E-Book of Articles - World Federation of Music Therapy

Nuki, Michiko et al: Effects Of Healing Music On Endocrinological Changes
3-1 Procedure of selecting music
Since the 1970s, Nuki has researched the composition characteristics
of sedative and active music through experiments using a polygraph and EEG
tests. The results of these experiments showed that sedative music includes
the following characteristics:
(1) harmonic music with soft or floating consonant tones
(2) music with relaxed, slow and beautiful melodies
(3) minimal music with repeated, simple rhythms
Based on these results and on other references, the following eight pieces
considered to be "healing" were selected after listening to a number of
music pieces from around the world.
Table 1: Music used
(1) Magic found within ethnic music African drum rhythms
(2) The eternal world Mongolian lullaby
(3) The roots of the Japanese Japanese shakuhachi (vertical
(4) The origins of Western music Gregorian chant
(5) Harmonic music with beautiful
tones
bamboo flute) "Movement of Wind"
Background music " Sunlight and
Forest "
(6) Repeated rhythms Background music "Ivory Tower"
(7) A two-part composition Background music "Dream / Illusion"
(8) Stimulative music (This piece was
chosen to determine the validity of
the questionnaire.)
3-2 Subjects
(a combination of nos. 5 & 6)
Bartok, sonata for piano and
percussion, 3rd movement
(1) Based on the hypothesis that there is an "age difference" regarding
"healing music", 31 healthy men and women in their twenties and fifties who
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