Music to Patients' Ears

患者的福「音」
Music calms, comforts and may even heal 病患們驚喜地發現，音樂治療的確有益健康
by Lisa Holl Chang

Throughout time, people have loved music for its ability to transport them into a world of rhythm and melody. Recently, more and more hospitals and clinics have been tapping into the power of music – not only to comfort patients, but to help them heal as well. Welcome to the world of music therapy.

After each of the two world wars, musicians visited hospitals and played instruments for injured soldiers suffering from emotional and physical pain. Today’s music therapists continue this practice, playing instruments such as guitars and harps to bring comfort to their audiences.

Therapist Eric Mammen encourages his patients at a children's hospital to participate with him as he plays. During visits with 13-year-old cancer patient Lawrence Garcia, Mammen encourages Garcia to beat on electric drums while he plays the guitar. The therapy won't cure his cancer, but it does according to Garcia's mom, take away much of the boy's depression.

Music therapy can elevate patients' moods and ease the symptoms of depression according to the American Music Therapy Association. Other benefits include relieving pain, calming tension, aiding sleep, counteracting worry or fear, and easing muscle tension.

Jose Haro personally experienced the benefits of music therapy when he was recovering from heart surgery. During his recovery, he played a piano whose keys lit up, indicating which keys to touch to play along with the background music. Soon, he was playing tunes and noticing something strange. "I was searching for my pain." he says of his experience, "but it was gone".

While Haro's experience provides anecdotal evidence of the power of music to relieve pain, scientific research has proven music also helps patients with Alzheimer's disease and arthritis. In addition, music therapy helps premature babies. Doctors are tapping into a powerful way to teach premature babies that haven't yet learned how to suck lullabies. Doctors use a device that soothes the babies by playing music when they suck on a pacifier. Soon, the babies learn to suck in return for music gaining weight faster and going home earlier than those ho don't use the device.

Even perfectly healthy people are discovering the power of music to calm and heal. Drum circles attract people who find stress relief in pounding out rhythms. While music isn't a cure-all, it does make life a little easier.

More Information
What Is Music Therapy?
According to the American Music Therapy Association, "Music therapy is an established health care profession that uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages. "Music therapy not only helps those recovering from disabilities or illnesses but also improves the quality of life for healthy individuals. So, what are you waiting for? Go listen to some music!

Grammar
Soon, the babies learn to suck in return for music...
in return for (idiom)-payment or an exchange for something.
The babies soon learn to suck in exchange for music.
Brian is willing to mow the lawn for his parents in return for some extra spending money.
In return for your kindness, I would like to invite you out for dinner.

Vocabulary
tap into (phr.v)- Our group decided to tap into the experiences of other parents with physically challenged children.
therapist (n)-a person has special training help particular people to have better performance.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones decided to see a marriage therapist to help them resolve a problem.
a physical therapist-复健治疗师
a language/a speech therapist-语言治疗师
therapist-一般指"心理医生" therapy (n)-复健治疗法.
elevate (v)-lift up
Listening to music is a great way to elevate one's spirits.
counteract (v) -起反作用,抵消,中和. counter 反方向, act 起作用.
Exercise will help to counteract the side effects of the medicine you're taking.
*Antioxidants can counteract the effects of aging.
*Grapefruit juice sometimes counteracts the effects of medicine.
tap into something- Many companies tapped into the cheap labor of this country to make a fortune.
*She's capable of tapping into many wealthy investors.
participate-take part in..
depression- a medical condition, cause people feel sad and anxious.
tension-tense, tightness, very nervous.
anecdotal (adj)-观察式的,趣闻, 有证据.
Harry's description of the accident is only anecdotal. We don't know the facts.
*This report mostly consists of anecdotal evidence.
*the anecdotes of celebrities, anecdote (n)传闻,趣闻.
premature (adj)-早产的,草率的,仓促,发展较慢pre-before, mature-fully grown.
This premature baby is at a greater risk for infection than a full-term baby.
*Brenda was born a premature infant, and that's why she has developed more slowly.
*The decision seems a little premature without consulting others.
soothe (v)-安慰,使平静.make someone calmer, less tense紧张, soothing令人放松的气氛.
Whenever her baby cries uncontrollably, Mary soothes him by singing softly and patting him on the back.
*The soft texture of the blanket can soothe her.柔软的质料.
*I love the soothing atmosphere of the spa.
*Massages can soothe tense muscles.
cure-all (n) -My mom thinks this vitamin is a cure-all for all kinds of problems, but I don't believe her.
Alzheimer's disease-forget things badly.
arthritis-joints painful disease.
suck-pull from.. lullabies-lullaby (n)摇篮曲,轻风的声音,任何轻柔的声音 , pacifier-奶嘴

Chat Room
music to one's ears-very pleasant news to a person, very enjoy.
It's music to my ears - 听到好消息或是一句好话,很开心,就可说..
all ears- is eager to hear someone going to say. 洗耳恭听
falling on deaf ears- you call for help but people don't respond, ignore by people.掉在耳聋的耳朵上. 意思是"没听进去".
wet behind the ears- refer to young, less experienced, as a baby animal born, very wet. 耳朵后面还湿的, 指年轻, 涉世未深, 没什么经验的
an earful-have heard enough, get an earful.耳朵被塞满.(比较负面的意思)
I got earful of her chatter. 听够了没完没了的话.The boy had earful of scold. 好好的挨了一顿骂.
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He played a piano whose keys lit up=钢琴的琴键会发光the keys of which(此用法太正式,念起来也绕口)
whose is who and as well as which. 所有格,用于人也可以用于无生命的东西上.
The car, whose engine is old, still runs smoothly.
Who is 的缩写= Who's, Who is coming = Who's coming.