Music as Therapy

“Man’s music is seen as a means of restoring the soul, as well as confused and discordant bodily afflictions, to the harmonic proportions that it shares with the world soul of the cosmos.” ―Plato, Timaeus

“Pythagoras based musical education in the first place on certain melodies and rhythm that exercised a healing, a purifying influence on the human actions and passions, restoring ‘Pristine Harmony’ of the souls faculties. He applied the same means to the curing of diseases of both body and mind.…” ―Porphyry (Neoplatonic philosopher)

“Surely again, to heal men’s wounds by music’s spell.” ―Euripedes, Medea

“Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened. Don’t open the door to study and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.” ―Rumi

“Music can minister to minds diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, raze out the written troubles of the brain, and with its sweet oblivious antidote, cleanse the full bosom of all perilous stuff that weighs upon the heart.” ―Shakespeare

“He that divines the secret of my music is freed from the unhappiness that haunts the whole world of men.” ―Beethoven

“Every illness is a musical problem-the healing, a musical solution.…” ―Novalis, The Encyclopedia

“There is no agent so powerful in giving us real rest as true music… It does for heart and mind, and also for the body, what sleep does for the body alone.” ―Auguste Gratry

“There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.” “I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music.” ―George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss

“Music heals all forms of misery.” ―Friedrich Nietzsche

“The Medicine Man, taking his music with him, is passing quietly into the Great Silence, where the old songs were ‘Received in Dreams’ by ‘inner-plane communication.’” ―Francis Densmore (anthropologist friend of Geronimo)

“Deeply listening to music opens up new avenues of research I’d never even dreamed of. I feel from now on music should be an essential part of every analysis.” ―C. G. Jung

“Sound is the force of creation, the true whole. Music then, becomes the voice of the great cosmic oneness and therefore the optimal way to reach this final state of healing. Music should be healing, music should uplift the soul, music should inspire; then there is no better way of getting closer to God, of rising higher towards the spirit, of attaining spiritual perfection, only if it is rightly understood.” ―Hazrat Inayat Khan (Sufi musician)

“A person does not hear sound only through the ears; he hears sound through every pore of his body. It permeates the entire being, and according to its particular influence either slows or quickens the rhythm of the blood circulation; it either wakens or soothes the nervous system. It arouses a person to greater passions or it calms him by bringing him peace. According to the sound and its influence a certain effect is produced. Sound becomes visible in the form of radiance. This shows that the same energy which goes into the form of sound before being visible is absorbed by the physical body. In that way the physical body recuperates and becomes charged with new magnetism.” ―Hazrat Inayat Khan

“The magic of ‘Musical Medicine’ will come into its own. The application of such healing potencies will not be limited just to man’s body and mind. It will be an agency for building and healing his soul as well.” ―Corinne Heline

“The Medicine Man occupied the honored role of priest and physician to his tribe. They understood that healing was done by the intercession of celestial spirits. Music was used as the bridge between these planes. Thus we see why music was religious in nature, and music was looked upon as a sacred art.” ―Corinne Heline

“The ageless melody, unheard, heals; the healing vision, unseen, leads; the true leaders, immortal, know....” ―Khalil Gibran

“We trust that the magic of sound, will contribute an ever greater measure to the relief of human suffering.” ―Robert Assagioli M.D. (Founder of Transpersonal Psychology}

“Eventually, musical therapists will compose prescriptions after the manner of a pharmacist.” ―Dr. Ira Altschuler

“I am equally excited about the possibilities that music making holds for all people and it’s ability to heal what seems to me a chronic imbalance in modern life.” ―Paul Winter ‘Music-Physician for Times to Come’

“Music became a healer for me. And I learned to listen with all my being. I found that it could wipe away all the emotions of fear and confusion relating to my family.” ―Eric Clapton

“I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from everyone loves music.” ―Billy Joel 

“Music is therapy. Music moves people. It connects people in ways that no other medium can. It pulls heartstrings. It acts as medicine.” ―Macklemore

“Music is a therapy. It is a communication far more powerful than words, far more immediate, far more efficient.” ―Yehudi Menuhin 

“Just as certain selections of music will nourish the physical body and your emotional layer, so other musical works will bring greater health to your mind.” ―Hal A. Lingerman

“It has been found that musical vibrations make their impact upon the entire body, being picked up by the nerves, spinal column, and even by the bones. This is why people who are deaf can react to music. It has also been demonstrated that music affects the pulse, respiration, and blood pressure; but it’s deepest effects, and those from which most of its curative properties are derived, are mental and emotional.” ―Doren Antrim, ‘Music Is Medicine’

“Healing relies on an openness to the whole; a willingness to relinquish whatever frustrates or delays—mistaken ideas, negative feelings, poor diet, inadvisable lifestyle—and to accept a wider spectrum of responses with new ideas, experience, and priorities. Healing is communication; and music, in its universal nature, is total communication. In the deepest mysteries of music are the inspirations, the pathways, and the healing which lead to one-ness and unity.”  ―Olivea Dewhurst-Maddock, Sound Therapy

“Music is an automatic motivator. It is the easiest way to get you in a good mood, to bring you out of the situation you’re in and bring you to a new place.” ―Maegan Morrow

“Music has the ability to repair brain damage and return lost memories.” ―Melanie Spanswick