Reflection & Summary

Through having the opportunity to participate in the use of music as a tool for relaxation and researching further, my personal view is that music is a highly effective intervention.
There is a  need that exists for creative outlets that decrease anxiety and stress levels created in the workforce, that are cost effective to the employer and effective interventions for employee.
Once qualified and out practicing occupational therapy and have an opportunity to utilise music therapy as a tool within a work occupation environment to reduce stress or anxiety, I would certainly consider this an a wonderful opportunity. Further research and more practiced opportunities would enhance people to consider this easy practical tool as a effective way of regaining a sense of control in one's life.

I have included two different pieces of music that I consider to be relaxing. I invite you to take a moment or two and listen.

Reference:

Acri. B. (n.d.). Sleep away. Retrieved from http://utube.Acri. Bob. Sleep away/ 

Stolzman R. (n.d.). Maid with the flaxen hair. Retrieved from http://utube.stolzman.Richard. Maid with the flaxen hair/



'SOUND'

My Experience

As a student in my final year studying Occupational therapy I was intrigued to find out if music therapy could assist with managing the demands of study with my everyday life.

I set myself a personal daily challenge to listen to sound and music at different intervals and connect the sounds I hear to how I felt.
 Twice a day for eight minutes at a time I will listen to sounds in my environment and describe my feelings associated with those sounds. I will also select two different types of music to listen to and also describe my feelings during and after listening to them. I will repeat this for three days and blog my results.

Sound is defined in the oxford dictionary (2013), (also musical sound) sound produced by continuous and regular vibrations, as opposed to noise.

    Sound                      Feeling            Effect              Sound                Feeling              Effect    

9th July Niue 5.30pm Cars Roosters Bird Door	Travelling Crowing Tweeting slamming	Disturbed Distracted Pleasant disturbed	9.30pm Crickets Voices Water footsteps	Bugs People taps footsteps	Contented Fascinated energetic settled
10th July 10.30am Waves Water Voices wind	Breaking Swirling faces weather	Brave keen Joyous gratified	4.30pm Birds Rooster Cars wind	Chirping Clucking Travelling rustling	Delighted Bold Energetic gratified
11th July 7.00am Voices Vehicles sizzling (cooking) singing	People Movement Food faces	Talkative Restless Hopeful enchanted	5.30pm Water Wind Waves laughing	Swishing Swirling Lapping faces	Refreshed Safe content rewarded

My next challenge was to listen to two pieces of music while having a break in writing of assignments.

Mano (1992) asserts that ‘music listening experiences can provide a suitable way to positively influence enduring mood states and in turn the 'time out' needed for quality decision making.
My first choice of music had a fast rhythm. The beat of the music interrupted in my thoughts, sped up my heartbeat and I found I it difficult to relax.

Labbe et al (2007), reported that listening to either classical music or music selected by the individual reduces anxiety and increased relaxation ratings more than listening to heavy metal music or sitting in silence.


                              

My second choice had a slower rhythm - slower that I would usually listen to. My body and mind relaxed more easily. The music was soothing and I sensed a calmness of thought and overall in my mind. I could hear individual instruments being played as the rhythm of the music carried me along. In this challenge I began to understand that music can accompany and have a positive result on a performance of occupation such as intense writing activity.

ACTIVITY:

Make time to have a break and try listening to sounds for 3-5 minutes a day for a regular period of time. Listen to the layering of sounds, be aware of feelings experienced and take note of levels of relaxation in your body. Ask yourself, how do I feel with certain types of sounds and rhythms so you can more consciously select sounds and music that aim to reduce your level of stress and anxiety? 

                                      

Reference: 
Labbé, E., Schmidt, N., Babin, J., & Pharr, M. (2007). Coping with stress: The effectiveness of different types of music.  In.Gadbury, A. (2011). A steady beat and state anxiety. Journal of Music Therapy 48 (3). 346-356.
Mano, H. (1992). Judgements under stress. In: Lesuik, T. (2010). The effect of preferred music on mood and performance in a high-cognitive demand occupation. Journal of Music Therapy. 47 (2). 137-154.
Musical instrument: Retrieved from: https://www.google.co.nz/search/dreamstime.com
Sound definition: Retrieved from http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sound, 2013

Music as relaxation to reduce 'stress/anxiety'

                                     There's music in the sighing of reed,

              There's music in the gushing of a rill;  

            There's music in all things, if men had ears:

                                                        Don Juan by George Gordon, Lord Byron

 

Music therapy as suggested by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) can be used by occupational therapists as part of a comprehensive approach by people to promote their health and participation in life. Relaxation can be a way to help regain energy when feeling emotionally or physically fatigued. Music as relaxation technique may assist with lowering or managing states of depression or anxiety in their occupation, in the pursuit of a meaningful life.

Hanser & Thomson (1994) conducted music therapy research studying teacher stress and burn out. Hanser's work with music and stress-reduction technique suggests that ‘music assists in generating a more relaxed mood and reduces stress'. All persons who have access to portable music devices can participate in these inexpensive practices.

Effects of relaxation include:  

·         less tension in muscles            •clear thinking is enhanced

·         improved concentration            •improvement in memory

                                   self confidence and calming   

   

                   

Reference:
Hanser, S. B., &Thompson, L .W. (1994). Effects of music therapy strategy on depressed older adults.In:Cheek, J., Bradley, L., Parr, G., & Lan, W. (2003). Using music therapy techniques to treat teacher burnout. Journal of Mental Health Counseling 25 (3) 204.

http://www.google.co.nz/imgres123rf.com/photo_2766614_black-and-white-music-theme.html                  

Anxiety & Stress in workplace Environment and the role of the Occupational Therapist

                 

 

 

Stein,(2008) asserts that stress is "the arousal of physical and psychological responses in the individual that occur in reaction to daily experiences that make life difficult or create discomfort".

Dirckx,(2001)asserts that anxiety is an "apprehension of danger, and dread accompanied by restlessness, tension, tachycardia and dyspnea unattached to a clearly identifiable stimulus".

Music and the role of Occupational Therapist

 

Promoting and restoring positive health and well-being of an individual (or a group of individuals), through inclusion and the use of purposeful occupation. (New Zealand Association of Occupational Therapists, 2012).
 
It is proposed that an occupational therapist's role when using music as a modality would relate to enhancing participation and engagement in areas of occupation. Music could be one of the many tools or methods that an occupational therapist would utilize to influence participation in occupation.

Music refers to the phenomenon of “organized sound,” often with “some degree of rhythm, melody, or harmony” (Leonard, 1993, p. 79). 

Given this definition, the term music, for the purposes of this blog, will then refer to all of the typical ways that humans engage with music. We can consider that it is possible to influence multiple areas of occupational performance (self-care, work, leisure, and rest), occupational balance, as well as functions and skills that contribute to performance, by using different types of music activities as a tool.

Reference:
Dirckx, J.H. (2001) Steadmans concise Medical Dictionary for the Health Professional.In: Atchison, J. & Dirette, D.(2000). Conditions in occupational therapy.(3rd).Effect on Occupational Performance. USA. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Leonard, H. (1993). Pocket Music Dictionary. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Pub.Corp.

New Zealand Association of Occupational Therapists. (2012). The role of occupational therapists working in mental health. Retrieved from: http://www.nzaot.com/publications/position.statements.

Stein, F. (2008). Stress Management Questionnaire. In Hemphill-Pearson., B. Eds. Assessments in occupational therapy mental health: an integrative approach. SLACK Inc. United States of America.