Violin as therapy: Healing through music

Music has long been recognized for its emotional and mental health benefits but recent research has explored the physical healing power of music. The violin, in particular, offers a unique form of music therapy that has the potential to aid in treating various neurological conditions. At the Johns Hopkins Center for Music and Medicine ongoing studies are examining how music, including therapeutic violin playing, can improve the quality of life for individuals with disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

Physical benefits

One specific program at the Center focuses on rhythm skills taught through call-and-response clapping with participants logging in weekly to work with music therapists. These sessions are designed to improve mobility, cognitive function and emotional well-being. Research conducted by the Center's co-founder, Alexander Pantelyat, revealed that drumming, like clapping, helps patients manage symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.

One neurocognitive reason for this is that music activates multiple regions of the brain at once making it a promising tool for physical therapy. For example, the temporal lobe which processes speech overlaps with areas that process music. This suggests that music therapy could help improve speech in individuals with conditions like Parkinson’s.

Furthermore, the nucleus accumbens, the brain’s pleasure center, is activated by songs tied to strong memories, enhancing emotional well-being. Music also reduces stress by lowering cortisol levels which is important for patients whose symptoms, such as tremors, worsen with anxiety. In fact, motor skills which are often impaired in people with Parkinson's can improve with musical interventions due to their effect on multiple brain networks responsible for movement and coordination.

Recent studies also examined the effect of learning to play an instrument. For instance, the Center found that learning to play the guitar had numerous health benefits including improved mood, anxiety and motor functions in people with Parkinson’s. Participants continued to see benefits even weeks after the lessons ended, suggesting long-term improvements.

What makes music and, specifically, the violin, such an effective therapeutic tool is its ability to engage both hemispheres of the brain. In musicians, the connections between the two sides of the brain are stronger, which may help patients create new neural pathways to compensate for damaged ones. This is particularly important in rehabilitation and coordination improvement for disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Pantelyat believes that music therapy may one day be as common as prescribing medication, and research continues to support this vision. With initiatives like the ParkinSonics choir and drumming classes, music is proving to be a key component in holistic health care for neurological conditions.

Emotional and mental healing

The power of music, especially violin music used in music therapy, is undeniable. It not only improves cognitive and motor functions but offers numerous overall mental health benefits such as stress relief and emotional expression regulation. As research continues to evolve, the violin’s role in music therapy will likely expand, providing patients with both physical and emotional healing.