The healing power of music

The use of music as a form of therapy dates back to Ancient Greece, where philosophers like Pythagoras and Plato explored its impact on health, emotions, and moral character. Indigenous communities around the world have also long recognized the healing benefits of music. However, the earliest known reference to music as a treatment method appeared in the 10th century in The Great Book of Music, where philosopher and scientist Al-Farabi analyzed not only the mathematical and physical foundations of music but also its psychological and therapeutic effects on the soul and body.

While the Islamic world developed an empirical use of music for healing as early as the medieval period (during the Abbasid and Ottoman empires), it was not until the discovery of neurons in the late 19th century and the rise of neuroscience that the Western world advanced an evidence-based approach to music therapy. This shift led to the establishment of professional associations and a more refined, research-grounded definition of music therapy.

Music therapy as a formal profession began to develop after World Wars I and II when musicians performed for veterans suffering from physical and emotional trauma. The positive responses of patients led to the hiring of musicians in hospitals. This development highlighted the need for hospital musicians to receive prior training, creating a demand for formal college curricula.

The first music therapy college programs were established in the 1940s in the United States. Certification followed, and since 1986, professional associations in Europe and the United States have governed the standards and qualifications required, ensuring quality and consistency in the discipline. In the Arab world, music therapy education is still developing, with formal degree programs offered only in Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia.

A key factor driving the profession’s growth is the rapid development of neuroscience and the increasing body of research supporting the health benefits of music therapy. Technologies such as functional MRI and PET scans have demonstrated that listening to music can lower cortisol levels and trigger the release of neurotransmitters in various parts of the brain, leading to improvements in stress, pain perception, and blood pressure. Additionally, discoveries about the effect of rhythms on the motor nervous system have led to the development of new tools for speech therapy and physiotherapy.

Music therapy has also been shown to target individualized goals, such as reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma; regulating physiological responses like heart rate and respiration; enhancing cognitive functions such as attention and memory; and facilitating emotional expression and social interaction.

Despite these health benefits, the profession still faces challenges,  including poor awareness of the difference between music therapy—which is led by a certified music therapist—and therapeutic music, where music is used by any individual to promote wellbeing without specific therapeutic claims. Continuing to build robust evidence for the effectiveness of music therapy while ensuring that recipients trust it as a legitimate healthcare intervention remains an ongoing challenge.

While much of the research on music therapy has focused on Western music, the therapeutic potential of Middle Eastern or Arabic music has been largely unexplored, particularly in light of developments in neuroscience and the use of evidence-based frameworks.

Dr. Ghizlane Bendriss, a neuroscientist and faculty member at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, has been at the forefront of pioneering research into the effects of Arab Music Maqams (the melodic system used in Middle Eastern music) on brain physiology and emotions. She led Qatar’s first registered neuromusicology clinical trial, which focused on Maqam Saba and Kurd. This traditional Arabic musical mode is known for its emotional depth, as highlighted in the work of Al-Farabi and Avicenna. Using the iconic melody Howa Sahih El Hawa Ghalab by Zakaria Ahmed and famously performed by Umm Kulthum, it became the first Arabic song scientifically studied using electroencephalogram (EEG) and psychological assessments. Findings showed that Arab listeners felt more sadness, especially when the Ney instrument was used, and displayed stronger emotional brain activity, with increased gamma waves compared to non-Arab listeners. This first data set suggests that cultural background shapes the perception of music and supports the use of culturally meaningful music in emotional healing and therapy, especially for communities facing grief and trauma.

To deepen her understanding of traditional Middle Eastern music, Dr. Bendriss studies the Ney at the Qatar Music Academy (QMA) and regularly performs in concerts across the country, a passion that greatly supports her academic research into music.

In collaboration with international experts, Dr. Bendriss also teaches the region’s first accredited course on Training in Music-Based Interventions. This continuing professional development course equips healthcare professionals with tools to help individuals build self-esteem, express emotions, and address speech and motor deficits associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Dr. Bendriss said: “Music is a powerful tool that can stimulate neuroplasticity, fostering new connections between different parts of the brain. It is not only an invaluable tool that can be integrated into therapies across various disciplines, but studies also demonstrate its potential in childhood education for brain development. Looking ahead, integrative approaches that combine music therapy with other disciplines will help create more holistic plans, while environmental and cultural considerations will lead to a shift toward precision music-based interventions.” 

Music therapy has evolved from its ancient roots into a clinical and evidence-based discipline. Its global acceptance, including the licensing of music therapists in countries like Qatar, reflects a growing recognition of the therapeutic benefits of music and the importance of integrating it into national healthcare systems.