their patient’s healing processes. Some studies even suggest that older adults with musical experience perform better on some cognitive tests than those who had never studied music. Some studies even conclude that learning a second language protects against dementia.
One research program provided showed evidence that studying an instrument requires years of practice and learning, which in turn may create alternate connections in the brain that could compensate for cognitive declines as we age.
Other results have shown that women who listened to pre-recorded CDs of soothing music for 30 minutes daily showed significant reductions in stress, anxiety and depression.
It seems we musicians may be ahead of the pack when it comes to being healthy. We should all enjoy that state until the next study comes along to show that music makes you deaf, insular or more susceptible to some other dreaded condition.
Nevertheless, Thanks to Bob Lord for the post.
Here are some of the articles from the Live Science Site to read:
Glad to know that studies have been made on music as a preventive cure. Some like to listen to loud music others like it soft, some love an ensemble while others like solo’s. However we choose it, music will always give life to anyone.