October 26, 2022
Individual music tastes are one of our uniquely defining qualities. Some of us prefer to only listen to 18th century classical works; others are fond of a range of genres (pop and heavy metal, anyone?), with some people citing that their taste depends specifically on their mood.
Society has long researched and capitalized on the relationship that exists between music and human emotions to curate experiences. For example, quiet, slow-tempo music is rarely played at sporting events. Instead, event planners leverage loud, upbeat music to infuse excitement and enthusiasm in fans to motivate us to cheer louder for our favourite team. Retail stores, on the other hand, tend to opt for quieter, slower sounds to promote lingering, consumption, and purchase.
Healthcare, too, has found ways to leverage the power of music. Music therapy promotes wellness, enhanced memory recollection, and emotional expression, to name only a few of its benefits. For people living with dementia, music therapy has proven itself to be an ethical and effective approach for behavioural and emotional interventions. Research suggests that patients become more present and active, have more positive interactions with care providers, and demonstrate improved communication abilities, following interventions with music therapy.*
Music and emotions are related—so what?
At Throughline, we dig deep in our research to understand the transactional and emotional experiences of people with illness. We promote emotional expression by leveraging unique and innovative techniques to enable people with illness to share their lived experiences.
By integrating music into our discussions with people experiencing illness, we can:
Enable the individuals to express their emotions without the explicit weight of vulnerability
Empathetically connect with people experiencing illness through their interpretation of the medium
Assess the underlying impact of their emotions, motivations, and beliefs on their actions
Delve deeper into how their emotional range has shifted throughout their journey with illness
It’s been said, “where words fail, music speaks.” This week, we’re tuning in to hear about the lived experiences and needs of healthcare workers to understand their impact on those living with illness. What are you tuning into?
*Moreno-Morales, C., Calero, R., Moreno-Morales, P., & Pintado, C. (2020). Music Therapy in the Treatment of Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in medicine, 7, 160. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2020.00160
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