Music

Comment

Comment by Diane Schaefer on October 12, 2009 at 10:06am

I think one reason I began this post is because even though I have a degree in music...I'm such an infant when it comes to knowing what it can really do - especially physically. I know what it can do for my heart and mind. And that's where my question came in...what is available to us to help someone with a specific need. Logically, I have an understanding but I am looking for more specifics. (And hopefully will be able to understand them when found!) I have a couple CD's from a friend of mine that contain drum beat. And one aspect of a steady, slow drumbeat is to slow the heartbeat. I would think the beat of a drum at a particular steady beat would create a desired outcome - i.e. decrease in heart beat or increase....just depending on what is the desired end result.

And also...I believe it is our obligation to find out what our client really likes or dislikes in regards to what they hear during a session. I was receiving body work about a year ago...wanted a very relaxing massage and was just looking forward to drifting into my own world away from the hubbub of the day. As the massage begins, I'm listening to the music and begin to realize that I'm not liking it too much. Next thing I know, it's beginning to sound more jazzy all the time...(don't get me wrong - I like jazz too but not during my massage) sort of like music in a hotel elevator! More lively and energetic that I was wanting. I finally told the therapist to please change the CD.... I think it's important for us to make note if a client mentions they don't like water sounds or bird sounds.

In regards to your post from yesterday, I think that music and the vibration it creates plays a very important role in our bodies...at all the levels you mention. I wish there was more info in print for me to know what we can do musically...I'm not a scientist either...but I would think there's got to be something out there for us all. I will post info on anything I find....

Comment by akemi mckee on October 10, 2009 at 7:26pm

A couple more thoughts.... Unlike wind instruments, the drums (or like the bowls mentioned in previous comments) have a different wave function. Because the drums are not bound to a specific structure (like a flute) it vibrates at varying wavelengths as it is being played. It is left to expand if you will. The tonal quality changes depending on the strength, location, and consistency of the beat. Here's my question to you, Diane, since I do not have the degree you posess in music. Is the sound we hear (drums for example) a result of whichever wavelength moves fastest to our ears? Do we then miss out the other wavelengths because they are slower? Hhhhmm...this is a similar question to the nature of the color blue we see in the sky. We see blue because that wavelength reaches our eyes first. There are other colors in the sky, we just don't percieve them because another color beat them to our eyes first. Does sound do the same thing? If yes, here's another question...Do other parts of our being, either spiritual, energetic, electromagnetic, cellular...etc. hear things that our natural ears do not? I believe there is more to sound than we realize. Please correct me on anything that may be mispoken. I am no scientist and play with my own theories! Hahaha!

Comment by akemi mckee on October 10, 2009 at 7:14pm

Okay, here goes...I second that recommendation "Musicophillia," also a great read is "The Power of Sound" by Joshua Leeds. It is revelatory. I am so intrigued by the connection on how our hearing is the first sensory organ developed in the first trimester. The neural cortex then follows. It is interesting to think of those EM pulses as a generator for brain development. The baby is being "charged" by what it hears, momma's heartbeat, vascular circulation, digestive rumbles, the outside world, momma's voice, etc.... That spinal nerve relay innervates everything...literally everything! "Oh be careful little ears what you hear...." You are so on the right track! Keep digging. I love quantum physics. I love the deeply spiritual. I do not consider myself to be a fruit loop guru-type. I am firmly planted in empirical evidence with a healthy dose of Heavenly faith. And by the way...from what I understand it has been found that all things, I mean ALL things, resonate at a certain frequency. Each person has a DNA "song" if you will (people are working on an instrument that will play your individual frequency...its being done!). The whole concept of agreement is what we aim for as "health" within our bodies. When tissues resonate at a differing frequency there is disharmonic consequences. Consider this, can we find someone's natural chord and help increase an agreement with their natural rythyms? I believe the answer is an emphatic "Absolutely!"

Comment by Diane Schaefer on October 8, 2009 at 10:06pm

Thank you all for the helpful input. I have looked (longinly!) at the singing bowls. Such beautiful and calming sounds! I will most definitely be checking out the book suggestions and the web site suggestions as well. It's funny but...I know what I like to listen to while giving massage...and then I have to ask myself if my client likes it as well. Some people don't care for nature sounds...others don't care for piano or flute, etc. But for the most part, if I'm responding well to the music...then my clients are also because I'm staying focused on them and not worrying about the music during the session. Only my husband has commented on something he didn't like listening to during his massage....LOL! I would really love to offer a class on music therapy...however, I feel I don't have enough info put together to do this. Maybe in time I will feel I've gathered enough knowledge...I've got knowledge of music...and knowledge of massage. Now meshing them for the greatest good!

Comment by SC on October 7, 2009 at 7:20pm

Lucky you with those two backgrounds!

Not per se relating to massage but try Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks. Watch the PBS show on him if you can find it on their website.
I find myself using a cheap set of tuning forks or a himalayan singing bowl to" tune" myself or my kids from time to time. Some of my clients request them to. They just love the calming vibration they emanate.
If you get interested in those just google tuning fork therapy.
Also check out Acutonics.com for more in depth study.

You might hear from some that this is hocus pocus. I have experienced it for myself. It does work on the nervous system whether receptive to it or not, just like any other waves we are bombarded with every day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binaural_beats

hope this feeds your appetite for a while

Comment by Stephanie Duffield on October 7, 2009 at 6:20pm

The Healing Voice, by Joy Gardner-Gordon- great resource book, don't know if its still in print, may find it used though.
Sacred Sounds, Magic & Healing Through Words & Music, by Ted Andrews.
Both books are full of info on how sound helps us heal and how to use it to heal ourselves and others.
Hope this is helpful!