Music Heals.

The Dana Foundation newsletter recently released this article on How Music Helps to Heal the Injured Brain. Happy reading!

High Probability of Survival with Children who have Cancer

Since I've been thesis-thesis-thesising lately, I apologize for not updating my blog as much as usual.

Today, I'd like to offer a post I read on the Art Therapy blog regarding a study in Germany on children with cancer and their high probability of survivial. Here's the original article, too.

This research is exciting for the fields of creative and expressive arts therapies, since it highlights aspects of the role of music therapy, positive effects of parent accompaniment, and the importance of quality of life in the hospital.

Articles Relevant to the Creative Arts Therapies

New research on music, movement, and the brain.

Yale researchers hopeful for new treatment options for the mentally ill by studying the evolution of the human brain.

Finally, a great essay by Malcolm Gladwell on dogs and body language.

Manu Chao Records his Latest Album in a Psychiatric Hospital with the Mentally Ill

I love Manu Chao.

If you've never heard of him, definitely check out his music. There's even a free download of his latest endeavor of creating music with psychiatric patients in Buenos Aires at www.VivaLaColifata.org .

Read more about it from the Guardian UK's article, and go listen to some good Manu Chao.

Adios!

Appropriate Music

I've spent a large part of my morning looking at my itunes library for music used for dance therapy. Where I am interning, each day is completely different, with patients who may want fast, up beat music one day and slow, quiet music the next. Music is a major component to the therapeutic aspect of working with groups.

This afternoon, I just happened to read this FANTASTIC article from Canada's Walrus magazine on music's ability to elicit emotions: read it and weep.