REAR WINDOW Music Therapy— Loose Ends Galore?

With the cost of allopathic medical treatment sky- to cure illnesses. Tansen is supposed to have set things rocketing and the much-publicised side effects around him on fire by singing Deepak raga and his lady of1. many so-called miracle drugs, there is a boom in the friend quenched it by singing Megh which brought rain. citizens’ and practitioners’ interest in alternative systems Dikshitar’s Amritavarshini bringing rain to a parched of medicine, particularly those which are non-invasive and land, attracting snakes, teaching Varali side-effect free. This is welcome and should normally spur alienating the disciple from the guru, and singing Ahiri systematic research into such systems and produce a viable, making the singer go hungry are some other examples of affordable system of medicines. But what is happening the belief in the extraordinary effects of music. Lalgudi is for hospitals to climb on to the new bandwagon and once narrated his experience when he visited the place prematurely start half-baked (or even unbaked) therapies where Stradivarius violins were made. The wood for and claim magical, painless cures for various diseases. The making the violins was stored in a room where music was latest entrant into this field appears to be music therapy. being constantly played in the belief that the wood would absorb the music and become more musical in quality. In M. Balamuralikrishna and Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan are the West, one Dr. Tomatis claimed to have discovered reported to have been doing research on music therapy for the Mozart Effect— that listening to Mozart resulted in some years though, as far as I know, they have not formally increased brain development in children below three years published their findings. A leading corporate hospital is and that rats exposed to Mozart developed better spatial reported to have started diploma and degree courses in reasoning power and were quicker in finding their way music therapy with a Sangeeta Kalanidhi as their adviser out of mazes. [This should help pallavi vidwans to safely and applied to a university for affiliation and recognition. get out of the maze of their complicated tala-s!]. He was Significantly, they have applied to a Vedic university and able to sell thousands of cassettes of Mozart to schools not a conventional one! Is the subject ripe for a formal though most scientists disputed his claim. A question that degree and professional practice? remained unanswered was: if there was a Mozart effect, why was Mozart himself sick so often? Music therapy, accordingto one Ayurveda manual, is defined as: “The prescribed use of music and Music, it is said, has charms to soothe the savage musical2. interventions to maintain, restore and improve breast. [But it did not seem to soothe the cruel emotional, physical, physiological and spiritual health and passions4. in the breast of Nero who is said to have fiddled well-being. [What more can one ask for!] Goals of therapy gleefully after setting Rome on fire!]. It must also have include communicative, academic, motor, emotional and originated in the ‘savage’ caveman breast and probably for social skills.” Another manual defines meditation music that reason continues to influence emotions whether it and sound therapy as: “An automatic process of deep inner is to calm or aggravate them. All arts like music, dance, healing set in motion through the right combination of painting, architecture, etc. have a common quality— that sounds that resonate within and fill the space around us. of deep emotional experience of a collective consciousness Since we are the product of our environment, the sound which is social but individually and subjectively expressed. aims to treat the environment first by the chemistry of It is, therefore, possible to think of art therapy as a generic sound”. We know that sound has a physics. This is the class though music may be more popular and easier to first time we hear of a chemistry of sound whatever that try out. It is common to special schools teaching autistic may mean! children through music, dance and painting.

From ancient times, not only music but even certain sounds, such as one finds in the Vedas Diseases fall roughly into the following kinds: and3. the so-called magical chants, have been believed to (a) surgical conditions have special effects not only on the listener but even on 5. the outside world. According to the Old Testament, King (b) infections David is supposed to have cured illness by playing on his (c) systemic damage / dysfunction harp. Even Hippocrates is believed to have used music (d) psychosomatic

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(e) auto-immune Ratipatipriya— improves married life; (f ) degenerative Shanmukhapriya— sharpens intellect; Art, by its very nature, is a pleasant and deeply absorbing — cures neurosis; activity and any such activity has always been known to have — soothes; a beneficial effect on the mind and its emotional state but Charukesi— rejuvenates; usually of a temporary, limited, tranquillising, positivising kind. “Music influences the mind; the mind influences Anandabhairavi— reduces hypertension, improves the body; therefore, music influences the body”— to what concentration; extent can this limited syllogism be blown up as a clinical Kalyani— dispels fear (When the king of Tanjavur protocol for major pathologies? Music perhaps will have wanted Tyagaraja to sing in his praise, the latter, instead, some positive effect in the case of (d) above though whether sang, Nidhi chala sukhama and this is evidence of Kalyani it can completely cure them is not certain. According to inducing courage, according to Kunnakudi). some doctors, (e) and (f ) have a psychosomatic aspect and certain mental states could make people more vulnerable It is simple to talk of music therapy but when one to them, but whether they can be cured by influencing the tries to pin it down in precise clinical treatment mind once the pathology has set in is doubtful. In fact, terms,9. one runs into an ocean of ambiguity, such as: today even psychotherapy is no longer a lying-on-the- l couch affair and is predominantly drug and high-tech Whereas a drug is a chemically precisely defined and imaging-based. In other words, a music therapist could be standardised product, music is difficult, if not impossible a therapist like the physiotherapist or speech therapist who to define or standardise as a product. tries to remove or alleviate an existing limited disability l A drug has a prescribed optimum dosage arrived at but does not seem to qualify to be called a doctor who can after extensive, rigorous trials. What does ‘dosage’ mean in totally cure major causative diseases. the case of music therapy— is it the frequency, amplitude or timbre, or their combined package, or the duration of Deep involvement in, and identification with, any play? activity which eclipses one’s ego has a beneficial l Is it the ‘musicality’ which is perceived which cures, or effect6. on one’s mental and emotional state. In this sense, any specific arrangement of frequencies? there can be art therapy, work therapy, play therapy and according to Osho Rajneesh, even love therapy. Playing l If it is raga therapy, how is the raga to be administered— with the grandchild can have a magical mood-lifting just as a scale or alapana, with or without gamaka-s effect on any grandparent. Does it then become a full- or embellishments, in which sthayi or speed, or as a kriti, fledged ‘grandchild therapy’? with or without tala? l A drug is a homogeneous product. A raga is not so An Ayurvedic music therapy manual gives the and different sanchara-s cover different aspects of it. following list of Hindustani raga-s and their Which phrases or sanchara-s would be most effective or beneficial7. effects / the diseases they can cure: ineffective in particular cases? Ahirbhairav— indigestion, arthritis, hypertension; l How well is music to be rendered— in other words, Bagesree— insomnia; what is the quality standard? Basant— gall bladder stones; l A drug like penicillin will act independently of the Bheemplas— hypertension, anxiety; patient who need not know what he is taking or even that he is taking it. Is it the same with music or should the — asthma; patient perceive the music being administered to him? Pooria— colitis. Should he also appreciate it? l Some phrases are common to more than one raga. If Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan gives the following these are sung, which raga is to be taken as `administered’? Carnatic list: 8. What if the therapist intends it to be one raga and the Bilahari— creates love and affection; patient perceives it as another? Will the disease be

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still cured? (T.N. Krishnan once narrated how, when music as a specific category like a sonata or a symphony, accompanying Chembai who sang Manji, he thought it and immensely more complicated if he has to recognise was Bhairavi and proceeded to do an elaborate Bhairavi and appreciate it as a raga. One music therapist is of the alapana! It took a visit to GNB for him to learn Manji). view that singing/ playing music by the patient is better than passive listening. just as in other systems of medicine, l There are differences of opinion about the scales of knowledge of medical science ought not to be necessary for raga-s and the notes permissible, and the raga-s of certain a patient to be cured. For music therapy to be recognised kriti-s in them. Which version is to be administered? as a scientific medical system, it should be possible for a l Should music, if classical, be in the Carnatic or patient to be cured by it even if he is ‘music-deaf ’. Hindustani style? l The following tips are given by a music therapist Should music be vocal or instrumental or combined? to patients undergoing music therapy: Or, do the two have specific contexts for use? 13. l listen with your heart and not your mind, l Like allopathic drugs, can music therapy have side effects in certain cases? (It would be an interesting situation if a l do not listen to music on an empty stomach. patient were to sue the therapist on the ground that an apaswara or sruti lapse aggravated his condition! Mark The first appears to make sense because it shows that it is Twain once said, “A person who treats himself by reading the emotional involvement of the patient that produces a popular book on medicine may die of a misprint!”). the beneficial effects and not the technical quality of the music. But then this places classical music below pop music l Is only classical music therapeutic or are all systems because the former does involve the mind as much as the of music? Classical music, by and large is calming and heart, sometimes more (as in pallavi singing). The second tranquillising, whereas pop systems create frenzy and tip is interesting because it is what thousands of rasika-s restlessness. seem to be following instinctively already by dividing their time equally between the concert hall and the canteen l Is there a standard pharmacopoeia, or is prescription too during the music season! dependent on the subjective judgment of the therapist? The above somewhat rambling survey of the There are broadly two views on the therapeutic field of music therapy throws up the following effect of music: 14. 10. points: (a) it is the result of certain frequency patterns which act l independently of the patient’s awareness, perception or In the context of the rising cost of allopathic medicine appreciation of the music itself; and and the increasing adverse side effects of powerful medicines, research into alternative systems is generating (b) it depends on the patient perceiving the administered a lot of interest which is good provided research is done sound pattern as music. objectively and rigorously adhering to professional research methodological standards. An organised body (a) above makes therapy somewhat simpler, more of knowledge in any field will develop only by designing objective and capable of being converted into a systematic rigorous experiments, accumulating and standard11. clinical protocol once the therapeutic effects of publishing data not only on the conclusions but also on various sound patterns are conclusively and objectively the methodology, followed by a lot of open debate on established and codified into a scientific pharmacopoeia. them and ‘attempted falsification’ (to use Karl Popper’s Theoretically, even a patient in a coma could benefit from phrase). It is only thereafter that a clinical protocol can the therapy. be developed or the therapy administered. The present music therapy research and the therapy appear to be anecdotal and perfunctory and look more like a motivated (b) above makes therapy complicated, as the marketing effort than based on disinterested and well- patient’s perception is difficult to ascertain designed research. and12. could be highly subjective and vary from patient to patient for the same sound pattern. The matter becomes l Listening to music has always been known to have more complicated if the patient has to ‘recognise’ the some positive effect on people’s emotions and it is

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believed by some that a positive emotional state may, if other academicians and medical professionals and promote nothing else, reinforce the effects of other treatments and an open debate. After the 2003 conference organised by conduce to better recovery as well as an enhanced sense the Bombay Shanmukhananda Sabha, there seems to have of well-being. Perceiving or participating in music will been no further serious debate on the topic. probably produce this beneficial effect even more strongly. l One gets the impression that this limited, long-known Merely because the so-called music therapy research effect is now being attempted to be palmed off asa is claimed to be done by a leading musician or a leading full-fledged music therapy capable of curing even major hospital, it cannot be assumed that it is being done pathologies. professionally, rigorously and according to well-established l standards of empirical and clinical research. Departments The questions raised in para 8 above can all be answered of music of universities should do a survey of the work by extensive empirical research studies provided they are being done in the field of music therapy and produce a scientifically designed and interpreted objectively with a status report and the quality of research and clinical mindset that is fully prepared even to accept that music practice being done and their credibility. therapy doe not work if that is what the results finally l show. If a formal, recognised academic course is sought l to be offered by any institution (like the one which Individuals and institutions claiming to do research Apollo Hospital offers), then a strict scrutiny of on music therapy, instead of remaining aloof and the syllabus and the body of knowledge on which it its claiming miracle cures, should share all the data they claimed to be based is essential so that gullible students have collected as well as methodological information with are not taken for a ride.

Melody For Malady adamant. He wanted only Balamurali’s Todi. When we played Semmangudi’s Todi, the patient developed severe “Many diseases can be cured by music therapy”, a well- allergy. Immediately we had to play some pop music.” known musician said the other day. “But why pop? I want only typically Indian music,” said the Here at last is a pill-less, painless panacea for all our Minister. “It makes patients temporarily deaf and partially illnesses, thought the Health Minister and decided to dazed, you know,” replied the Director. introduce it throughout the State in all government hospitals. After a couple of months, the Minister contacted “What happened to our scheme of introducing music the Director of Medical Services and asked, “How’s the therapy on call on telephones?” asked the Minister. scheme working?” “We did it, Sir, but you know how our telephones work. One “Well, Sir, our experience is mixed, somewhat like a blood pressure patient dialled for Anandabhairavi but got rogamalika, I mean a ragamalika,” replied the Director. Ahirbhairav and his BP shot up and he had to be rushed to the hospital.” “Doesn’t matter. After all, the scheme is new and we have to play it by ear,” said the Minister unable to resist the “What about our scheme for improving industrial relations temptation to show off his capacity for musical metaphor. in factories through music therapy?” asked the Minister. “Give me some details”. “We tried it, Sir,” replied the Labour Commissioner. “Previously doctors used to quarrel about whether to “According to the latest reports, hand-to-hand fighting has administer penicillin or streptomycin to a patient. Now broken out in many factories between workers belonging to they are quarrelling about whether to play Kalyani or rival unions. ” Kharaharapriya.” “Why?” asked the Minister in surprise. “You mean finally it has turned out to be kalahapriya,” “One workers’ union wanted songs only from MGR films laughed the Minister enjoying his own joke immensely. and the rival union insisted on songs, from Sivaji films.” “That’s nothing. In some cases it has ended up in our “Whatever the problems, at least the music therapists do having to play Mukhari when the patient’s body was being not have to pay heavy capitation fees and join a medical removed.” college,” said the Minister. “Well, tell me how the patients are responding to the “I am not so sure, Sir. I am told that now all the music therapy.” colleges have started collecting capitation fees.” “They’re proving to be equally difficult, Sir. One patient was P.K.D.

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Considering the fact that even medical best he may end up with an enhanced interest in music! systems like homoeopathy, ayurveda and herbal medicine15. are not regulated and that music therapy is non- Finally, if music therapy works, there should be interventional and is unlikely to produce any harmful side- at the end of the Madras music season every effects, there is no need for any accrediting or regulating year,16. a tremendous reduction in morbidity in the city and agency. At worst, the patient may end up with a set of not- reduced attendance at the hospitals. Is this true? so-good musical cassettes foisted by the therapist, and at P.K. DORAISWAMY

Formal Debut Narayanan (Thillai Fine Arts Academy), 26 August, 2006 in Boston, U.S.A. Samir (C-vocal), son of Mrs. Leela and Mr. Venkat Rao, and disciple of Padma Sundar & Madurai R. Sundar Inaugurated (Trinity Academy of Fine Arts), 29 July, 2006 in Detroit, U.S.A. Natyaveda, a non-profit organisation that “endeavours to showcase Indian classical dance at the highest level,” Vishnupriya (Bharatanatyam), daughter of Mrs. on 9 September 2006 by Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar Lakshmi & Mr. Sridhar Samudrala, and disciple of and Jaya Chandrasekhar, at Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. Sunanda Narayanan (Thillai Fine Arts Academy), 12 August, 2006 in Boston, U.S.A. Died Keerthana (Bharatanatyam), d/o Mrs. Selvalakshmi Well known dancer-choreographer Chandralekha, after and Mr. Gnanapradeepan, and disciple of Sunanda a prolonged illness; 31 December 2006 in .

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