Hands pounded the conference table. Feet stomped. And chants of “oooh, ooooh, wah” drifted into the corridor. Another vibrant debate at innovation consultancy Fahrenheit 212? Nope. We were deep in musical therapy and enjoying every minute of its restorative results.
Lucinda Anne Butler, a professional musician and clinical music therapist with the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, recently shared the healing power of her work with us. Luci and the IMNF use music and rhythmic techniques to treat neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, multiple sclerosis, developmental delay, and many others.
We learned how music ¬– when listened to or performed – lights up multiple areas of the brain and can help improve neurologic functions including memory, physical coordination, speech and emotional balance. Luci is involved in several research projects to gather clinical data on how well music assists with healing neural pathways and improving patient outcomes.
Luci closed by conducting us in a symphonic arrangement of the “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” featuring Jon on triangle, Alex on claves and Nithya working the finger cymbals. What a treat of a treatment. And it works; we all felt better having taken Luci’s melodic medicine.