Many of us do not know that music can be therapeutic; that is used to treat sick people whether terminally ill or not and it cuts across all ages. Music therapy is defined as an established healthcare profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages.
It is said to improve the quality of life for persons who are well and meets needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses. In a television documentary, music was played for terminally ill patients who were suffering from cancer or HIV/Aids in nursing homes in Europe and the United States of America.
Soft music was played for these people either coming from a radio station or a cassette. In other cases, a piano or guitar was played. Sometimes, the patients themselves played the instruments. There was also a special case of a mother suffering from HIV/Aids. She had an eight-year-old daughter who happened to write her a poem. The commentator said the poem had been turned into a song which was played for the lady on a daily basis.
The music was found to alleviate the pain of these people and allowed them to reflect on their lives, think about the people they loved and make the remaining part of their lives worthwhile.
It is said to be administered in cases such as psychiatric disorders, medical problems, physical handicaps, sensory impairments, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, communication disorders, interpersonal problems and aging. At Mild May Jajja’s home in Lweza on Entebbe Road, a centre that handles HIV-positive children from birth to 17 years, lively music can be heard from the radio placed in the general ward.
The environment is cool and comfortable, nothing close to the usual hospital environment. It feels like home. In the “special place” where children go according to their different moods or situation, different shades of light are seen in the room from blue to green to yellow. Stars are seen across the blue ceiling, a depiction of heaven, Pastor Robert Kaawa who also serves as a counsellor says.
In the same room like in every other is a radio. “Sometimes for kids who are very sick and whose caretakers do not mind them being disturbed, we put them in this room and turn on the radio,” he says, “for the very sick, we play instrumentals.” The children go to the same room when a friend has died. In such moods, contemplative music is played.
The stars are meant to remind the children of a better place where their colleagues who passed away are. In the houses where children reside, names of the deceased are written on the stars. And just as well, music is played. The children even have a “dance Friday” which happens every week where they engage in physical activity to the flow of music.
The idea of using music therapy seems to have picked up in Uganda. Mr Dennis Mukaaga, a physiotherapist at the centre explains one of the purposes of music. “We deal with young children who need an attractive environment to play and enjoy themselves yet at the same time we are able to achieve our goal; the environment is new to them, they are more likely to cry, since they see us as foreigners; music makes it conducive as we treat them.”
Ms Susan Wesonga, a physiotherapist at the centre explains how music aids treatment. “It is responsible for brain development even in normal children, music is a language; people speak to each other through songs, it is recreational, entertaining and lifts spirits. It is also a method of learning as well as a social activity, a way of interaction to bring people together since it is a language,” she says, adding, “it can also be physical especially when it involves movement of muscles.” Through interaction, pain is alleviated because less thought is given to it.
She says that because of all the above, music is a mode of treatment. Some brain tissue is said to remain redundant if not stimulated. Music consists tones and vibrations which are able to stimulate its growth.
Redundancy is most likely so among the sick since their movement is restricted by being confined to beds and left on their own to rest. There is no one to talk to, to either encourage or discourage; the brain tissue is able to respond to language and music is one. In addition, good encouraging music lifts one’s spirit with hope and a depressing song say a funeral dirge may actually kill a person.
“When one is sick, there are certain neurological (to do with nerves) needs; general mental deterioration hence dementia and delayed learning could occur especially with HIV which affects the brain directly,” says Ms Wesonga. “Speech is also affected, the behaviour may become abnormal or inappropriate, while some very ill patients may become unconscious, and lose their independence,” she adds.
Lack of activity leads to muscle wasting which can be helped by participatory music. When a person sings along, they involve several muscles which are used for other purposes like speech, breathing, swallowing, and also help in lung activity. “For one to sing, they must have good lungs so when these have been eaten away by TB, an opportunistic infection in HIV, they cannot sing,” she says. Singing along will develop physical activity and both muscle and lung endurance.
The next song you may hear could be used to promote wellness, build esteem, manage stress, alleviate pain, express feelings, enhance memory, improve communication and promote physical rehabilitation in a certain corner of this world. And like all other treatments, it is used in combination with others.
It is said to improve the quality of life for persons who are well and meets needs of children and adults with disabilities or illnesses. In a television documentary, music was played for terminally ill patients who were suffering from cancer or HIV/Aids in nursing homes in Europe and the United States of America.
Soft music was played for these people either coming from a radio station or a cassette. In other cases, a piano or guitar was played. Sometimes, the patients themselves played the instruments. There was also a special case of a mother suffering from HIV/Aids. She had an eight-year-old daughter who happened to write her a poem. The commentator said the poem had been turned into a song which was played for the lady on a daily basis.
The music was found to alleviate the pain of these people and allowed them to reflect on their lives, think about the people they loved and make the remaining part of their lives worthwhile.
It is said to be administered in cases such as psychiatric disorders, medical problems, physical handicaps, sensory impairments, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, communication disorders, interpersonal problems and aging. At Mild May Jajja’s home in Lweza on Entebbe Road, a centre that handles HIV-positive children from birth to 17 years, lively music can be heard from the radio placed in the general ward.
The environment is cool and comfortable, nothing close to the usual hospital environment. It feels like home. In the “special place” where children go according to their different moods or situation, different shades of light are seen in the room from blue to green to yellow. Stars are seen across the blue ceiling, a depiction of heaven, Pastor Robert Kaawa who also serves as a counsellor says.
In the same room like in every other is a radio. “Sometimes for kids who are very sick and whose caretakers do not mind them being disturbed, we put them in this room and turn on the radio,” he says, “for the very sick, we play instrumentals.” The children go to the same room when a friend has died. In such moods, contemplative music is played.
The stars are meant to remind the children of a better place where their colleagues who passed away are. In the houses where children reside, names of the deceased are written on the stars. And just as well, music is played. The children even have a “dance Friday” which happens every week where they engage in physical activity to the flow of music.
The idea of using music therapy seems to have picked up in Uganda. Mr Dennis Mukaaga, a physiotherapist at the centre explains one of the purposes of music. “We deal with young children who need an attractive environment to play and enjoy themselves yet at the same time we are able to achieve our goal; the environment is new to them, they are more likely to cry, since they see us as foreigners; music makes it conducive as we treat them.”
Ms Susan Wesonga, a physiotherapist at the centre explains how music aids treatment. “It is responsible for brain development even in normal children, music is a language; people speak to each other through songs, it is recreational, entertaining and lifts spirits. It is also a method of learning as well as a social activity, a way of interaction to bring people together since it is a language,” she says, adding, “it can also be physical especially when it involves movement of muscles.” Through interaction, pain is alleviated because less thought is given to it.
She says that because of all the above, music is a mode of treatment. Some brain tissue is said to remain redundant if not stimulated. Music consists tones and vibrations which are able to stimulate its growth.
Redundancy is most likely so among the sick since their movement is restricted by being confined to beds and left on their own to rest. There is no one to talk to, to either encourage or discourage; the brain tissue is able to respond to language and music is one. In addition, good encouraging music lifts one’s spirit with hope and a depressing song say a funeral dirge may actually kill a person.
“When one is sick, there are certain neurological (to do with nerves) needs; general mental deterioration hence dementia and delayed learning could occur especially with HIV which affects the brain directly,” says Ms Wesonga. “Speech is also affected, the behaviour may become abnormal or inappropriate, while some very ill patients may become unconscious, and lose their independence,” she adds.
Lack of activity leads to muscle wasting which can be helped by participatory music. When a person sings along, they involve several muscles which are used for other purposes like speech, breathing, swallowing, and also help in lung activity. “For one to sing, they must have good lungs so when these have been eaten away by TB, an opportunistic infection in HIV, they cannot sing,” she says. Singing along will develop physical activity and both muscle and lung endurance.
The next song you may hear could be used to promote wellness, build esteem, manage stress, alleviate pain, express feelings, enhance memory, improve communication and promote physical rehabilitation in a certain corner of this world. And like all other treatments, it is used in combination with others.
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