Keyboard pedagogy and the future: lessons from human genome = research: an=20 interview with Barry B. Bittman, M.D. and Karl T. Bruhn

American Music=20 Teacher, Oct-Nov, = 2005=20 by Gary=20 L. Ingle

A groundbreaking study published in the international research = journal,=20 Medical Science Monitor (February 2005), demonstrated for the first time = that=20 learning to play a keyboard instrument reversed multiple components of = the human=20 stress response on the genomic level. The study's principal = investigator, Barry=20 Bittman, M.D. of the Mind-Body Medical Center explained that these = unique=20 findings shed new light not only on the value of active music = participation, but=20 also extend our understanding of individualized human biological stress=20 responses on an unprecedented level.

The following interview conducted by MTNA Executive Director Gary = Ingle,=20 presents a concise overview of the research in practical terms and = highlights=20 its importance for the future of keyboard pedagogy.

Most Popular Articles
in Arts

How to survive on ...
Heritage and ...
Historic plantations ...
How to make your own ...
Feng Shui, Astrology, ...
More= =20 =C2=BB

GI: Gentlemen I'd like to thank you for accepting our offer for this=20 interview. I'm certain that the research we're about to discuss is=20 extraordinarily important for our membership. Dr. Bittman, your = inspirational=20 keynote presented at our annual meeting continues to spark ongoing = interest and=20 excitement. I personally believe that all of our members need to become = aware of=20 your fascinating work. Could you begin by explaining your reasons for = performing=20 this study.

BB: Gary, allow me to begin by thanking you and your organization for = this=20 exceptional forum. It has been, and continues to be, an honor to present = our=20 work to MTNA. The impact your organization and its members have on the = future of=20 music education in our society cannot be underestimated. The = underpinnings of=20 this study clearly extend the lifetime work of Karl Bruhn, who is often = referred=20 to as the "Father of Music Making and Wellness." Karl's dedication and=20 commitment to extending the joy of music making throughout the world = inspired=20 the performance of this and the other research studies we've conducted = over the=20 past seven years.

Our principal objective is to scientifically explore and demonstrate = the=20 inherent value and health benefits of active music participation. In = addition,=20 we strive to inspire people who are erroneously convinced they are not = "musical"=20 to discover the joy and health benefits of playing a musical instrument. = We've=20 set forth to steadily build a solid foundation of biological and = psychosocial=20 evidence that establishes recreational music making's value as a = practical,=20 affordable and sustainable strategy for preserving or reestablishing the = gift of=20 a healthy life.

GI: Karl, as a highly respected music products industry leader, = you've=20 committed a great deal of your life to extending the benefits of music = making=20 throughout the world. Your work with Dr. Bittman is clearly changing our = overall=20 perception of the value of learning to play a musical instrument. How = did you=20 get started?

KB: Gary, your question takes me way back to my childhood. My career = began=20 when my mother was told I had asthma. In those days we didn't have the = kind of=20 treatments that exist today. Our family doctor instead prescribed a move = to a=20 dryer climate and wind instrument lessons. I suppose that prescription = changed=20 my life. It's still working today.

Reflecting back over my early years as a musician, there's a part of = me that=20 always appreciated the value of playing a musical instrument. As a music = products industry executive, not a day's passed without an inspirational = story=20 of how playing a musical instrument changed or saved a person's = life.

In my retirement, it's been very clear to me that such an awareness = must be=20 extended to the many people who can potentially benefit from playing a = musical=20 instrument, especially in these challenging times. My work with Dr. = Bittman is=20 simply a way of giving back to society even a fraction of what I've = received=20 through music.

GI: Dr. Bittman, before we discuss your landmark study, could you = provide a=20 short overview of the research that led to this study?

BB: Essentially we began in the late 1990s with an exploration of the = biological benefits of group drumming. That study, published in = Alternative=20 Therapies in Health and Medicine in 2000, as the first controlled = scientific=20 investigation to demonstrate a statistically significant boost of immune = function attributable to playing a musical instrument. The activity of = "natural=20 killer" cells, specialized white blood cells that seek out and destroy = cancer=20 cells and virally infected cells, increased in our subjects who = participated in=20 what later become known as the Remo HealthRHYTHMS protocol.

Based upon our findings, we proceeded to explore the multidimensional = benefits of recreational music making in a highly stressed long-term = care=20 workforce plagued by excessive turnover. Our study, published in = Advances in=20 Mind Body Medicine in 2003, demonstrated remarkable reductions of mood=20 disturbances and employee burnout that persisted after completion of a = six-week=20 group-based program that incorporated hand drums and a Clavinova. A=20 comprehensive independent review of our data performed by a leading = healthcare=20 economic consulting firm projected enhanced employee retention and = remarkable=20 cost savings attributable to the intervention. Actual savings exceeded = these=20 projections. Close to $500,000 was ultimately saved in a long-term care = facility=20 as a result of our intervention.

1 - 2 -=20 3 -=20 4 -=20 5 -=20 6 -=20 7 -=20 8 -=20 9 -=20 10 -=20 Next

Find Research Guides for:

=20

Abo= rtion=20
ADHD=20
AIDS=20
Al= ternative=20 Energy=20
Alter= native=20 Medicine=20
Cance= r=20
Ca= pital=20 Punishment=20
Clon= ing=20
Hate=20 Crime=20
Cry= onics=20
Drug=20 Abuse=20
Eating=20 Disorders=20
Gay=20 Issues=20
Glo= bal=20 Warming=20
Holi= days=20
= Immigration=20
Medi= cal=20
Me= n's=20 Health=20
Mental=20 Health=20
R= eal=20 Estate=20
St= em=20 Cells=20
= Women's=20 Health

Find Featured Titles for: News

=20

Advocate, = The=20
Air & = Space=20 Power Journal=20
Air Force = Journal of=20 Logistics=20
Air Force = Law=20 Review=20
Air Force=20 Speeches=20
Airman =
All = Hands=20
American = Forests=20
American = Journal of=20 Economics and Sociology, The=20
Approach=20
Ebony=20
Mother = Jones=20
National = Review=20
New = Statesman=20
Reason =
Washington = Monthly

Explore Publications in:

Keyboard pedagogy and the future: lessons from human genome = research: an=20 interview with Barry B. Bittman, M.D. and Karl T. Bruhn

Related Results

Most Popular Articles
in Arts

Advertisement

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: News

Explore Publications in:

Keyboard pedagogy and the future: lessons from human genome = research: an=20 interview with Barry B. Bittman, M.D. and Karl T. Bruhn

Related Results

Most Popular Articlesin Arts

Advertisement

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: News

Most Popular Articles
in Arts