THE BENEFITS OF BACH AND HOW BAROQUE MUSIC CAN CHANGE THE SOUND ENVIRONMENT

  MUSIC HATH CHARM TO SOOTH THE SAVAGE BREAST
                                                                     TO SOFTEN ROCKS AND BEND THE KNOTTED OAK
                                                                                                                                                                   [                      


Music affects us all to different degrees. Its when we begin to see how and why that it all gets interesting and becomes clear that what we put into our ears is as important as what goes into our mouths when it comes to nourishment.

The human ear is a wonderful device. Not only does it enable us to hear sounds, it is also responsible for movement and balance.  It  "decodes" sounds and through the medulla auditory nerve and the vagus nerves in the inner ear, it connects to all the major organ and and muscles of the body.  What we hear through our ears goes a long way.

WHAT IS BAROQUE MUSIC

Baroque music was created in between 1600 and 1750  by composers such as Bach, Vivaldi, Telamann,
Scarlatti, Pachabel. Purcell and Albinoni.  It is a mathematical type of music with  predicatable form
and style and often at a tempo of between 50-70 beats per minute.

HAS IT BEEN SHOWN TO BENEFIT THE ELDERLY?

Yes. In St Hedwigs Nursing Home a study was done  where baroque music was piped through the internal PA between 3 and &pm daily for several weeks. Staff reported a 70% reduction in aggressive episodes.

Christian Heim undertook a six weeks study of 14 dementia patients in which he played low volume baroque music for 4 hours per day and found a 40% reduction in adverse behaviour such as calling out , wandering, distraction and verbal abuse.


HOW DOES IT EFFECT US?

Baroque music has been found to effect the respiratory pattern , the heart rate variability[HRV]  which is an indicator of stress. It stimulates an "alpha wave response"  and changes brain wave patterns to those of
a state of relaxed awareness.  It has helped reduce insomnia.  The Director of the Baltimore Coronary Care Unit states " 1/2 hr of listening to classical music  has the same effect as 10mg of Valium for some patients.  It promotes the generation of T cells which boost the immune system

HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO LISTEN TO?

Music takes time to weave its magic spell and like all changes the best ones are slow and steady.
It is a cumulative process which may take weeks before you see any real response. Thats why it is important to listen everyday as background music.


Music can aid pain management , block out unpleasant external noise, reduce insomnia, promote creativity, assist with learning, provide a safe sanctuary, remove feelings of fear and isolation, and promote well being .
With Vivaldi for your vital organs, Purcell for your pulse rate, Bach for your brain waves and Telemann for the T cells,it seems that baroque music with a safe predictable form and steady 50-70 beats per minute has really got something special to offer.  Played daily it might just transform your  ambient soundscape and energy patterns into something really positive and therapeutic.

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St Hedwigs project

music which generates the relaxation response