Having just been at a friend’s party with a live band, karaoke was always going to be on the cards. There was a “menu” containing most the classic karaoke songs, and I found it amusing to run through the list and hearing brief tunes of the song in my head like changing a radio station dial.
Then you go through the classic questions, “if I were going to sing one of these, which one would make me sound or look the coolest”. Do I do solo or with a few friends? Do I choose one designed to include everyone can sing the chorus? So many choices to consider. This choice being influenced by the amount of alcohol consumed. Thus, my first ever karaoke song was, “These Boots Are Made for Walking” by Nancy Sinatra, and I was dragged up on stage with my friend. Never again.
The power of music to heal us no matter how well we sing (or not), is a big focus for neuroscientist.
We all know that music can motivate us, influence our mood, calm us, inspire us, and evoke deep feelings of nostalgia — but its power goes even further.
In This Is Your Brain on Music, neuroscientist Daniel Levitin explores how music acts as medicine. He explains how music can heal us, and I’m a firm believer in that too.
Across many cultures, music has long been used as part of healing rituals – through drumming, chanting, and rhythm. The effects are measurable, especially through the nervous system. Music has been shown to support people with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and depression. It’s not just our ears being affected – our bodies respond, too. That’s why we tap our feet or feel compelled to move when we hear certain songs. Fascinatingly, brain scans show that even when people are told not to move while listening to music, the movement centres of the brain still light up. Incredible, right?
It’s no surprise that different styles of music spark different responses in our bodies and minds. What is surprising is just how personal those responses can be. Your favourite songs may affect you in ways they wouldn’t affect someone else. Music that makes you want to dance, for instance, can boost levels of serotonin – the mood-stabilising hormone. Learning lyrics or playing instruments can even help build new neural pathways. This repeated patterning helps strengthen memory, and can even aid recovery in stroke patients.
Music can also guide the mind into a trance-like state, which is incredibly useful for hypnotherapy. It gives you something calm to focus on instead of stress, allowing the body and mind to enter a “replenish and repair” mode.
Some people enter that hypnotic state through distorted electric guitar riffs, others through the sound of ocean waves, birdsong, or the simple repetition of a quiet chime. It doesn’t matter what kind of music “floats your boat” – what matters is that it’s helping you heal, one way or another.
Awesome, isn’t it?
By the way, now my current go-to song is “Piano Man” by Billy Joel or “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Dimond.
Marygrace is a highly qualified and experienced Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist, dedicated to helping individuals overcome challenges and improve their lives. She earned her advanced professional diploma from the prestigious Institute of Clinical Hypnosis in London (2005) and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from Regis University (Colorado). Her extensive training includes specialized master classes in Anxiety & Stress Management, Energy Therapies (including TFT), Life Coaching, Pain Management, and working with children.
A registered member of the AICH, and GHR (General Hypnotherapy Register), Marygrace is committed to ongoing professional development. She has served as a teaching assistant with the Institute of Clinical Hypnosis, regularly attending advanced courses to refine her skills. She is fully insured and holds an enhanced disclosure certification.
Marygrace’s passion for hypnotherapy stems from a personal experience. After successfully quitting smoking with the help of a hypnotherapist, she was inspired to empower others to make positive changes in their lives. This transformative experience ignited her desire to help people overcome challenges and achieve their full potential. Her genuine care and natural ability to connect with individuals of all ages, including children and young adults, drive her work. She is particularly motivated to assist clients in managing anxiety and the stresses of modern life.
Originally from the USA, Marygrace has resided in London since 1991. She lives with her son and practices in Putney, Wandsworth, South West London. In her leisure time, she enjoys swimming, walking, reading, traveling, learning new skills, and laughter.
