We‘ve often heard of relaxing music, chilling music and even healing music. But it’s doubtful that anyone has thought that music is about too close to curing serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. Studies show it is. The truly marvelous stories of Trevor Gibbons and Rande Gedaliah are still a rare but a significant phenomenon.
Rande had been diagnosed with Parkinson and when her condition deteriorated badly and resulted in legs failing under right during showering, she knew things were getting worse fast. The 60 year old woman reached to turn on the shower radio where some good old music was on. What she feels… her leg – it moves easily, she rises to her feet and feels like dancing! From then on, the woman never parts with her music player having composed specials playlists there: rhythmic songs like those by Bruce Springsteen for a faster walk, and calmer motifs like Queen’s hits for strolling.
Trevor was a carpenter. After a bad accident resulting in two strokes and a serious spinal injury he was deemed almost incurable: unable to speak and move. However, after intensive music therapy during a few years at the rehab center (playing piano and vocal practicing), Trevor not only retrieved his speech and walking ability but since then has composed 400 own songs and released 3 CDs.
Neurologists claim that music has a certain ‘miracle effect’ that, however, can be scientifically explained. Our brain is constructed in such a way that it can respond to the rapid external rhythm provided by music. Listening to music you allow the sound pattern tap into your brain in a form of organized neurons’ movement and synchronize your body with its melody.
Yet even more effective is playing music yourself, when your brain obtains intensified coordination. Rick Bausman, a musician himself, organized a special Drum Workshop for people with Parkinson’s. According to his words, patients acknowledge that playing rhythmic Caribbean and Cuban melodies on bongos, congas and drums alleviates their physical moves making them more flexible, controlled and with less shaking. Even those at late stages of the disease feel the changes.
Even though music therapy hasn’t been yet developed to such an extent where serious brain diseases were able to be cured in every individual case, it still does affect positively our mental state. Music’s an easy way to assuage stress, depression and pain.
Listen to music!