Music Therapist, Sandra Holten, talks with Tara about the use of auditory tools that help with some of life’s physical disabilities, including the voice.  The brain is used to bypass some of these ailments and therefore create change for those who struggle daily.  “The brain is our big motherboard”, she says.  This approach is educating the brain but melds the traits in music with physical action.  Listen to this eye-opening revelation! 

• Music Therapy (MT) has biblical history with David calming Saul with music. In the 1940’s the VA system used it for soldiers who were shell-shocked.

 

• MT is: Using music to bring about non-musical goals.  Looking at music scientifically aids in bringing physical results. 

 

• Music affects the brain and MT helps the science evolve..

 

• The brain can compute music into walking using the external and innate cue of rhythm and will awaken the motor system which is not affected by the disability.

 

• In Parkinson’s there is smallness of movement, stiffness, monotone including vocal folds. 

 

• EXERCISES:  “Bboo! Bboo!!” /  Minnie Pearl “Howdee!” / Lip buzzing. Alternate between talking and singing. Emphasis on individual words. Pace of words. 

 

• MT offers HOPE that you can DO things in the struggle. It gives TOOLS.  

 

Here are some practical things to do:  Sing! Join a choir!  Karaoke!   

 

References:

www.nmtacademy.co or musictherapy.org

Email Sandi directly:  [email protected]

(Sandra Holten, MT-BC, Neurologic Music Therapy Fellow at Struthers Parkinson’s Center – Park Nicollet.)

 

**THE SINGING STRAW is now available for you right here:

http://lddy.no/f7zu

 You can get 10% off with my code: tarab

 

For more info about this episode and to hear other episodes, go to:

www.theengagingvoice.com 

 

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