Music therapy has taken the world by storm! Here are three music therapy apps that'll zen you out.
Photo courtesy of Oliur.
During the 21st century, we’ve seen the immense growth of technology throughout our lives. Many people have different types of relationships with technology, and for me, it can definitely be a love-hate relationship. Although there are a lot of downfalls with technology, there are a lot of benefits as well. There are many ways that technology can aid human-made issues. These tools can help us become more organized, connect with our loved ones who are far away, and even help with music therapy.
Along with increased awareness of mental health issues in our modern society has come a variety of tools that are easily accessible to those who need it. This is a benefit of technology and it’s definitely worth looking into. In this article, we will discuss the importance of music therapy, and four apps that are accessible to everyone.
According to Cleveland Clinic, “Music therapy is the clinical use of music to accomplish individualized goals such as reducing stress, improving mood and self-expression. It is an evidence-based therapy well-established in the health community. Music therapy experiences may include listening, singing, playing instruments, or composing music. Musical skills or talents are not required to participate.” Music therapy is great because it’s so versatile. It can help many different groups of people such as: war veterans, stroke victims, people with anxiety and depression, senior citizens, people in correctional facilities, and so much more.
The great thing about music therapy is it can be tailored to suit your needs and it’s rather easy to get ahold of it. One of the benefits of music therapy is that it is accessible and many programs are free or charge little fees to use their music therapy services. There are many benefits of music therapy when used for positive mental health stimulation.
Different people use music therapy for their own specific needs, but there are many benefits overall that may work with your current self-care practice. Research shows that music therapy programs help mental health conditions. The most common conditions are depression, anxiety, trauma survivors, schizophrenia, and mood disorders. Music therapy can also be used as preventative care, which can help with significantly deescalating panic and anxiety attacks.
While scientific data and research has been in the works over the past couple of years, users who are willing to try music therapy have positive things to say about it. People report that their overall mood has improved and it has become a useful coping mechanism in stressful situations. Research so far has shown that it actually helps improve cognitive functions like memory and emotions. There have also been reports of lowering heart rate and blood pressure and relaxing muscle tension.
Of course, the great part about music therapy is that it can be tailored to your specific needs. There are a few options that can introduce music therapy into your everyday life. The availability of these options makes it easy for anyone to use and it really becomes inclusive for anyone who is seeking out extra help.
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There are many music therapy apps that have been designed for the convenient use of anyone who is in need of any sort of help. There are a few apps that are great for beginners and are classic examples of music therapy.
Humm.ly is an app that is used by many people, and their users have reported positive experiences when using this app. Humm.ly’s website promotes their easy-to-use service by using science-backed evidence when choosing what type of music they showcase on their app. According to Humm.ly, “Humm.ly is the first and only app to provide content created by board-certified music therapists to achieve all of these desired results.”
This can ease the minds of skeptics because this app is backed by scientific research. Humm.ly also writes, “A 2013 study was completed at the Freie University Berlin, describing several mechanisms through which music can change our mental state and impact our ability to connect with one another. It uncovered music's incredible ability to impact brain circuits involved in empathy, trust, and cooperation. Specifically, it found that music can boost oxytocin levels in the brain, which in turn increases these traits and boosts cultural cohesion.” These testimonials can create a safe space for you to have when you’re looking for a little extra help.
Humm.ly ranges from free subscriptions to a subscription for $40.99 a year.
Cove is another app that has helped people in times of need. There are many great references to reviews on their website and on the app stores about success stories using the Cove app. According to Cove, “Cove was one of the first mental health apps available on the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. It was evaluated by the NHS for data privacy and user confidentiality, clinical effectiveness, security and human-centered methodology.” What is interesting about this app is that it also promotes their scientifically backed options for music therapy that offer a great source of safety for many of their users.
Countless studies have actually been conducted on the app itself and many positive outcomes have been attained by users around the world. The great thing about this app is that it’s free. The only catch is that it’s only available for Apple users.
Calm is one of my personal favorites and the one that I have used and gone back to again and again. There are a few reasons why I enjoy Calm so much, one of them being that it’s not limited to only music therapy, but offers meditations and other guided aids to help their customers reach an equilibrium when they’re having a tough day.
According to Calm, “We're the #1 app for Sleep, Meditation and Relaxation, with over 100 million downloads and over 1.5M+ 5-star reviews. We’re honored to be an Apple BEST OF 2018 award winner, Apple's App of the Year 2017, Google Play Editor's Choice 2018, and to be named by the Center for Humane Technology as "the world's happiest app.” They are recognized worldwide and also cater to not only English speaking countries, but other countries around the world as well.
Calm is free to download and costs $79.99 for premium access.
Headspace is another tried and true for many users. Headspace is committed to their customers and their motto is to create a happier environment for their users and anyone who is curious about it. There are many science-backed articles on their website that talk about the work that has been done behind the scenes to make Headspace a safe and enjoyable place for their users. According to Headspace, “Headspace is part of Headspace Health, the world’s most accessible, comprehensive provider of mental health and well-being care. Headspace Health also consists of Headspace for Work and Ginger, who partner with over 2,500 companies and health plans to provide access to meditation, mindfulness, coaching, therapy, and psychiatry to their members and employees.” Their reputation is also great and many celebrities and athletes use Headspace to calm and center themselves during stressful times.
Headspace is free to download and costs $69.99 for a year subscription
The four apps listed above have been apps that have helped many people by using music therapy and other methods. After reading this article, which app are you most excited to try? Let us know and happy jam sessions!
