Music therapy is an underutilized healthcare philosophy that uses the soulful power of melody to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages. Music therapy improves the quality of life for persons who are well and meets the needs of children with disabilities or illnesses. Music Therapy applications can be designed to promote wellness, manage stress, alleviate pain, express feelings, enhance memory, improve communication and promote physical rehabilitation.
So what is Music Therapy exactly? The Canadian Music Therapy Association defines Music therapy as the skillful use of music and musical elements by an accredited music therapist to promote, maintain, and restore mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health. Music has nonverbal, creative, structural and emotional qualities. These are used in the therapeutic relationship to facilitate contact, interaction, self-awareness, learning, self-expression, communication and personal development.
Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional, who has completed an approved music therapy program.
Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients' abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words.
Aha! Like babies.
The Baby Einstein Company was founded on the desire by a mom to provide an age-appropriate introduction to classical music. If you are like me, you have watched the series long enough to catch the story of Julie Aigner-Clark at the end of the first series; a gorgeous, cheerful lady who gave birth to the Baby Einstein Company and later signed a dreadfully healthy, pre-nup with Disney for a reported 17 million. Okay okay, so that makes us a little jealous. Gorgeous. Rich. Disney. But let's explore the theory of her idea before we download her image for our office dartboards. Aigner-Clark filled a simple void to enrich tiny minds through art, classical music, language and poetry. Her obvious nod to Albert Einstein, hence the Baby Einstein moniker, is that Einstein himself was a lover of arts and had a zeal for self discovery through a myriad of means. Aigner-Clark got down to the level of the viewer. If you've noticed after the six-hundred and twelfth time of watching any one of the "Babies" these are created to tap straight into baby's perspective.
The success of these products was lightning fast. Why? Because parents that find something that works and makes their children happy shout it from the rooftops and Stawamus Chief-tops. Parent-to-Parent word of mouth has increased the demand from the simple video line to books, stuffed toys and learning tools. It was only in 1997 that Baby Einstein got legs. Now the company has become a world leader in infant development. A simple spin on music therapy has grown from a love for children to a multi-million dollar enterprise. Sweet.
So where do you springboard when the Baby Einstein days are winding down?
The Eagles Farewell Concert Tour was recently broadcast on TV. As I watched "The Eagles Corporate Greed" Tour, I remembered how much I liked the band's music as a kid. It wasn't in my usual album (yes, albums) rotation of AC/DC and Led Zeppelin, but when I felt like warbling out a horrific attempt at singing harmony, there was nothing as sweet as their voices blending together in luscious four-part harmony.
Music Therapy can be applied to all musical tastes. As we are moving out of the Baby Einstein phase, I am thrilled to be switching gears to Shelley's Music Therapy & Appreciation 101. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik may be Aigner-Clark's first love, but it is not mine. It may or may not be yours. You decide.
If you can get past insulting fees charged to loyal fans for shows, The Eagles' rich harmonies, and sweeping acoustic guitars will be as familiar as that massive zit that showed up each and every year on picture day. And hey, isn't Squamish all about the eagles?
