As I've researched this topic throughout the course of the semester, I am hesitant to give my full support to any of the types of therapy I've introduced within this site because of the lack of confirmatory experimental evidence. There is quite a distinction to be made between the Mozart Effect and the two types of sound therapy I've listed. As a pianist and student, I understand how music can help a person gain focus or-through practicing- motivation and perseverance. The claims of boosts in IQ, however, are not convincing to me. The stimulation of the cortical regions of the brain does not promote any permanent, or even long-lasting, changes. Although parents are always looking for ways to ensure that their child will be a happy, talented, and intelligent person, the Mozart Effect is not the cure-all that some have claimed it to be.
As for Sound Therapy, I was able to speak with a sound therapist who practices the Somatis Method and she told me a great deal about its benefits. I do think that there seems to be evidence that sound therapy works holistically, as many other types of therapy do. Additionally, the sound and speech connection seems to be very valid, although I question some of the analogies made to describe how sound is perceived. In general, I would say that more research needs to be done to determine if and how sound therapy is beneficial and until a conclusion is reached, supporters of sound therapy should be careful in how they theorize what is happening within the brain.
This project has been interesting because it approached audition in a non-traditional way and spoke about holistic approached in therapy. I did, however, feel obligated to add this as a disclaimer, of sorts. Much of the information in this site is theoretical, and experimental evidence is minimal to support or reject the claims of the therapies I've described. This site is not meant to promote or discredit any type of sound therapy, only to provide information about another realm of audition.
Return to Music and Learning homepage