Autism In Renaissance Music

Music has been a part of human culture for thousands of years: the ancient Egyptians credited the goddess Bat with the invention of music; in ancient Greece they believed that gymnastics disciplined the body and music disciplined the mind to create the ideal person; Mesopotamians believed that music was a way to communicate with gods and goddesses. Since 30 B.C. music has continued to evolve alongside humans and their unique cultures and practices. The Gregorian chant of the Middle Ages (500-1400) was somber, non-rhythmic, vocal music unaccompanied by instruments. Music during the Renaissance period (1400-1600) was very literal and emotional as this was a time of rebirth in subjects like art and science. The period following the Renaissance

Autism can begin before the age of three and lasts throughout a person’s life. If a child at six months old is unable to respond to sounds that occur close by or produce vowel sounds, they may have autism. In addition to having varying degrees of social impairment, children with autism lack emotional recognition skills. Facial expressions like a smile or frown are difficult for them to interpret. The part of the brain that understands and develops music is fully functional in children with autism and can be used as a tool to enhance areas in which they are not as keen. A study from the Journal of Music Therapy in 2004 found that when music was used with children with autism, their behavior, communication, and focus improved. A study conducted in 2012 used weekly music therapy sessions to see if music had an affect on the behavior of restless children with autism. What this study found was that over half of the children improved their behavior and social interactions after being exposed to music therapy. Another study conducted in 2006 found that children with autism who listened to steady music for two weeks had a decrease in behaviors associated with anxiety. Children with autism are more affected by and prone to anxiety and its accompanying debilitations. As a result, the best music to soothe their bodies and ease their minds is rhythmic and

Music can make a person happy or sad, make them want to relax or get up and dance. Music has been with humans since ancient times and it still manages to strike a chord within all of us. It has a way of synchronizing people and engaging them in a common activity. How we perceive music and decide on musical preferences is related to our emotional experiences and the memories that are stored in our brains. For years scientists have known the mechanism for hearing and the how the brain processes sound. The brain’s response to music, however, is much more complex. With new imaging techniques and machines like the functional MRI, neuroscientists and researchers are able to get a better look at what goes on inside the brain. Although the brain is still a difficult organ to study, progress is being made in the exploration of its function. In addition, the use of music, specifically, to help people with neurological disorders is advancing immensely. Researchers are now able to use music to help patients with Alzheimer’s remember again and playing instruments is helping children become smarter. Foundations like The Harmony Project and Music and Memory are helping to raise awareness of the helpfulness of music. The Harmony Project brings music to less fortunate