Naveen Kumar, TNN | Feb 19, 2012, 06.08AM IST
Article from the Times of India
VARANASI: Listening to one's favourite music can help activate internal energy and concentration. In fact, right kind of music can help students beat stress during Board examinations. While loud music can be a source of noise or distraction for many students, health experts (psychiatrists) say music can also be used as a pill to de-stress students during exam time.
"Music is known to have stress relieving effect, provided the wavelength of music played matches with the emotional wavelength of the listener, which could be a patient, a student or any other human being. It is, in fact, an individualised therapy that takes note of specific mood, taste and timing to show the desired effect. It could also turn into noise and show side-effects if any of these factors are not taken into account before playing music for the target audience," says Dr Sanjay Gupta, senior psychiatrist, department of psychiatry, Banaras Hindu University.
Referring to the use of music therapy that involves 20 to 25 minutes of music-based exercises, Dr Gupta, who also runs 'Khushhali-Ek Prayas' (stress management programme) emphasises that the exercise has shown beneficial effects in persons with stress and mild depression. The appropriate music actually helps to control palpitation along with increasing the concentration level and activating internal energy. There is a general feeling of calmness of mind and music also brings soothing effect in the surroundings, acting as stress buster. Usually, students refrain from music during examination but if it appropri-ately played depending on the mood, taste, timing and gender, it certainly bolsters internal energy, adds the senior psychiatrist.
It may be mentioned here that Dr Gupta has co-supervised a research work carried by the department of vocal music, BHU, in 2000 which also shows beneficial effect of music therapy, proving it as effective as drugs in healing patients with depressive disorder.
Stressing that more coordination is needed between musicians and healthexperts to bolster music therapy for individual patients, he also streamlines the need for scientific documentation of the therapy to gain scientific validity and acceptance. "Music specialists and psychiatrists need to work together to explore and tap the potentials of music therapy," he says.
It is also worth mentioning that the student health centre complex in BHU has been organising musical events, including the shehanai of Ustad Bismillah Khan, for the past two years to provide a calm and soothing atmosphere.
Article from The times of India