think about a world without music what would that world be like be kind of
would that world be like be kind of
would that world be like be kind of quiet huh there would be no lullabies
quiet huh there would be no lullabies
quiet huh there would be no lullabies [Music]
[Music]
[Music] athletic events might be a little less
athletic events might be a little less
athletic events might be a little less exciting right and most importantly
exciting right and most importantly
exciting right and most importantly scary movies might not be so scary so we
scary movies might not be so scary so we
scary movies might not be so scary so we all know music is very powerful it has
all know music is very powerful it has
all know music is very powerful it has its own ability to communicate it has
its own ability to communicate it has
its own ability to communicate it has the ability to change how we feel how we
the ability to change how we feel how we
the ability to change how we feel how we think how we act but probably most
think how we act but probably most
think how we act but probably most importantly music has the power to heal
importantly music has the power to heal
importantly music has the power to heal music therapy is the skillful use of
music therapy is the skillful use of
music therapy is the skillful use of music to maintain improve and restore
music to maintain improve and restore
music to maintain improve and restore emotional and physical health so I’m a
emotional and physical health so I’m a
emotional and physical health so I’m a music therapist by trade and I use music
music therapist by trade and I use music
music therapist by trade and I use music to help people with Parkinson’s disease
to help people with Parkinson’s disease
to help people with Parkinson’s disease move better so for example I use
move better so for example I use
move better so for example I use specific elements of music like
specific elements of music like
specific elements of music like frequency tempo accents to help people
frequency tempo accents to help people
frequency tempo accents to help people with Parkinson’s disease move bigger and
with Parkinson’s disease move bigger and
with Parkinson’s disease move bigger and more forcefully I also use music and
more forcefully I also use music and
more forcefully I also use music and dance to help work on balance posture
dance to help work on balance posture
dance to help work on balance posture and movement sequencing in people with
and movement sequencing in people with
and movement sequencing in people with Parkinson’s disease and finally I also
Parkinson’s disease and finally I also
Parkinson’s disease and finally I also use music to help people with
use music to help people with
use music to help people with Parkinson’s disease walk better this is
Parkinson’s disease walk better this is
Parkinson’s disease walk better this is a gentleman with Parkinson’s disease and
a gentleman with Parkinson’s disease and
a gentleman with Parkinson’s disease and he has difficulty walking and often he
he has difficulty walking and often he
he has difficulty walking and often he freezes when he’s in crowded in my
and in this case he’s walking in time
and in this case he’s walking in time with the wife music and you know I can’t
with the wife music and you know I can’t
with the wife music and you know I can’t go with him everywhere he goes and sing
go with him everywhere he goes and sing
go with him everywhere he goes and sing to him but he can sing in his head
pretty amazing right he went from not
pretty amazing right he went from not being able to walk at all to being able
being able to walk at all to being able
being able to walk at all to being able to walk with music and then eventually
to walk with music and then eventually
to walk with music and then eventually being able to walk on his own with music
being able to walk on his own with music
being able to walk on his own with music in his head so I as a music therapist I
in his head so I as a music therapist I
in his head so I as a music therapist I saw things like this happen all the time
saw things like this happen all the time
saw things like this happen all the time and I kept asking myself well why does
and I kept asking myself well why does
and I kept asking myself well why does this happen what is so great about music
this happen what is so great about music
this happen what is so great about music that has such amazing changes and so I
that has such amazing changes and so I
that has such amazing changes and so I thought hmmm it must be about the brain
thought hmmm it must be about the brain
thought hmmm it must be about the brain because everything really is about the
because everything really is about the
because everything really is about the brain right so I decided to go back to
brain right so I decided to go back to
brain right so I decided to go back to school and study about the brain and so
school and study about the brain and so
school and study about the brain and so I’ve studied for years now and I will
I’ve studied for years now and I will
I’ve studied for years now and I will continue to study for years upon years
continue to study for years upon years
continue to study for years upon years upon years about the brain and I
upon years about the brain and I
upon years about the brain and I unfortunately don’t have an answer to
unfortunately don’t have an answer to
unfortunately don’t have an answer to that question but I do have a theory and
that question but I do have a theory and
that question but I do have a theory and I believe that it has to do with
I believe that it has to do with
I believe that it has to do with something called neuroplasticity so in
something called neuroplasticity so in
something called neuroplasticity so in the brain there are millions of cells
the brain there are millions of cells
the brain there are millions of cells and those cells are called
and those cells are called
and those cells are called neurons and when we have a thought or an
neurons and when we have a thought or an
neurons and when we have a thought or an action those neurons send in an
action those neurons send in an
action those neurons send in an electrical impulse or sometimes they
electrical impulse or sometimes they
electrical impulse or sometimes they don’t send an electrical impulses good
don’t send an electrical impulses good
don’t send an electrical impulses good and in order to learn anything new we
and in order to learn anything new we
and in order to learn anything new we need to make new connections between
need to make new connections between
need to make new connections between those neurons and that is called
those neurons and that is called
those neurons and that is called neuroplasticity neuroplasticity is also
neuroplasticity neuroplasticity is also
neuroplasticity neuroplasticity is also the pruning away or getting rid of
the pruning away or getting rid of
the pruning away or getting rid of connections that we don’t need and music
connections that we don’t need and music
connections that we don’t need and music therapy I believe has four unique
therapy I believe has four unique
therapy I believe has four unique characteristics to promote
characteristics to promote
characteristics to promote neuroplasticity the first is that music
neuroplasticity the first is that music
neuroplasticity the first is that music regulates neurotransmitters in the brain
regulates neurotransmitters in the brain
regulates neurotransmitters in the brain in particular I’m interested in dopamine
in particular I’m interested in dopamine
in particular I’m interested in dopamine dopamine has been shown in research to
dopamine has been shown in research to
dopamine has been shown in research to be associated with reward based learning
be associated with reward based learning
be associated with reward based learning and more so in order for us to learn
and more so in order for us to learn
and more so in order for us to learn anything new and make those new
anything new and make those new
anything new and make those new connections dopamine must be present if
connections dopamine must be present if
connections dopamine must be present if it’s not there you’re not going to make
it’s not there you’re not going to make
it’s not there you’re not going to make new connections in the brain so research
new connections in the brain so research
new connections in the brain so research has shown that listening to preferred
has shown that listening to preferred
has shown that listening to preferred music increases dopamine production in
music increases dopamine production in
music increases dopamine production in the
the
the you think okay that’s great what does
you think okay that’s great what does
you think okay that’s great what does that have to do with music therapy well
that have to do with music therapy well
that have to do with music therapy well as a music therapist one of the most
as a music therapist one of the most
as a music therapist one of the most common questions that I’m asked is well
common questions that I’m asked is well
common questions that I’m asked is well what kind of music do you use right and
what kind of music do you use right and
what kind of music do you use right and my standard music therapy answer is
my standard music therapy answer is
my standard music therapy answer is preferred music right so for example if
preferred music right so for example if
preferred music right so for example if I were to use today’s Greatest Hits with
I were to use today’s Greatest Hits with
I were to use today’s Greatest Hits with the group of people with Parkinson’s
the group of people with Parkinson’s
the group of people with Parkinson’s disease that I work with they might not
disease that I work with they might not
disease that I work with they might not respond so well to that music right but
respond so well to that music right but
respond so well to that music right but if I use greatest hits from when they
if I use greatest hits from when they
if I use greatest hits from when they were teenagers or in their early adults
were teenagers or in their early adults
were teenagers or in their early adults there’s a much better response right
there’s a much better response right
there’s a much better response right because actually that’s when musical
because actually that’s when musical
because actually that’s when musical preferences are kind of developed at
preferences are kind of developed at
preferences are kind of developed at that age so I would use that music when
that age so I would use that music when
that age so I would use that music when I work with them and I believe that it
I work with them and I believe that it
I work with them and I believe that it works really well because it’s
works really well because it’s
works really well because it’s increasing dopamine production in the
increasing dopamine production in the
increasing dopamine production in the brain and with more dopamine there’s a
brain and with more dopamine there’s a
brain and with more dopamine there’s a better chance that those new connections
better chance that those new connections
better chance that those new connections are going to be formed the second
are going to be formed the second
are going to be formed the second characteristic that I think is unique to
characteristic that I think is unique to
characteristic that I think is unique to music and music therapy is the actual
music and music therapy is the actual
music and music therapy is the actual signal right I like to say noise as bad
signal right I like to say noise as bad
signal right I like to say noise as bad music is good right so noise is a
music is good right so noise is a
music is good right so noise is a difficult signal for the brain to
difficult signal for the brain to
difficult signal for the brain to understand right so in research has
understand right so in research has
understand right so in research has shown that to be true and that it’s
shown that to be true and that it’s
shown that to be true and that it’s really not so good for brain development
really not so good for brain development
really not so good for brain development and it doesn’t help make new connections
and it doesn’t help make new connections
and it doesn’t help make new connections at all in the brain in contrast you can
at all in the brain in contrast you can
at all in the brain in contrast you can see that music is much more periodic and
see that music is much more periodic and
see that music is much more periodic and much more structured and is easier for
much more structured and is easier for
much more structured and is easier for the brain to encode so let me give you
the brain to encode so let me give you
the brain to encode so let me give you an example okay so I don’t know if any
an example okay so I don’t know if any
an example okay so I don’t know if any of you have children I have two and when
of you have children I have two and when
of you have children I have two and when they were little about two or three
they were little about two or three
they were little about two or three years old I’d tell them pick up your
years old I’d tell them pick up your
years old I’d tell them pick up your toys go pick up your toys right and they
toys go pick up your toys right and they
toys go pick up your toys right and they would just look at me okay go pick up
would just look at me okay go pick up
would just look at me okay go pick up your toys or they would just kind of
your toys or they would just kind of
your toys or they would just kind of keep playing with their toys like they
keep playing with their toys like they
keep playing with their toys like they didn’t understand what I was saying
didn’t understand what I was saying
didn’t understand what I was saying however if I did something
however if I did something
however if I did something like clean up clean up everybody
like clean up clean up everybody
like clean up clean up everybody everywhere I’m sure you’ve heard that
everywhere I’m sure you’ve heard that
everywhere I’m sure you’ve heard that song right somewhere it’s getting there
song right somewhere it’s getting there
song right somewhere it’s getting there right all the sudden it was a miracle
right all the sudden it was a miracle
right all the sudden it was a miracle kids started picking up their toys yeah
kids started picking up their toys yeah
kids started picking up their toys yeah doing it right so people would might say
doing it right so people would might say
doing it right so people would might say that
that
that music grabbed their attention it was
music grabbed their attention it was
music grabbed their attention it was more fun with music that could be true
more fun with music that could be true
more fun with music that could be true but I would suggest that maybe for a
but I would suggest that maybe for a
but I would suggest that maybe for a young brain the speech signal which is a
young brain the speech signal which is a
young brain the speech signal which is a little bit more noisy was more difficult
little bit more noisy was more difficult
little bit more noisy was more difficult for them to understand and as soon as I
for them to understand and as soon as I
for them to understand and as soon as I embedded that information in music which
embedded that information in music which
embedded that information in music which was a clearer easier information for
was a clearer easier information for
was a clearer easier information for them to understand they heard me they
them to understand they heard me they
them to understand they heard me they processed it and they started doing what
processed it and they started doing what
processed it and they started doing what I asked to do asked them to do so what
I asked to do asked them to do so what
I asked to do asked them to do so what does this have to do with music therapy
does this have to do with music therapy
does this have to do with music therapy again well research has shown that
again well research has shown that
again well research has shown that professional musicians actually have a
professional musicians actually have a
professional musicians actually have a more clear less noisy signal vocal
more clear less noisy signal vocal
more clear less noisy signal vocal signal or instrumental signal than non
signal or instrumental signal than non
signal or instrumental signal than non musicians and music therapists are
musicians and music therapists are
musicians and music therapists are professional musicians they are highly
professional musicians they are highly
professional musicians they are highly trained professional musicians that are
trained professional musicians that are
trained professional musicians that are often trained on many many instruments
often trained on many many instruments
often trained on many many instruments and on the voice and so when music
and on the voice and so when music
and on the voice and so when music therapists try to change behavior and
therapists try to change behavior and
therapists try to change behavior and they provide instructions those
they provide instructions those
they provide instructions those instructions are embedded in a clear
instructions are embedded in a clear
instructions are embedded in a clear signal a less noisy signal and
signal a less noisy signal and
signal a less noisy signal and potentially easier for the brain to
potentially easier for the brain to
potentially easier for the brain to understand one of the major principles
understand one of the major principles
understand one of the major principles of neuroscience is called the hebbian
of neuroscience is called the hebbian
of neuroscience is called the hebbian principle and it states that neurons
principle and it states that neurons
principle and it states that neurons that fire together wire together or I
that fire together wire together or I
that fire together wire together or I like to say neurons out of sync do not
like to say neurons out of sync do not
like to say neurons out of sync do not link right so what does this mean
link right so what does this mean
link right so what does this mean remember I said in order to learn
remember I said in order to learn
remember I said in order to learn something new you have to have two
something new you have to have two
something new you have to have two neurons and they have to make a
neurons and they have to make a
neurons and they have to make a connection well in order to make that
connection well in order to make that
connection well in order to make that connection they must send a signal at
connection they must send a signal at
connection they must send a signal at the same time they must fire
the same time they must fire
the same time they must fire synchronously once they do and they do
synchronously once they do and they do
synchronously once they do and they do that repeatedly they make a new
that repeatedly they make a new
that repeatedly they make a new connection so
connection so
connection so what’s unique about music and music
what’s unique about music and music
what’s unique about music and music therapy is that rhythm synchronizes
therapy is that rhythm synchronizes
therapy is that rhythm synchronizes neural activity as shown in this example
neural activity as shown in this example
neural activity as shown in this example of two cricket neurons responding to
of two cricket neurons responding to
of two cricket neurons responding to James Brown
I feel good
I feel good I knew that I wouldn’t
pretty cool huh so if that’s what
pretty cool huh so if that’s what cricket neurons are doing guess just
cricket neurons are doing guess just
cricket neurons are doing guess just imagine what was happening in your brain
imagine what was happening in your brain
imagine what was happening in your brain when you were listening to James Brown
when you were listening to James Brown
when you were listening to James Brown right so as music therapist one of the
right so as music therapist one of the
right so as music therapist one of the key elements that we do is we pair
key elements that we do is we pair
key elements that we do is we pair information with rhythm we present
information with rhythm we present
information with rhythm we present information through rhythm non-music
information through rhythm non-music
information through rhythm non-music information with the rhythm so that we
information with the rhythm so that we
information with the rhythm so that we are again synchronizing the neural
are again synchronizing the neural
are again synchronizing the neural connectivity our neural activity so we
connectivity our neural activity so we
connectivity our neural activity so we can make new connections in that brain
can make new connections in that brain
can make new connections in that brain the final principle that I think is
the final principle that I think is
the final principle that I think is probably the most important is that
probably the most important is that
probably the most important is that music can activate the entire brain you
music can activate the entire brain you
music can activate the entire brain you know that you can read music that’s one
know that you can read music that’s one
know that you can read music that’s one part of the brain you can listen to
part of the brain you can listen to
part of the brain you can listen to music that’s another part of the brain
music that’s another part of the brain
music that’s another part of the brain you have memories that are associated
you have memories that are associated
you have memories that are associated with music yet another part of the brain
with music yet another part of the brain
with music yet another part of the brain we can move to music another part of the
we can move to music another part of the
we can move to music another part of the brain
brain
brain and emotional response to music another
and emotional response to music another
and emotional response to music another part of the brain I could go on and on
part of the brain I could go on and on
part of the brain I could go on and on and on but I only got you know a couple
and on but I only got you know a couple
and on but I only got you know a couple more minutes so music therapists are
more minutes so music therapists are
more minutes so music therapists are highly trained to manipulate the music
highly trained to manipulate the music
highly trained to manipulate the music to generate a specific behavior right
to generate a specific behavior right
to generate a specific behavior right and that specific behavior has to be
and that specific behavior has to be
and that specific behavior has to be controlled by a specific area in the
controlled by a specific area in the
controlled by a specific area in the brain so literally music therapists have
brain so literally music therapists have
brain so literally music therapists have the entire brain at their fingertips so
the entire brain at their fingertips so
the entire brain at their fingertips so that they can manipulate the music and
that they can manipulate the music and
that they can manipulate the music and use whatever part of the brain they
use whatever part of the brain they
use whatever part of the brain they think needs to be changed
think needs to be changed
think needs to be changed dependent on the person’s behavior so
dependent on the person’s behavior so
dependent on the person’s behavior so why does music therapy work the answer
why does music therapy work the answer
why does music therapy work the answer is neuroplasticity music therapy
is neuroplasticity music therapy
is neuroplasticity music therapy regulates neurotransmitters by
regulates neurotransmitters by
regulates neurotransmitters by increasing dopamine in the brain music
increasing dopamine in the brain music
increasing dopamine in the brain music therapy uses a clear signal like music
therapy uses a clear signal like music
therapy uses a clear signal like music to transmit information music therapy
to transmit information music therapy
to transmit information music therapy uses rhythm to synchronize neural firing
uses rhythm to synchronize neural firing
uses rhythm to synchronize neural firing and and it can engage
and and it can engage
and and it can engage multiple areas of the brain so music
multiple areas of the brain so music
multiple areas of the brain so music therapy is really really good for the
therapy is really really good for the
therapy is really really good for the brain and it is the only therapy that
brain and it is the only therapy that
brain and it is the only therapy that can claim these four principles so then
can claim these four principles so then
can claim these four principles so then how do I use this theory to explain what
how do I use this theory to explain what
how do I use this theory to explain what I do with people with Parkinson’s
I do with people with Parkinson’s
I do with people with Parkinson’s disease so Parkinson’s disease is the
disease so Parkinson’s disease is the
disease so Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative
second most common neurodegenerative
second most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States and it’s
disease in the United States and it’s
disease in the United States and it’s symptoms look like stooped posture
symptoms look like stooped posture
symptoms look like stooped posture tremor stiffness slowness of moving
tremor stiffness slowness of moving
tremor stiffness slowness of moving difficulty walking and currently there
difficulty walking and currently there
difficulty walking and currently there is no cure and it is caused by a
is no cure and it is caused by a
is no cure and it is caused by a depletion or a loss of dopaminergic
depletion or a loss of dopaminergic
depletion or a loss of dopaminergic neurons in an area of the brain called
neurons in an area of the brain called
neurons in an area of the brain called the basal ganglia which is right here
the basal ganglia which is right here
the basal ganglia which is right here and specifically the neuronal loss is
and specifically the neuronal loss is
and specifically the neuronal loss is even in this part of the basal ganglia
even in this part of the basal ganglia
even in this part of the basal ganglia called the substantia nigra so when we
called the substantia nigra so when we
called the substantia nigra so when we lose neurons in that area of the brain
lose neurons in that area of the brain
lose neurons in that area of the brain it causes an imbalance of neural
it causes an imbalance of neural
it causes an imbalance of neural activity in the basal ganglia and that
activity in the basal ganglia and that
activity in the basal ganglia and that in turn alters activity in other areas
in turn alters activity in other areas
in turn alters activity in other areas of the brain specifically in the motor
of the brain specifically in the motor
of the brain specifically in the motor cortical areas so the primary output or
cortical areas so the primary output or
cortical areas so the primary output or pathway of the basal ganglia is the
pathway of the basal ganglia is the
pathway of the basal ganglia is the supplementary motor area right there in
supplementary motor area right there in
supplementary motor area right there in that area that pathway is involved with
that area that pathway is involved with
that area that pathway is involved with the initiation of internally generated
the initiation of internally generated
the initiation of internally generated movement so if I decide that I want to
movement so if I decide that I want to
movement so if I decide that I want to walk across the stage I do that on my
walk across the stage I do that on my
walk across the stage I do that on my own intent and I walk right it’s my own
own intent and I walk right it’s my own
own intent and I walk right it’s my own intention so that pathway is being
intention so that pathway is being
intention so that pathway is being activated and people with Parkinson’s
activated and people with Parkinson’s
activated and people with Parkinson’s disease generally have difficulty with
disease generally have difficulty with
disease generally have difficulty with that those type of movements however
that those type of movements however
that those type of movements however there is another pathway that we can use
there is another pathway that we can use
there is another pathway that we can use for movement that involves a pre motor
for movement that involves a pre motor
for movement that involves a pre motor area right and this area is involved
area right and this area is involved
area right and this area is involved with movement in response to external
with movement in response to external
with movement in response to external cueing so for example if I’m sitting at
cueing so for example if I’m sitting at
cueing so for example if I’m sitting at the red light waiting forever
the red light waiting forever
the red light waiting forever sometimes and then the light turns green
sometimes and then the light turns green
sometimes and then the light turns green well because the light turned green I
well because the light turned green I
well because the light turned green I move my foot off the gas and I mean off
move my foot off the gas and I mean off
move my foot off the gas and I mean off the brake let’s hope and onto the gas
the brake let’s hope and onto the gas
the brake let’s hope and onto the gas right so I actually move in response to
right so I actually move in response to
right so I actually move in response to an external cue and that uses the
an external cue and that uses the
an external cue and that uses the promoter area and indeed research has
promoter area and indeed research has
promoter area and indeed research has shown that external cues help people
shown that external cues help people
shown that external cues help people with Parkinson’s disease move better and
with Parkinson’s disease move better and
with Parkinson’s disease move better and the thought is is that it uses a pathway
the thought is is that it uses a pathway
the thought is is that it uses a pathway an alternative pathway that is less
an alternative pathway that is less
an alternative pathway that is less affected by the disease
affected by the disease
affected by the disease so for music therapy remember I have the
so for music therapy remember I have the
so for music therapy remember I have the whole brain at my fingertips right
whole brain at my fingertips right
whole brain at my fingertips right pretty cool and so I know that I can use
pretty cool and so I know that I can use
pretty cool and so I know that I can use music as an external cue and target that
music as an external cue and target that
music as an external cue and target that alternative pathway I also use patient
alternative pathway I also use patient
alternative pathway I also use patient preferred music so I’m increasing
preferred music so I’m increasing
preferred music so I’m increasing dopamine so that we can learn and make
dopamine so that we can learn and make
dopamine so that we can learn and make new connections in that alternative
new connections in that alternative
new connections in that alternative pathway and I’m asking my patients to
pathway and I’m asking my patients to
pathway and I’m asking my patients to step or move in time with the rhythm
step or move in time with the rhythm
step or move in time with the rhythm again
again
again synchronizing neural connections and it
synchronizing neural connections and it
synchronizing neural connections and it may be up for debate but kind of hope I
may be up for debate but kind of hope I
may be up for debate but kind of hope I have a clear signal alright because I
have a clear signal alright because I
have a clear signal alright because I kind of consider myself a musician so I
kind of consider myself a musician so I
kind of consider myself a musician so I am basically creating neural plasticity
am basically creating neural plasticity
am basically creating neural plasticity in this alternative pathway I’m either
in this alternative pathway I’m either
in this alternative pathway I’m either helping to maintain that pathway or
helping to maintain that pathway or
helping to maintain that pathway or let’s hope strengthening it by making
let’s hope strengthening it by making
let’s hope strengthening it by making new neural connections so I say if
new neural connections so I say if
new neural connections so I say if you’re a person with Parkinson’s disease
you’re a person with Parkinson’s disease
you’re a person with Parkinson’s disease what better way to strengthen that
what better way to strengthen that
what better way to strengthen that alternative pathway than to dance
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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