Physical and spiritual healing powers of music

Full Frame

Many are probably well aware of the soothing effect that music can have on a person’s mood or stress level.  However, what may come as a surprise are the impressive results of music therapy programs in treating everything from pre-mature infants suffering from unstable vital signs to adults coping with schizophrenia. Research shows that music not only influences a person’s well-being, but also their brain function.Alexandra Field is a music therapist and the Artists Program Lead at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where she heads up a program that uses art and music to provide psychological support for young patients. The Artists Program provides music therapy to patients and their families as they deal with incredibly complex medical treatments, especially in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Vijay Gupta, a violinist for the acclaimed Los Angeles Philharmonic, works to bring classical music to marginalized member of society—the mentally ill, imprisoned, and homeless—through his Street Symphony.  Gupta believes in the soulful power of music for creating transformative connections between people.

“In this beautiful way, music is a universal language, but one that goes deeper than language itself,” Gupta said. “It becomes a communication that comes from one heart space, if you will, and enters that heart space of another being.”

The acclaimed violinist also gave Field and Full Frame’s host, Mike Walters, a chance to experience music’s therapeutic abilities firsthand, performing an impassioned piece by Bach on the Full Frame set.

Follow Vijay Gupta @guptaviolin

Physical and spiritual healing powers of music

Many are probably well aware of the soothing effect that music can have on a person’s mood or stress level. However, what may come as a surprise are the impressive results of music therapy programs in treating everything from pre-mature infants suffering from unstable vital signs to adults coping with schizophrenia.