Research Paper

Another A. Student

Professor Steven Davis

December 4, 201*

English 102

Music and Life

While some people argue that cognitive behavior therapy can tremendously reduce

anxiety and depression in children, others say that medication is also useful to help children

overcome their server symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, based on what I have

found, I firmly agree that music therapy can diminish anxiety and depression in children.

Music therapy is a useful method that can be used to help lower anxiety in children by

decreasing their heart rate. According to Sheri L. Robb et al., in “The Effects of Music Assisted

Relaxation on Preoperative Anxiety”, the effectiveness of MAR or Music Assisted Relaxation in

children in anxiety is examined. The study looks at anxiety in pediatric burn victims measuring

their heart rate. The children’s anxiety in the experimental group displayed having decreased

hearts rates after receiving treatment. “A decrease in heart rate was seen for the experimental

group.” In the same article, Robb points out that using soft music (less than 65 dB) and slow

rhythm will gradually decrease the heart rate too. Moreover, music therapy has been chosen as a

positive way to relieve stress by reducing heart rates before and during special treatment for

children. An example that confirms this research is shown when patients who received MAR

intervention preoperatively experienced significant decreases in anxiety. In this same study, it

was discovered that burn patients who received MAR before and after surgery displayed lower

levels of anxiety than patients who did not receive MAR. These decreases were evident in

“systolic blood pressure” and “double product index” (the product of heart rate and systolic

Commented [SD1]: Thesis is restated in the transition paragraph beginning Essay 3. (This is necessary repetition since the reader may have forgotten your thesis several pages above.)

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blood pressure divided by 100) compared to patients did not get the music intervention.

Therefore, the reduction of children’s’ heart rates by using music therapy is used effectively to

minimize anxiety before and after surgery.

Another reason music therapy is an effective treatment for anxiety in children and others

is that it is healing. According to Stuart McClean et al. in the article “The Healing and Spiritual

Properties of Music Therapy at a Cancer Care Center”, music therapy is closely linked to

spirituality and humanity’s well-being. Music therapy makes our spirituality greater and relieves

anxiety based on four aspects: “transcendence, faith and hope, sense of meaning and purpose and

search for connectedness”. With the transcendence aspect, McClean states that music therapy has

made us relaxed and happy. He also says that music therapy is a healing experience because it

uplifts your life and provides positive energy in your life, making you feel alive again after

experiencing stress and anxiety. With the connectedness aspect, McClean says that close

interaction is also seen in the process of playing together, and being in harmony. It shows the

elevated level of trust and communication in music overcomes loneliness and serious illnesses.

In the meaning -making aspect, McClean points out that music therapy helps us find old

memories, whether they be happy or sad. That makes a lot of sense in life.

Another aspect is faith and hope. McClean points out that through music therapy, the

patient feels more comfortable and loves life more. They have reduced anxiety, more confidence

in their lives and their future. Also, their appearance and spirit are deeply influenced by music.

My own experience validates this research. When I was little I was insecure young person, I

shared very little and played very little with my friends. However, my mother changed me by

teaching me piano. I trained as a pianist in the choir of our church. Since then I have become

Commented [SD3]: Evidence = Research from source

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more confident and open to everyone, less lonely and less anxious. Therefore, music therapy is

an effective tool to increase the value of the human spirit, and reduce stress in life.

Similarly, music therapy is an actual treatment for anxiety in children because it distracts

them from their pain. In the article, "Exploring the Effects of Music Therapy on Pediatric Pain:

Phase 1,” Annette M.Whitehead-Pleaux et al. state that music has influenced the human brain,

specifically the central nervous system. “Music reduces the activity of the amygdala, which is

part of the emotional-affective component of pain.” Thus, by affecting the human brain, music

therapy has been shown to be a very effective analgesic. A statistic illustrates this research: 200

children are included in an experiment. They are using music during injections to reduces pain.

Two hundred children were divided into five groups. The results show the music distraction

group achieves the greatest amount of pain relief during injections. Moreover, in another article

“Music, Cancer, and Immunity”, Brian Abrams states that music therapy distracts the pain of

cancer patients by helping them regain their psychological balance and their balance in their lives

in general. For children with cancer undergoing bone marrow aspiration, music therapy helps

them calm their anxiety and distract them from pain during their treatment. More than that,

copying the emotions of others in their group through music also distracts children's attention in

chemotherapy. Therefore, music therapy is often effective in reducing pain and anxiety through

distraction.

Moreover, music therapy is a non-verbal treatment for children with anxiety. Children

with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have higher anxiety than other children because they do

not know how to express themselves clearly. In this research “A Randomized Controlled Trial of

Multimodal Music Therapy for Children with Anxiety Disorders,” Lutz Goldbeck et al. point out

that music therapy is a non-verbal treatment that helps verbally inhibited children with autism

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overcome their obstacles by helping improve their perception, expression and regulation of

emotions. Other studies reinforce. In the article, “Effects of Relational Music Therapy on

Communication of Children with Autism: A Randomized Controlled Study” Gustavo Schulz

Gattino states that using Relational Music Therapy (RMT) in non-verbal way has a positive

effect on children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). First, Gattino explains that RMT is

primarily focused on developing the capacity and dynamics of autistic children. Autistic children

do not know how to use the language to express themselves. Music therapy attempts to examine

the behavior and psychology of the child's self and then guides them to potential musical

interests such as singing, composing, and even playing musical games. Second, music therapy

does not try to force treatment on children, but instead creates a comfortable environment with

various musical instruments to attract them to engage in the therapy. By playing musical

instruments, children with autism can better communicate. Sometimes music therapy also invites

the parents of autistic children to participate in therapeutic sessions, because it is an opportunity

for those children to improve their difficulties and an opportunity for them to develop good

relationships with their families. Therefore, mainly through observation and encouragement,

Relational Music Therapy has opened a door of hope for autistic children. As a result, children

with anxiety get better when they use this treatment.

Some therapists and patients might object that music therapy is no more effective at

healing than other treatments. Therapists in every field would consider it their goal to help

patients find a “sense of meaning and purpose and search for connectedness”. It is most clearly

expressed through Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a kind of psychotherapy that treats

problems and changes patients’ emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. CBT focuses on solutions,

encouraging patients to change their behavior. Otherwise, Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

Commented [SD8]: (Notice how well the writer breaks down and explains these complex ideas from the sources.)

Commented [SD9]: Topic sentence of counterargument paragraph states objection/disagreement with your thesis or one of your reasons. This objection is a disagreement with the writer’s thesis/claim about music therapy in general.

emphasizes taking responsibility for one’s problems and helps children examine how they deal

with conflict and intense negative emotions. For some patients with high levels of anxiety and

depression, DBT is clearly an effective form of mental health treatment. Nevertheless, I still

maintain that music therapy offers a highly effective treatment for anxiety and depression for a

wide range of individuals. According to Harvard Dictionary of Music, “music has been found

useful in working with patients with a variety of disorders, including autism, cerebral palsy,

brain damage, and mental retardation. Therapy can help to establish communication with the

emotionally troubled and to enhance motor control and learning ability in some cases.” It shows

that music therapy still the best treatment despite the objection disagreement.

Due to the realities of today’s society, many children around us lack the attention of

families and societies, even suffering from physical and psychological distress. If we do not

promote the use of music therapy to treat children with anxiety, they will be more withdrawn and

depressed, which will reduce their quality of health. As a person who has a passion for music, I

will encourage the benefits of music therapy to people in my Asian community, especially in

developing Asian countries where music therapy is rarely used. If the growth of music therapy is

supported, then music therapy can potentially be a bridge for western and orient cultures, and

expose children from both cultures to unfamiliar forms of music to aid in their music therapy

treatments. As a result, music therapy is not only for children with anxiety and depression but, it

may also be useful to people of all ages who may be suffering anxiety and depression. Also,

music therapy is useful in allowing people from different countries to work together because

unlike forms of therapy that is language based, music therapy does not restrict people who have

difficulty with verbal expression to participate in the treatment. According to "Music Therapy.”

Encyclopedia of Counseling, Wheeler, Barbara L states that “Music is such an important part of

Commented [SD10]: Summarize the disagreement, giving it fair treatment to show objectivity.

Commented [SD11]: Great transition back to the writer’s original thesis, which is clearly restated.

Commented [SD12]: Answer to disagreement = evidence from a highly authoritative source (Harvard Dictionary of Music).

Commented [SD13]: Part 1 of Conclusion: restates thesis with added importance

Commented [SD14]: Part 2 of Conclusion: applies thesis about music therapy to a group or groups affected by the issue and topic (mental health and music).

life that some find it difficult to imagine what the world would be like without it.” We cannot

deny music gives meaning to young and old people throughout the world. A world without music

would certainly be a bleak world, because music is a tool that helps us balance our lives, improve

our health and relieve anxiety.

Commented [SD15]: Part 3 of Conclusion: a final thought that leaves the reader with something to think about (often a warning, call to action, or look into a brighter future).

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