Therapeutic Music and the Healing Power of the Harp
The harp is the oldest known stringed instrument, the earliest example being more than 15,000 years old. It has unique properties of vibration and harmonics that easily and comfortably resonate in our bodies and in the surrounding space.
The harp has been used as a healing instrument for thousands of years. It was used in ancient Egypt and Greece in the healing arts; it is referred to in the Bible when David played his harp to soothe King Saul; it was used in medieval hospices for end-of-life care; it was used in the early Celtic communities for entertainment and healing. The Irish harpers used their musical and healing skills to elicit happiness, laughter, and energy; stir deep emotions and release the sadness of the soul; and to cultivate rest, peace, and relaxation. Today there is ongoing research into the effects of sound and vibration on the human system and the therapeutic benefits of the resonant harp.
Therapeutic music is the use of sound (melody, rhythm, tones, harmony) in a specific way to meet the immediate needs of a person on a physical, mental, emotional and/or spiritual level. The music practitioner observes, intuits and listens to the patient's needs and chooses musical styles, tempos, rhythms, modes and melodies that are appropriate to meeting those needs. The goal is to create a "sound space" or a "cradle of sound" to support the listener in his or her journey of healing, wholeness and growth.
The harp has been used as a healing instrument for thousands of years. It was used in ancient Egypt and Greece in the healing arts; it is referred to in the Bible when David played his harp to soothe King Saul; it was used in medieval hospices for end-of-life care; it was used in the early Celtic communities for entertainment and healing. The Irish harpers used their musical and healing skills to elicit happiness, laughter, and energy; stir deep emotions and release the sadness of the soul; and to cultivate rest, peace, and relaxation. Today there is ongoing research into the effects of sound and vibration on the human system and the therapeutic benefits of the resonant harp.
Therapeutic music is the use of sound (melody, rhythm, tones, harmony) in a specific way to meet the immediate needs of a person on a physical, mental, emotional and/or spiritual level. The music practitioner observes, intuits and listens to the patient's needs and chooses musical styles, tempos, rhythms, modes and melodies that are appropriate to meeting those needs. The goal is to create a "sound space" or a "cradle of sound" to support the listener in his or her journey of healing, wholeness and growth.
The effects of Therapeutic Harp Music can:
• Promote relaxation
• Relieve anxiety and lower stress hormones
• Provide distraction
• Lower blood pressure
• Stimulate emotional release and expression of feelings
• Aid in mental focus or mental imaging
• Help in the administration of medications
• Lower heart and respiration rates
• Increase endorphin levels
• Boost the immune system
• Facilitate the transition process of the dying
• Augment pain management of the terminally ill
• Ease the delivery process of the birthing mother
• Stimulate brain function in newborns
• Lift and clear the consciousness
Science has proven that the live experience of healing music creates a much greater benefit to patients than recorded music, not least because of the full spectrum of acoustic sound vibrations provided.
• Promote relaxation
• Relieve anxiety and lower stress hormones
• Provide distraction
• Lower blood pressure
• Stimulate emotional release and expression of feelings
• Aid in mental focus or mental imaging
• Help in the administration of medications
• Lower heart and respiration rates
• Increase endorphin levels
• Boost the immune system
• Facilitate the transition process of the dying
• Augment pain management of the terminally ill
• Ease the delivery process of the birthing mother
• Stimulate brain function in newborns
• Lift and clear the consciousness
Science has proven that the live experience of healing music creates a much greater benefit to patients than recorded music, not least because of the full spectrum of acoustic sound vibrations provided.
A Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner (CTHP) is a trained, therapeutic musician who uses the harp to aid the healing process of body, mind, and spirit. Practitioners are trained in inclusive attention, resonant tone, the application of musical modes and empathetic communication techniques. They use this training, as well as ongoing monitoring of the recipient’s physical and verbal responses, to guide them in the selection of healing harp music that not only pleases the recipient but is the most appropriate for his or her needs in any given moment. Therapeutic harp music supports the individual with a cradle of sound, so maximum healing may unfold. The music usually supports not only the patient, but the family members and professionals involved in their care.