Category: Music Therapy

Music is not merely a series of organized sounds. It is more about organized thoughts. Any system of music that relies on improvisation needs a strong foundation for creativity to be meaningful. As far as the musician is concerned, clarity of thought is the first step towards creativity, or, for that matter, re-creativity. Only when a musician decides a fraction of a second earlier exactly what phrase is to be rendered will the execution be sure and organized.

Continue reading Music Therapy: Improvisations in Carnatic Music

Early Music : Though the roots of Carnatic music can be traced to the Vedas, especially the Sama Veda, the music of then and now is strikingly different, but for a few basic notes. The differences are not only in actual renditions, but also in basic musical concepts. Early music confined itself to a few notes, which were repeated in different sequences, with more stress on tonal purity and clarity of diction. Only gradually did the concepts of creative music (independent of lyrics, like raga elaboration) and more sophisticated musical forms emerge.

Continue reading Music Therapy: Musical Evolution

Different systems have diverse approaches to music and varied yardsticks for measuring the results. That some of these are common to many systems is a mere coincidence. An attempt has been made here to draw the reader’s attention to certain essential features in a typical Carnatic concert. There is enough scope in many areas for the listener to contribute to its greater success too.

Continue reading Music Therapy: What are the Factors that Affect the Success of a Concert?

1. Why is violin used as an accompaniment to vocal music?

A. The violin, ever since its introduction to Carnatic music in the 19th century, has proved itself to be most suited to accompany vocal music, mainly because of its smooth tone, continuity and capacity to produce slow to super fast music. The violin is also a very successful lead instrument in Carnatic music, and violin solos, duets and trios are quite admired.

Continue reading Music Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions in Carnatic Music

It is really the personalities who shape history. It would be no exaggeration to state that Carnatic music represents the cumulative brilliance and wisdom of geniuses over several centuries. Each personality needs volumes, but for obvious reasons, only a passing reference has been made here.

Continue reading Music Therapy: Great Personalities in Carnatic Music

i. Both share a common origin and have the same seven basic notes and solfas in a 12-tone system.

ii. Both share common concepts like raga, tala, swara and so forth.

iii. Both share several common ragas and talas, sometimes with different names.

Continue reading Music Therapy: Compare and Contrast Between Carnatic and Hindustani Music

i. While both systems divide the octave into twelve parts, their nomenclature is different. Moreover, Carnatic music uses 16 notes in these 12 values.

ii. Carnatic music is melodic – it stresses more on successive notes with ornamentation, whereas Western music focuses on harmony – simultaneous notes and combinations thereof.

Continue reading Music Therapy: Differences Between Carnatic and Western Music

John Ortiz, PhD, a “psycho-musicologist” based in Pennsylvania, is a trained musician and psychologist as well as the author of The Too of Music (1997). He uses a combination of techniques to speed up patients’ healing processes.

Continue reading Music Therapy: Psycho-Musicology in Music Therapy

The wife of a man with severe dementia said, “When I was encouraged by a music therapist to sing to my husband, who had been lost in the fog of Alzheimer’s disease for so many years, he looked at me and seemed to recognise me. On the last day of his life, he opened his eyes and looked into mine when I sang his favourite hymn. I’ll always treasure that last moment we shared together.”

Continue reading Music Therapy: Why Music Therapy?

If you’d like to experiment with sound therapy on your own, Ortiz, Campbell and Goldman offer some suggestions.

· Raise your sound awareness by noticing the sounds around you in everyday life. This grounds you in the here and now and enhances your communication skills by improving your listening skills.

Continue reading Music Therapy: Important Suggestions for Music Therapy