Healing with Music

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) brought together musicians, music therapists, and neuroscientists to tap into the brain and figure out how music could heal the sick.  Yes, you read that right – heal, not soothe.  We know music soothes us, whether we’re in a hospital or feeling grumpy at home, but what if it could do more?  What if combining music and science revealed ways that health actually improved by listening or creating music? There are all sorts of ways this could play out.  For example, a neuroscientist and dance professor are trying to find out if the music and movement in an improvisational dance class might enhance the brain’s neural networks in Alzheimer’s patients.  Or did you know that sometimes stroke survivors who can’t speak can sing, and music therapy can help them retrain brain pathways to communicate?  How fantastic!