Thursday, February 25, 2010

Singing 'rewires' damaged brain

I was reading a BBC article by Victoria Gill a Science reporter for the BBC News in San Diego.
Synopsis:
Teaching stroke patients to sing "rewires" their brains, helping them recover their speech, say scientists.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8526699.stm

So I thought I would look at what the Bahá’í Faith has to say about music, since that is particularly relevant to the Core Activity arts and crafts.

We, verily, have made music as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they may be lifted up unto the realm on high; make it not, therefore, as wings to self and passion.

(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 38)

In sooth, although music is a material affair, yet its tremendous effect is spiritual, and its greatest attachment is to the realm of the spirit.

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 412)

This wonderful age has rent asunder the veils of superstition and has condemned the prejudice of the people of the East. Among some of the nations of the Orient, music and harmony was not approved of, but the Manifested Light, Bahá'u'lláh, in this glorious period has revealed in Holy Tablets that singing and music are the spiritual food of the hearts and souls. In this dispensation, music is one of the arts that is highly approved and is considered to be the cause of the exaltation of sad and desponding hearts.
Therefore ... set to music the verses and the divine words so that they may be sung with soul-stirring melody in the Assemblies and gatherings, and that the hearts of the listeners may become tumultuous and rise towards the Kingdom of Abha in supplication and prayer.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 377)

Endeavor your utmost to compose beautiful poems to be chanted with heavenly music; thus may their beauty affect the minds and impress the hearts of those who listen.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v1, p. 59)

What a wonderful meeting this is! These are the children of the Kingdom. The song we have just listened to was very beautiful in melody and words. The art of music is divine and effective. It is the food of the soul and spirit. Through the power and charm of music the spirit of man is uplifted. It has wonderful sway and effect in the hearts of children, for their hearts are pure, and melodies have great influence in them. The latent talents with which the hearts of these children are endowed will find expression through the medium of music. Therefore, you must exert yourselves to make them proficient; teach them to sing with excellence and effect. It is incumbent upon each child to know something of music, for without knowledge of this art the melodies of instrument and voice cannot be rightly enjoyed. Likewise, it is necessary that the schools teach it in order that the souls and hearts of the pupils may become vivified and exhilarated and their lives be brightened with enjoyment.

(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 52)

It is clearly a powerful tool for reaching hearts and minds, that can be incorporated in all our activities.
Before those who know me ask; "are you going to start singing?", the answer is NO but I will deputise, and as always have my finger ready to hit the "play button"


No comments:

Post a Comment