Do You Play Music or Not?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Marissa on October 16, 2009 at 11:38am

Hey Trev! I absolutely play music! Right now I've got an acoustic guitar session going. Also, if you don't know what to play, if anything, may I suggest that you tell your clients that they may bring in their own music to play? That way they are comforted by the familiar and they will be happy with the choice. I hate getting a massage and thinking "Will you please turn that crap off?!?!?!"
On a personal note: I'm a rocker! I don't think I could get away with playing Avenged Sevenfold or Shinedown. Ask Rosemary about Pink Floyd!

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Permalink Reply by Carol Gott on October 16, 2009 at 11:45am

I do play music, though like you my practice is more of a clinical nature. I too can only handle so much of the nature/oriental sounding stuff...I tend to find things that are quite relaxing but a little more jazz oriented. It's not anything you'd hear on the radio (so less likely to invoke memories) but still very much relaxation music. I don't often find an entire cd of stuff that fits the bill, so I have a running playlist that I run off an MP3. I also have a couple of custom mix cds around for times when I need a change, but I always try to keep it shuffled so that they don't hear the same song at minute 30 of their session.

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Permalink Reply by Trevor Chisman on October 16, 2009 at 2:20pm

Hi Jodi, I'd love to see Galactic live, you're so lucky! But right about it not being a mode maker for massage.

In 16 years I have actually only had 1 person ask for music and they never came back, not sure if it was the massage or lack of tunes.

Thanks for your thoughts

Jodi Hardee said:

As a massage client, I prefer a setting where the therapist plays music. Come to think of it, if there was no music playing I would probably ask them to turn some on! I agree, I am not a fan of "whale sounds" either, but I do enjoy ocean or beach sounds. As a client, I find that to be very soothing.

p.s. I'm a fan of Galactic and have seen them perform in Chicago a few times - not sure if I would like to hear them during a massage session though. On a personal note, I'm currently listening to Bon Iver's "Blood Bank" album.

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Permalink Reply by Trevor Chisman on October 16, 2009 at 2:22pm

Hi Marissa

Thanks for your ideas, it really is a stumbling block for me deciding what to play, perhaps I will give clients the option.


Marissa Macias said:

Hey Trev! I absolutely play music! Right now I've got an acoustic guitar session going. Also, if you don't know what to play, if anything, may I suggest that you tell your clients that they may bring in their own music to play? That way they are comforted by the familiar and they will be happy with the choice. I hate getting a massage and thinking "Will you please turn that crap off?!?!?!"
On a personal note: I'm a rocker! I don't think I could get away with playing Avenged Sevenfold or Shinedown. Ask Rosemary about Pink Floyd!

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Permalink Reply by Trevor Chisman on October 16, 2009 at 2:25pm

Hi Carol

Thanks for your input, much appreciated, I like the idea of some relaxing jazz orientated music, but probably because I could stand it myself. Would be great if you could message me some titles or suggested tunes as a starting point in my quest.
Cheers

Carol Gott said:

I do play music, though like you my practice is more of a clinical nature. I too can only handle so much of the nature/oriental sounding stuff...I tend to find things that are quite relaxing but a little more jazz oriented. It's not anything you'd hear on the radio (so less likely to invoke memories) but still very much relaxation music. I don't often find an entire cd of stuff that fits the bill, so I have a running playlist that I run off an MP3. I also have a couple of custom mix cds around for times when I need a change, but I always try to keep it shuffled so that they don't hear the same song at minute 30 of their session.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on October 16, 2009 at 3:08pm

When i first read your title i thought you were asking if we were musically inclined... :) my son's a natural at the drums so i was gonna go off on that. :)

i always play music. i can't imagine not. i hate when it's too quiet. then suddenly my breathing and swallowing seem to be off the charts. i am not a big fan of the oriental type music or the natural sounds. i especially dislike water sounds since it promotes needing to use the bathroom. :) i absolutely LOVE acoustic guitar though. so when i'm looking for stuff i look for that. i have lucked out and found a couple of "zen" type generic cd's that have a combination of acoustic guitar and flute, and so that's what i usually use.

the other reason i like using music is because when i find the right ones...it actually helps to control my flow. i find i end up dancing with my hands. when a song is a little up beat i tend to do techniques like petrissage in a nice rhythm. when the song is slower it kicks me into a slow effleurage. when i find the right cd (which i have) then i find it keeps my whole routine flowing and moving well. and i think the combination of my body/hands moving to the music only aids in the energy i'm sending out. i still hear echoing in my head, one of our teachers who was insistant that we "dance" while giving massage. in the end it helps keep my session from being static. make sense?

here's a funny story...in school we were always taught that this was the place to experiment. experiement with oils/lotions, with scents, with music, etc. Well i was one of those students that never used the school's oil and was excited to go out there and see what i could find. i set on a quest to make my own cd of acoustic music. i would find songs...listen a little to them...decide i like them and download them. then i created my mix cd. well i'm half way through a very nice relaxing massage. the atmoshphere is perfect. i turn my client over and a song starts that has some really nice mellow acoustic guitar. all of a sudden...it JUMPS into serious heavy metal and i just stood there frozen. do i stop the massage and fast forward the song. do i try to work through it. OMG what is this person thinking on the table. all these thoughts came flooding through my head. i was quite a break in the session. but a serious lesson learned none-the-less. now i listen to the whole thing before committing it to a session. :)

btw...currently i'm not listening to anything other than Spongebob on the tv. :)

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Permalink Reply by Trevor Chisman on October 16, 2009 at 4:02pm

I know exactly what you mean about the dance and that is exactly what brought me back to this question of music or no music again.

Much of my work is spot remedial work, i.e, I very rarely do a full body massage these days and rarely is my focus anything other than trying to effect change in a problem my client is currently having.

But I really want to get back to that dance you talk of, where you run through a treatment without having to be looking at the clock to see when the next client is arriving, when you can focus on whatever your intuition and your hands tells you needs attention always looking for flow. Where the treatment is of as much benefit to yourself as it is to the client and where for a brief time you both work together in the dance. I know sounds daft, but I've been missing this out of my treatments.

So anyway, it seems I'm the only person not playing music, I think it is probably time I gave it a go and see what my clients think of it, I might actually mention it to some of my regulars and see what there take on it is.

Thanks for your thoughts and ideas



Lisa said:

When i first read your title i thought you were asking if we were musically inclined... :) my son's a natural at the drums so i was gonna go off on that. :)

i always play music. i can't imagine not. i hate when it's too quiet. then suddenly my breathing and swallowing seem to be off the charts. i am not a big fan of the oriental type music or the natural sounds. i especially dislike water sounds since it promotes needing to use the bathroom. :) i absolutely LOVE acoustic guitar though. so when i'm looking for stuff i look for that. i have lucked out and found a couple of "zen" type generic cd's that have a combination of acoustic guitar and flute, and so that's what i usually use.

the other reason i like using music is because when i find the right ones...it actually helps to control my flow. i find i end up dancing with my hands. when a song is a little up beat i tend to do techniques like petrissage in a nice rhythm. when the song is slower it kicks me into a slow effleurage. when i find the right cd (which i have) then i find it keeps my whole routine flowing and moving well. and i think the combination of my body/hands moving to the music only aids in the energy i'm sending out. i still hear echoing in my head, one of our teachers who was insistant that we "dance" while giving massage. in the end it helps keep my session from being static. make sense?

here's a funny story...in school we were always taught that this was the place to experiment. experiement with oils/lotions, with scents, with music, etc. Well i was one of those students that never used the school's oil and was excited to go out there and see what i could find. i set on a quest to make my own cd of acoustic music. i would find songs...listen a little to them...decide i like them and download them. then i created my mix cd. well i'm half way through a very nice relaxing massage. the atmoshphere is perfect. i turn my client over and a song starts that has some really nice mellow acoustic guitar. all of a sudden...it JUMPS into serious heavy metal and i just stood there frozen. do i stop the massage and fast forward the song. do i try to work through it. OMG what is this person thinking on the table. all these thoughts came flooding through my head. i was quite a break in the session. but a serious lesson learned none-the-less. now i listen to the whole thing before committing it to a session. :)

btw...currently i'm not listening to anything other than Spongebob on the tv. :)

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on October 16, 2009 at 5:34pm

Hey Trevor...

I'm curious why you got away from doing full body massages. we were always taught the very importance of full body since everything is connected. therefore if you're just working on a problem area, you're not finding the other problem areas that are overcompensating.

and you're right...i gain a LOT of personal benefits from GIVING. i would highly encourage you to try and incorporate it back into your practice. maybe you can't with the current clients you have...but going forward with new clients.

Trevor Chisman said:

I know exactly what you mean about the dance and that is exactly what brought me back to this question of music or no music again.

Much of my work is spot remedial work, i.e, I very rarely do a full body massage these days and rarely is my focus anything other than trying to effect change in a problem my client is currently having.

But I really want to get back to that dance you talk of, where you run through a treatment without having to be looking at the clock to see when the next client is arriving, when you can focus on whatever your intuition and your hands tells you needs attention always looking for flow. Where the treatment is of as much benefit to yourself as it is to the client and where for a brief time you both work together in the dance. I know sounds daft, but I've been missing this out of my treatments.

So anyway, it seems I'm the only person not playing music, I think it is probably time I gave it a go and see what my clients think of it, I might actually mention it to some of my regulars and see what there take on it is.

Thanks for your thoughts and ideas

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Permalink Reply by Nyema Tolese Randall on October 16, 2009 at 5:46pm

I play water sounds

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Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on October 16, 2009 at 8:37pm

I wrote a blog on this subject on the massagemag.com website. It's archived so here's the link.

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Permalink Reply by Choice Kinchen on October 16, 2009 at 9:38pm

Lisa...I love spongebob. Trevor, I absolutely play music. Most of my work is corporate chair massage. I am usually in a room with just my client, as in my table work. I do NOT like whale sounds, duck calls or tinkling brooks. Anything acoustic is usually fitting, although I like solo piano the best. Having said that, one of my clients has a company gym, complete with weights, treadmills and personal trainers. It's a large space with a great sound system. Most of my chair work at this place is done with the background of hair metal (def leopard, guns n roses, poison, etc) or green day, ozzie or whatever everyone feels like working out to. I'm ok with it as it is a nice change from my usual cerebral settings. I have done table massage to guns n roses as that is what the client wanted. I had to be careful so that I didn't jump up on the table and do an impromptu air guitar riff.

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Permalink Reply by Trevor Chisman on October 17, 2009 at 1:27am

Cheers Emma for your ideas, I had thought about world music as being an option, I have a friend who plays polish/Russian music so his clients won't be distracted by the singing as they can't understand it. Admitedly he does speak polish himself tho.

Emma Torsey CLMT said:

Hi Trevor, I can only remember not playing music in my office one time.The client was a composer and he said if he had to listen to music he would not relax,poor dude,guess music was more work for him than pleasure. Anyway, I usually listen to world music,that's cool music because depending on who your listening to you can get your assorted sounds,Spanish,African,etc,etc....I also put cd's together myself,so I can mix and match...
Chow for now,Emma

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