For generations, the healing potential of music has been recognized and harnessed, and recent research reinforces this ancient wisdom. Evidently, music has the power to assist with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and even helps in managing physical ailments like cancer.
Studies conducted at the University of Southern California Brain and Creativity Institute indicate that music positively influences young people’s cognitive development and behavior. This research involved children aged six and seven just beginning their musical journeys. As these children’s growth in various aspects was tracked over the years, it was found that they scored higher in executive function, indicating an improved ability to plan, concentrate, remember, and multitask.
Such research comes as no surprise to Yau Wang, the founder of Hong Kong’s Do Re Mi Music Therapy Centre. She started the center during the SARS outbreak in 2003, aiming to help people, especially children, deal with emotional stress and daily life uncertainties through music therapy. The center remained a comforting space for families with special needs children even during the subsequent COVID pandemic.
Wang’s approach to music therapy is rooted in the concept of interoception, the ability to feel, understand, and respond to what’s happening inside our bodies. In children with autism and individuals suffering from trauma or depression, interoceptive skills may be compromised, causing difficulty in recognizing and managing emotions. Music, whether through listening or playing an instrument, helps promote emotional awareness and regulation in such cases.
The therapeutic potential of music is evident in the case of Yeung Hong Yue, a six-year-old autistic boy who joined Do Re Mi. Through music, Yeung was able to express himself, build motor skills, and even achieve a remarkable understanding of his emotions. His journey with music even led him to win first prize in his category at the 5th Hong Kong Pacific Piano Open Competition. This not only fostered a sense of achievement and self-worth but also contributed significantly to his cognitive and emotional development.
Beatriz Ilari, an associate professor involved in the study at the University of Southern California, asserts that music plays a crucial role in regulating moods across various stages of life. It’s not just about the enjoyment or success associated with music, but the profound impact it has on an individual’s identity, confidence, and cognition.
Regardless of when formal music education starts, children already exhibit a musical involvement to some extent, whether it’s by listening to music at home or in school. The role of a music teacher is to nurture and expand this inherent musicality.
In a nutshell, the multifaceted benefits of music are transformative and healing. Whether it’s listening to soothing melodies or mastering a musical instrument, music offers an invaluable source of stress relief, focus, identity, and collaboration, contributing significantly to cognitive enhancement and emotional well-being.
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