In a sign of changing perspective on therapeutics, complementary and alternative systems are beginning to find greater priority in governmental policies. And, that should be a welcome development for practitioners of such alternative interventions such as music therapy.
The desire for holistic health is not met by modern medicine alone, said Professor N. Ananthakrishnan, Dean, Research and PG Studies and Allied Health Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, at the inauguration of a conference on ‘Current trends in music therapy education -- clinical practice and research’ held at the institute in Puducherry on Tuesday.
“We must look beyond modern medicines for some solutions,” he said, adding that investigations are underway to examine claims of alternative therapies.
It is in such a scenario there have been rapid developments in the field of music therapy, which were outlined by Amy Clements-Cortes, President, World Federation of Music Therapy, who inaugurated the conference through a video recording from Canada.
Art and science
Ms. Cortes said the discipline has been steadily growing, and is being recognised not just as art, but science as well. She put the number of music therapists at 14,623 in 2012. Mr. Ananthakrishnan, in his address, mentioned that while from 1985 to 2000, there were only four papers a month in music therapy, and this has increased 400 per cent from 2000 to 2014.
Ms. Cortes commended the advances made by the Center for Music Therapy Education and Research (CMTER) at MGMCRI, and said its work would put India on the global stage in music therapy. Having traced its beginning to the Music Medicine Unit established in 2010, CMTER has seen around 2,200 patients undergo music therapy, and is believed to be the first medical university to have such a centre in India. Ms. Cortes also welcomed research being done in the field, and the institute’s plans to upgrade its PG Diploma in Music Therapy to an MS in Medical Music Therapy.
Sumathy Sundar, Head, CMTER said music therapy is being used in the paediatrics department, for patients facing painful procedures in dermatology, for those in pre- and postoperative care, antenatal care, and patients who have anxiety about invasive procedures, diagnosis and treatment, and in cases of depression.
Music therapy has been found to increase the cooperation level among patients, stabilise respiratory rate and help in dealing with self-esteem, said Ms. Sundar.
Uses in new fields
Music therapy is not restricted to the hospital. Lucy Bolger from Australia, who is the course tutor at The Music Therapy Trust, New Delhi, said it is used in community-based programmes and education-based setting. Professor Gerhard Tucek, Programme Director, Department of Music Therapy, IMC University of Applied Sciences, Krems, Austria, explained how the forensic dimension is a new field within music therapy.
“It helps prisoners who have forgotten how to interact with others. This also depends on government policy, whether it seeks punishment of prisoners or rehabilitation,” said Mr. Tucek.
“A music therapist works with others like a physiotherapist and occupational therapist. Music therapy is not just listening to music. The interpersonal relation between therapist and patient is important,” he added.
A music therapist works with others like a physiotherapist and occupational therapist
