Music Therapy and Memorial Day

Memorial Day is known as the unofficial start to summer, with cookouts and celebrations galore, but, believe it or not, the history of music therapy has strong ties with the military. I wanted to take some time in this blog post to just re-educate about what Memorial Day is (since it sometimes gets mixed up with Veteran’s Day) and talk a little bit about the history of Music Therapy.

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. Memorial Day was born out of the Civil War with the desire to honor those who had passed on. During those times of war, particularly the Civil War and World War II, music was known to be a way to cope with loss, and remember, memorialize, and honor the fallen – as we still continue to do to this day.

What does all this have to do with Music Therapy you might ask?

By the conclusion of World War II, many medical facilities started recognizing the value of music as therapy, although the practice still wasn’t referred to as music therapy. During war, and after, music as therapy (what we now refer to as music therapy) was used to boost the moral of returning veterans. Additionally, it was used in the rehabilitation of leisure skills, socialization, and physical and emotional functioning. Some historians have even concluded that music used in military hospitals during the war paved the way for the music therapy profession. I’ll talk more about this development in my next post…

Fast forward 70 years:  present day – 2015.

We live in a society that is go go go, and when Memorial Day comes, the immediate thought that comes to most is “three day weekend.” I want to challenge you all to remember this upcoming holiday weekend, that our ability to celebrate didn’t come without sacrifice. How can you honor the fallen during your celebrations? Hint *Spotify has some awesome patriotic playlists*. Below, I’ve included the poem “In Flanders Fields” which has been set to music by a multitude of composers. I encourage you to spend some time on Youtube or iTunes in some downtime and listen to an arrangement or two – they are truly touching. Here is a link to my favorite arrangement: https://youtu.be/CdVT1XjNFWE   

Stay tuned for my next post – it will be a continued discussion of music, the history of music therapy and the military. You won’t want to miss it!

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields

Resources

(2009). In flanders fields. Retrieved from http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm

(2014). Memorial day: History. Retrieved from www.usmemorialday.org

American Music Therapy Association (2014). Music therapy and military populations. Retrieved from http://www.musictherapy.org/research/music_therapy_and_military_populations/

Amir, D., Bensimon, M., & Wolf, Y. (2008). Drumming through trauma: Music therapy with post-traumatic soldiers. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 35, 34-48.

Davis, W.B., Gfeller, K.E., & Thaut, M.H. (2008). An introduction to music therapy: Theory and practice (3rd ed.). Silver Spring, MD: American Music Therapy Association, Inc.

Rorke, M.A. (1996). Music and the wounded of world war II.  Journal of Music Therapy, 33, 189-207.

Sullivan, J.M. (2007). Music for the injured soldier. Journal of Music Therapy, XLIV, 282-305.