7/30/2019 Inquiery Proposal

1/2

Welch 1

Jordan Welch

1103-10

Mrs. Thomas

4/22/2013

Can Music Cure Autism?

Music. How does it affect you? How does it change you? How does it

help/hurt you? In many ways people can tell that music has some sort of effect on

them. Whether it be making them happy, sad, angry, relaxed, or even depressed. I

would venture to say that music has an effect on everyone. Even those people who

suffer from mental illnesses. You wouldnt suspect that a mental illness could be

cured with music. but I believe not only that it can be cured but that it can also be

triggered.

As a musician, I understand the concept of how music can change the

way you feel. Every chord has a distinct sound. Most major chords sound happy,

and most minor chords sound dark and depressing. This is why music could change

your current mood. Music almost seems to change the way you think when you

hear certain chords. Some chords have an almost healing effect. These chords, the

ones that seem to heal, I will refer to as cures. As for the minor chords, some of

these can put you into a state of sadness or bring back memories that are usually

dreary. These chords will be referred to as triggers. The cures are the healing

chords, the chords that can turn that frown upside down. The triggers are the

chords that can trigger a mental illness such as depression, schizophrenia or bi-

polar.

7/30/2019 Inquiery Proposal

2/2

Welch 2

Now just because I have separated the chords does not mean that

each set of chords can only function under my predetermined groups. If a song is

written in all cure chords it can still be a trigger in some peoples minds. This is why

it is tough for science to grasp the mental affect of music. Everyone reacts to music

in a different manner. Everyone hears something in a song that speaks to them

personally. Even the writer of the song cannot grasp every meaning that people will

take from their song. People have different reactions, everyone knows this. Even if

a songwriter tries to write a song to have a certain emotion triggered, while it may

trigger that emotion for one person on one day, it could have a completely different

emotion triggered on the next day. Musical emotions are hard to predict because

they are determined by mood. Now is where it gets a little tricky. Those people

who suffer from autism and several other mental illnesses have a lack of emotions.

Now, if they have a lack of emotions how can music affect them since music relies on

the emotions to trigger feelings?