Music therapy

Every known society has some form of musical expression; and a significant use of music is in communication with the supernatural, in particular repetitious vocal music or chanting. Song may disclose beliefs, attitudes and values not otherwise communicable. It is suggested that by the use of music, deeper levels of the personality can be reached and influenced than is possible with the spoken word. This was certainly believed in previous generations, when physical disease as well as psychological problems were treated with very specific musical cures. Warning was (and is) given of the deleterious effects of some music, which by working directly on a person's mood can agitate, excite and make furious. Some pop music is said to be very harmful (even to plants).

Music therapy is a method of psychotherapy which attempts to obtain therapeutic effects in individuals through exposing them to various kinds of music. The music acts upon the mood of the individual and also upon his physiological functions. The method may be used either in individual treatment or in group therapy. Individuals may listen passively or they may actively practice on simple instruments. The latter demands much greater commitment of the whole personality.