Using music as a signal for biofeedback

Studies on the potential benefits of conveying biofeedback stimulus using a musical signal have appeared in recent years with the intent of harnessing the strong effects that music listening may have on subjects. While results are encouraging, the fundamental question has yet to be addressed, of how combined music and biofeedback compares to the already established use of either of these elements separately. This experiment, involving young adults (N = 24), compared the effectiveness at modulating participants' states of physiological arousal of each of the following conditions: A) listening to pre-recorded music, B) sonification biofeedback of the heart rate, and C) an algorithmically modulated musical feedback signal conveying the subject's heart rate. Our hypothesis was that each of the conditions (A), (B) and (C) would differ from the other two in the extent to which it enables participants to increase and decrease their state of physiological arousal, with (C) being more effective than (B), and both more than (A). Several physiological measures and qualitative responses were recorded and analyzed. Results show that using musical biofeedback allowed participants to modulate their state of physiological arousal at least equally well as sonification biofeedback, and much better than just listening to music, as reflected in their heart rate measurements, controlling for respiration-rate. Our findings indicate that the known effects of music in modulating arousal can therefore be beneficially harnessed when designing a biofeedback protocol.

Pandeiro-tekniikkaa perinteisessä sambassa ja uudemmassa populaarimusiikissa

Tavoitteeni opinnäytetyössä on esitellä erilaisia pandeiron soittotyylejä. Perinteisen tavan lisäksi esittelen uudemman tyylin, jota nimitän Suzano-tekniikaksi, joka muodostaa suuren osan työstä. Selvitän myös pandeiron käyttömahdollisuuksia populaarimusiikissa. Lisäksi selvitän tietoa pandeiro -soittimesta muille soittajille, sillä se on vielä varsin vieras soitin Suomessa. Työhöni olen kerännyt erilaista tietoa, mitä olen lukenut, kuullut ja nähnyt. Tieto on siis pääosin jo olemassa ollutta, mutta sen analysoiminen, kokoaminen yhteen ja yleisellä tasolla tietoon saattaminen ja esimerkkien avulla havainnollistaminen tuo mielestäni uutta tietoa pandeiron soitosta. Työni sisältääkin paljon nuottiesimerkkejä. Koska kyseessä on etninen soitin, on tärkeää tutustuttaa lukija myös soittimen rakenteeseen ja alkuperään. Työssä esittelen myös joitain yleisimpiä Koillis-Brasilian rytmejä, sillä brasilialaisessa populaarimusiikissa käytetään paljon elementtejä vanhoista ja perinteisistä rytmeistä. Tähän osioon olen valinnut sekä rumpusettityylisiä komppeja että lyömäsoitinfunktiossa olevia rytmejä, joilla täydennetään komppipohjaa. Työssä on myös mukana joitain ajatuksia pandeiron harjoitteluun. Olen suunnitellut harjoituksia pandeirolle käyttäen apuna tavallisia rumpukirjoja. Työhöni olen liittänyt DVD-levyn havainnollistamaan esimerkkejä, sillä pelkän kuulokuvan perusteella asiaan perehtymättömän on mahdotonta tietää, miten rytmit on soitettu.

Therapeutic benefits of body percussion using the BAPNE method

Body percussion using to the BAPNE method is a means of cognitive stimulation with multiple applications. The aim of this research is to assess their full potential as a source of therapy. The methodology used is theoretical in nature and makes use of a wide bibliography to find evidence for its therapeutic effect. In essence, body percussion can be seen to lead to improvements in three areas. the Physical, as it stimulates awareness of the body, control of movement and muscular strength, coordination and balance; the Mental, as it improves concentration, memory and perception; and finally Socio-affective, as it helps to build egalitarian relationships and leads to a decrease in anxiety in social interactions. This means of therapy has several different uses and it is targeted at different groups. In the present investigation we categorise them into five main groups: individuals with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease; individuals with learning disorders such as dyslexia or ADHD; patients affected by diseases of the spinal cord, cranial neuropathies and trauma (Neurorehabilitation); and for the treatment of addictive behavior (addiction); and depressive disorders or anxiety disorders.After thorough analysis, we have found scientific evidence that the therapeutic body percussion using the BAPNE method improves the quality of life of patients and it is an important factor in stabilizing the development of different diseases.In addition, evidence involving certain biological indicators (in control and experimental groups, and through a pre-test and post-test) show its effect on levels of stress and anxiety (reduction of cortisol), as well as improvement of social relations as a result of working as a group (increased levels of oxytocin), and improvements seen in self-esteem and in a variety of personal aspects through the Aspects of Identity questionnaire.

The theory of classical Greek music

Luettelointi kesken

Music-supported training is more efficient than functional motor training for recovery of fine motor skills in stroke patients

MOTOR IMPAIRMENTS ARE COMMON AFTER STROKE but efficacious therapies for these dysfunctions are scarce. Extending an earlier study on the effects of music-supported training (MST), behavioral indices of motor function were obtained before and after a series of training sessions to assess whether this new treatment leads to improved motor functions. Furthermore, music-supported training was contrasted to functional motor training according to the principles of constraint-induced therapy (CIT). In addition to conventional physiotherapy, 32 stroke patients with moderately impaired motor function and no previous musical experience received 15 sessions of MST over a period of three weeks, using a manualized, step-bystep approach. A control group consisting of 15 patients received 15 sessions of CIT in addition to conventional physiotherapy. A third group of 30 patients received exclusively conventional physiotherapy and served as a control group for the other three groups. Fine as well as gross motor skills were trained by using either a MIDI-piano or electronic drum pads programmed to emit piano tones. Motor functions were assessed by an extensive test battery. MST yielded significant improvement in fine as well as gross motor skills with respect to speed, precision, and smoothness of movements. These improvements were greater than after CIT or conventional physiotherapy. In conclusion, with equal treatment intensity, MST leads to more pronounced improvements of motor functions after stroke than CIT.

Chorali : [for 32 winds, percussion, harp and celesta]

Soitinnus: puhaltimet (32), lyömäsoittimet, harppu, celesta.

The Influence of spanish vihuela and lute music on the development of early seventeenth century english keyboard music as exemplified in the Fitzwilliam virginal book

Digitoitu 29.10 2008.

Funeral music

Digitoitu 16. 10. 2008.