Rachael Diop

Sound is created by vibrating particles that we can only hear a fraction of.  These vibrations bring changes on lots of different levels. 

The vibrations caused by music are unique and special as they please our ears, hearts and brains…The patterns encapsulate systems of rhythm, sequences and relationships that exist throughout nature and human ritual.  Musical sound has long been used therapeutically and ancient civilisations were well aware of its importance. In Ancient Egypt the hieroglyph for music was the same as that for joy and well-being, and in India, Vedic and Sanskrit scholars regarded all physical forms as manifestations of music - a view shared by the School of Pythagoras in Greece.  

Music can unify and bring people together in a way that nothing else does, bypassing the brain’s logical and analytical filters to connect directly with deeper feelings in memory as well as inducing physical reactions.  Mantras, chants and incantations can calm and heal us and have been used throughout human history. Over 2,500 years ago, the Egyptian Medical Papyri refers to incantations as cures for infertility and rheumatic pain, also used by Celtic druidic priests and shamans.  In the last century scientific research has backed up what we instinctively know and feel in music affecting our mental and physical health.

The body’s high water content helps sound waves to travel through our cells and organs helping to restore healthy reorganisation making the body a bit like a finely tuned instrument!

We all know that our voice is a great indicator of our health, and singing is regarded as one of the most positive forms of human activity.  It strengthens respiratory health in a fun way, improves our posture, increases alertness, reduces stress and is brilliant for stimulating the vagus nerve…there’s so much to say on that

Music plays a huge role in our personal development. Singing and playing together unifies us, and singing or playing different parts develops our collaborative skills.  If music is taught in a holistic and progressive way, we are led to succeed and through practicing and performing we gain confidence.

Music is multi-faceted, developing our listening skills and memory.  It stimulates all areas of our brains and improves aural, oral, visual, kinesthetic and emotional intelligence. 

Watch Anita Collins TED ed and talk and books  https://www.anitacollinsmusic.com.au/   Through 2 decades of research it is evident that music engages the motor, visual and auditory parts of the brain simultaneously giving the brain a complete workout!