KSL Video (2003) - Music For Hyperactivity
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The movements of a hyperactive child may seem chaotic and uncontrolled, but a Utah composer sees rhythm, while others might see turmoil. And with the help of psychologists he is experimenting with music to calm children with hyperactivity or any other behavior problem.
[Reporter, Ed Yates, science specialist]. . . "there are currently more than 1,700 hundred research studies documenting music as a form of relaxation therapy, but so far it has been for conventional applications. Now a Utah composer therapist is opening a door no one has tried before.
At his studio in Provo, Utah, Wayne Musgrave tries to match the rhythm of music with the antics of kids, bouncing all over the place. “The way I have come to that, is by testing the kids’ heart rates at the time of hyperactivity, which is about 130 beats per minute." [Wayne Musgrave]
He sets the beats on his equipment, using a metronome, playing lots of rhythm and lots of noise, a composition you might hardly find suitable for a kid you want to control, but Musgrave is experimenting with a new theory. “Meet them on their level at first, then start gradually bringing them down. Every three to four minutes, I change the tempo.” [Wayne Musgrave]
This is far from conventional music therapy, in fact the approach is rather unorthodox, using what composers might call a “sneaky” interlude.
“The rhythm doesn’t, all of a sudden, just stop [and] then go down to 45 beats per minute-- kind of bring it into an ethereal, dreamlike state and sneak the lower tempo to them--introduce it, not so abruptly.” [Wayne Musgrave]
While it will take some really scientifically controlled studies to prove rather this theory works, this is the end goal; to get children, who were once bouncing from wall to wall, quietly sitting coloring in a book.
Art, not science, for now, but Musgrave is consulting with medical experts hoping to take this to the next level, clinical trials, possibility by the end of next year.
“I suppose what could happen is that the child could take a medication before school, come home in the evening, and use the music therapy for the evening time, rather than taking more medication--that is a possibility.” [Dr. Kenneth Tuttle, Psychologist, IHC Behavioral Health Network]
Possibilities . . . that is all they are for now, but these kids, exposed to this experiment for the first time, appear to follow the pattern. The hyperactive rhythm in Hailey Black, if there is such a thing, matched the music at first. “Be noisy.” [Hailey Black] But then it brought her down to the coloring book, her feeling? “Soft and gently, makes me feel like people can do the right things.” [Hailey Black]
If it works, the music could not only mellow out not only hyperactive kids, but any children who appear to be scattered or who can not settle down. It might just work. This is Ed Yates, back to you."
