Music has a multitude of healing properties which have been well documented in people for many years. Now a handful of harpists throughout the country are harnessing that power for pets.
The structure of the harp is considered to be the most healing instrument, second only to the human voice.
Hospitalized dogs at a Florida veterinary clinic enjoyed a variety of hour-long harp sessions which were reported to immediately reduce heart rates and slow breathing. In addition, many of the dogs appeared to be calmer and less stressed.
Cows enjoy music
Dogs aren’t the only animals benefiting from the harp’s good vibrations; cows enjoy the music as well.
Cassie, a black and white cow, lives at the Maple Farm Sanctuary in Mendon, Mass. She arrived there last year after jumping a 7-foot-high fence to escape from a slaughter house.
Even though Cassie is now living the good life, she has suffered from anxiety-related behavioral issues. One morning, for example, her caretaker, Russell walked into the barn to find the 1,500 pound Holstein snorting and stomping. “I was little bit afraid for my safety, I have to say, for the first time,” said Russell. Although not sure what upset Cassie, Russell decided to try calming her by playing a CD of harp songs. Within 20 minutes, Russell said, Cassie dozed off.
Gorillas love the harp At the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, a gorilla group appreciated a live harp performance a few years ago. The youngest member, named Little Joe, even blew the harpist a kiss before falling asleep. It’s not a magic pill, but for certain animals it works very well.
Certain harp vibrations can be used to resonate with, cellular rhythms, which help to reduce muscle tension, calm anxiety, improve digestion, induce restful sleep, and increase the body’s natural pain killers, called endorphins, which help the body to heal itself.
This holds true for a variety of people and pets.
Pet CD "Harp of Hope," is a collection of 17 songs, which was originally recorded for people but last year an animal edition was released after owners reported it helped their arthritic dogs fall asleep and calmed their agitated cats.
Veterinarian, Dr. Carol Osborne also acknowledges the CD’s success in soothing nervous pets and their owners. Most pets start to relax after listening for a few minutes. Playing the music before and/or during a stressful situation promotes a calm environment for all.
It is interesting to note that every detail of the harp, including the tempos, rhythms, keys, note intervals, chord structures and plucking techniques, are carefully arranged to promote progressive peace and relaxation.
“Music is a low cost calming alternative for people, pets and veterinary offices that’s definitely worth a try,” says Osborne.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Music and Animals: An 1898 Accounting
I love the thought of animals responding to music, whether it's the way we respond or a totally different way. While poking around online last night I came across a fascinating historic (1898) account of how music affects numerous different species! Enjoy!
ANIMALS AND MUSIC.
ONE of our poets is authority for the statement that "music hath power to sooth the savage breast," but experiments have recently been made in Lincoln Park, Chicago, The American Naturalist tells us, to determine with scientific accuracy the effects of violin playing on certain animals."Music which was slow and sweet, like 'Home, Sweet Home' or 'Annie Laurie,' pleased the Panthers, a jaguar, and a Lioness with her cubs. The Panthers became nervous and twitched their tails when a lively jig, 'The Irish Washerwoman,' was played to them, and relapsed into their former quiet when the music again became soothing.""The Jaguar was so nervous during the jig music that he jumped from a shelf to the floor of his cage and back again. When the player ceased playing and walked away, the Jaguar reached out his paw to him as far as he could. His claws were drawn back."
"The Lioness and her cubs were interested from the first, though when the violinist approached the cage the mother gave a hiss, and the cubs hid behind her. At the playing of a lively jig, the cubs stood up on their hind legs and peeped over at the player. When the musician retreated from the cage, the animals came to the front of it and did not move back when he gradually drew so near as almost to touch the great paws which were thrust through the bars. When playing 'Home, Sweet Home,' the entire family seemed very attentive, and were motionless except that the cubs turned their heads from side to side. Then another jig was played and the cubs pranced about.""The Coyotes in a den, squatted in a semicircle, and sat silently while the music continued. When it ceased, they ran up and pawed at the player through the bars. He began afresh, and they again formed in a silent semicircle. This experiment was tried several times with the same results."
Of late years the Sea Gulls have found it so much to their interest to come up to the Thames in our midst that their graceful evolutions around the crowded bridges in ever growing flocks has almost ceased to excite notice. But this year, as never before, they have descended upon the water of St. James Park in such great numbers that their presence must considerably exercise the minds of those responsible for the welfare of the other wild fowl there. They may be seen sometimes resting upon the surface of the eastern half of the lake in sufficient number almost to hide the water.
And at the luncheon hour, when released workers throng bank and bridge, bestowing upon the water the scanty fragments of their frugal meals, the gulls, on ready wing, with an agility born of long practice over stormy seas, give the clumsier Ducks and Geese hard work to obtain even a small share of what is going. Not so long ago a piece of plain bread might often float uneaten until it sank waterlogged for the benefit of the fish. It is so no longer. No crumb now goes a-begging or is scouted by any of the old habitues as beneath their notice. — London Paper.
ANIMALS AND MUSIC.
ONE of our poets is authority for the statement that "music hath power to sooth the savage breast," but experiments have recently been made in Lincoln Park, Chicago, The American Naturalist tells us, to determine with scientific accuracy the effects of violin playing on certain animals."Music which was slow and sweet, like 'Home, Sweet Home' or 'Annie Laurie,' pleased the Panthers, a jaguar, and a Lioness with her cubs. The Panthers became nervous and twitched their tails when a lively jig, 'The Irish Washerwoman,' was played to them, and relapsed into their former quiet when the music again became soothing.""The Jaguar was so nervous during the jig music that he jumped from a shelf to the floor of his cage and back again. When the player ceased playing and walked away, the Jaguar reached out his paw to him as far as he could. His claws were drawn back."
"The Lioness and her cubs were interested from the first, though when the violinist approached the cage the mother gave a hiss, and the cubs hid behind her. At the playing of a lively jig, the cubs stood up on their hind legs and peeped over at the player. When the musician retreated from the cage, the animals came to the front of it and did not move back when he gradually drew so near as almost to touch the great paws which were thrust through the bars. When playing 'Home, Sweet Home,' the entire family seemed very attentive, and were motionless except that the cubs turned their heads from side to side. Then another jig was played and the cubs pranced about.""The Coyotes in a den, squatted in a semicircle, and sat silently while the music continued. When it ceased, they ran up and pawed at the player through the bars. He began afresh, and they again formed in a silent semicircle. This experiment was tried several times with the same results."
Of late years the Sea Gulls have found it so much to their interest to come up to the Thames in our midst that their graceful evolutions around the crowded bridges in ever growing flocks has almost ceased to excite notice. But this year, as never before, they have descended upon the water of St. James Park in such great numbers that their presence must considerably exercise the minds of those responsible for the welfare of the other wild fowl there. They may be seen sometimes resting upon the surface of the eastern half of the lake in sufficient number almost to hide the water.
And at the luncheon hour, when released workers throng bank and bridge, bestowing upon the water the scanty fragments of their frugal meals, the gulls, on ready wing, with an agility born of long practice over stormy seas, give the clumsier Ducks and Geese hard work to obtain even a small share of what is going. Not so long ago a piece of plain bread might often float uneaten until it sank waterlogged for the benefit of the fish. It is so no longer. No crumb now goes a-begging or is scouted by any of the old habitues as beneath their notice. — London Paper.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Doggies like Christmas Music Too!
This is the cutest video! Sorry it's a little late, but I just found it tonight and wanted to share it with you! Stay warm!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Sick Dogs and Cats Treated by Harpists
This article appeared Monday on MSNBC.com...enjoy!
The healing power of music has long been established in people. Now a handful of harpists throughout the country are harnessing that power for animals.
Alianna Boone is one of those musicians.
“The structure of the harp is considered to be the most healing instruments next to human voice,” said Boone, an Oregonian who plays for ill family pets and produced a CD "Harp Music to Soothe the Savage Beast."
Alianna Boone is one of those musicians.
“The structure of the harp is considered to be the most healing instruments next to human voice,” said Boone, an Oregonian who plays for ill family pets and produced a CD "Harp Music to Soothe the Savage Beast."
While anecdotal reports abound, Boone conducted one of the few studies on harp music’s effect on animals. In 2000, she performed for recently hospitalized canines at a Florida veterinary clinic. The hour-long sessions immediately began to lower heart rate, anxiety, and respiration in many cases, she said.
Cow control
Cow control
Dogs aren’t the only animals benefiting from the good vibrations. Cassie, a black and white cow, lives at the Maple Farm Sanctuary in Mendon, Mass., with about 80 other unwanted livestock. She arrived there last year after jumping a 7-foot-high fence to escape from a slaughter house, said volunteer Tracie Russell. Even though the cow is now living the good life, it has demonstrated anxiety-related behavior issues. On a recent morning, for example, Russell walked into the barn to find the 1,500 pound Holstein snorting and stomping. “I was little bit afraid for my safety, I have to say, for the first time,” said Russell. She’s not sure what upset Cassie but decided to try calming her by playing a CD of harp songs. Within 20 minutes, Russell said, the bovine dozed off.
Rave gorilla reviews At the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, a gorilla group appreciated Sue Raimond’s live harp performance a few years ago. The youngest member, named Little Joe, even blew her a kiss before falling asleep.
Rave gorilla reviews At the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, a gorilla group appreciated Sue Raimond’s live harp performance a few years ago. The youngest member, named Little Joe, even blew her a kiss before falling asleep.
Both wild and domestic animals can benefit from music therapy but not all of them respond to it. “It’s not a magic bullet,” cautions Diane Schneider, who produced "Harp of Hope: Animal Therapy Edition," the music that lulled Cassie. “But for animals for which it works, it works incredibly well.”
Schneider trained at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Later, as a pastoral theologian and hospital chaplain, she began to use the harp with hospitalized human patients.
"I use certain harp vibrations to resonate with, or entrain, a patient's own cellular rhythms to help release tense muscle tissue, calm anxiety, improve digestion, induce restful sleep, increase endorphins for pain management — to aid the body's own efforts to heal itself," Schneider said.
The same holds true for animals, she said.
Animal CD "Harp of Hope," a collection of 17 songs, was originally recorded for people but Schneider decided to release an animal edition last year after owners reported it helped their arthritic dogs fall asleep and calmed their agitated cats. Veterinary hospitals also acknowledged the CD's success in soothing nervous pets — and their owners. She said every detail of the instrumentals — the tempos, rhythms, keys, note intervals, chord structures and plucking techniques — are carefully arranged to promote progressive peace and relaxation.
Animals usually begin to relax after listening for just a few minutes.
Schneider recommends playing the music on an as-needed basis or before a stressful situation, such as a veterinary or grooming appointment.
“I’m hopeful that there will be a great increase in the use of this benevolent therapy,” said Schneider. “It is a very cost-effective, beneficial, soothing, calming intervention for animals and the people who love animals.”
Schneider trained at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Later, as a pastoral theologian and hospital chaplain, she began to use the harp with hospitalized human patients.
"I use certain harp vibrations to resonate with, or entrain, a patient's own cellular rhythms to help release tense muscle tissue, calm anxiety, improve digestion, induce restful sleep, increase endorphins for pain management — to aid the body's own efforts to heal itself," Schneider said.
The same holds true for animals, she said.
Animal CD "Harp of Hope," a collection of 17 songs, was originally recorded for people but Schneider decided to release an animal edition last year after owners reported it helped their arthritic dogs fall asleep and calmed their agitated cats. Veterinary hospitals also acknowledged the CD's success in soothing nervous pets — and their owners. She said every detail of the instrumentals — the tempos, rhythms, keys, note intervals, chord structures and plucking techniques — are carefully arranged to promote progressive peace and relaxation.
Animals usually begin to relax after listening for just a few minutes.
Schneider recommends playing the music on an as-needed basis or before a stressful situation, such as a veterinary or grooming appointment.
“I’m hopeful that there will be a great increase in the use of this benevolent therapy,” said Schneider. “It is a very cost-effective, beneficial, soothing, calming intervention for animals and the people who love animals.”
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Happy New Year to all creatures great and small
We are really missing Jack but also accepting that life goes on and Jack's precious little life has ended. He did have a good life but he was going downhill so fast. I don't know whether music ever really helped Jack, but it has helped me accept his passing this holiday season and and provided as much comfort to me as anything possibly could.
I know that I'd like to get another dog, maybe in June or July when I can take hime outside easily for housebreakin purposes.
In the meantime, I'll offer you this humorous little gift of a Hooter's Calendar for 2008. Just click on it and it will be large anough for you to print it out. Enjoy!
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