Music: good for what ails you

We use music like a soundtrack for our
lives: it reflects our personalities, motivates us
to work in an exercise class or takes the
boredom out of a long drive.

And that’s no surprise to instructor
Nancy McMaster who co-ordinates and teaches
the Music Therapy Program.

“Music reaches almost everyone — it
shifts moods and lifts spirts,” she says.

That’s the premise on which music
therapy is based: the elderly, the mentally
handicapped and the emotionally disturbed can
use music to improve the quality of their lives.

“In everyday life music is used to
motivate: it can help memory or it can improve
co-ordination. For the disabled, involving their
minds, bodies or emtions — whatever part is
disabled — is therapeutic. “

Music therapy is particularly helpful to
patients who either can’t or won’t speak. Nancy
says many graduates of the program work in
old-age homes with patients who are tired of life
and have stopped talking to one another.

“They’re often just waiting to die, so we
use music to bring people together and get them
singing and socializing.”

For some patients music is the only way
of communicating, and Nancy says some learn
to express themselves eloquently without using
speech.

“Patients who are frustrated can use a
drum to be heard as forcefully as they’re feeling
inside, and music is a socially acceptable way of
expressing frustration.”

Music is also a great stress reliever.
Nancy says research shows that certain tempos
can affect heart rate and breathing, making
music useful in treating anxiety attacks and
other stress symptoms.

Nancy’s favourite stress-busting tunes

are baroque.

“Tt stills my mind.”

The Music Therapy department also |
produces a relaxation tape, Simple Fare,
available for $7.50. For more information call
Nancy McMaster at 2307 or attend Music
Therapy’s open house on Tuesday, March 15
from 8-9:30 p.m.

Women’s Rights

The Women’s Legal Education and
Action Fund (LEAF) is sponsoring a video
and lecture on the Charter of Rights, Section
15, Women’s Rights on March 16 at noon in
Building M , room 102. Feel free to bring
your lunch. Everyone is welcome.

Letter to the editor

Dear Informer:

Not that I would ever miss a deadline and
need to resort to bribery, but, in the
unlikely event that I want to buy a
bottle of Veuve Clicquot, do I enter a
liquor store, perfume shop or Canadian
Tire?

Sincerely,

Robert A. Campbell

History

(Ed. note: Mr. Campbell is currently
researching a book on liquor stores. We
are happy to contribute to his work by
telling him that Veuve-Clicquot is
excellent champagne and may be found
in most B.C. L.D. stores. We at the
Informer recommend it highly.)