For thousands of years, people in virtually all cultures have used music to help them alter their normal, everyday consciousness into some form of trance. Lately, trance has taken on a variety of meanings, depending on the context. But it's fairly well agreed that, whatever the specifics, it involves accessing a state of mind often called "the zone." Professional athletes know about it; Michael Murphy, co-founder of Esalen, wrote the seminal book (In the Zone) on the subject.

Many of us have our own favorite ways of entering "the zone." Which leads me to a question: why have there been so few, if any, books on using music as the vehicle to get in "the zone"? One of the reasons is that the Western European classical tradition is virtually the only music tradition that specifically avoids this component. That's why we were programmed with so much left-brain, analytical ways of relating to music -- to keep us out of the zone. So it's not surprising that much of today's pop and underground music has a large ZQ (Zone Quotient). However, not all zones are created equal!

I predict that, in the near future, we'll see recordings rated not just for "adult" content, but for "zone content." Maybe we'll even have "Evoked Brainwave Activity" and identify both specific cycles per second (4-7 theta; 8-12 alpha) and amplitude. Already, some researchers and producers, like Master Charles and Synchronicity recordings, are including that information in their literature.

However, the big question is: will everyone respond the same? So much more research is needed. In the meanwhile, you can do your own.

Cruise Control and Playing Music on "Automatic"

Many musicians have described the phenomenon of playing music without conscious effort. It's as if the music is playing through us rather than being done by us. This is not a new concept. In fact, if you saw the movie or play Amadeus, you saw examples of it when Mozart was "taking dictation" from his unseen muse.

You could experience this listening to Charlie (Bird) Parker or John Coltrane, or many other jazz artists. Many of my own recordings have chronicled my experiences in the zone, though they haven't always been identified as such. Deja-Blues was born of such moments.

My latest recording was also conceived and birthed when the combination of drum and bass grabbed hold of my human instrument. It had a similar effect on the other musicians I invited to the sessions ... and that was the genesis of the Sound Medicine Band. Master percussionists combined Afro-Cuban, old school R&B and world rhythms to set up a sonically magnetic force field. Once we locked into the groove, everything else was easy!

The ideological patron saints of this approach go back thousands of years, through the shaman's drum, through contemporary drum circles, through James Brown, Sly Stone and so many other great artists.

When I was experimenting with different lead instruments, I needed to get my guitar in better playing shape. I was directed to a guitar craftsman, Jim Surles, who fixed problems that no other repairman had. But the biggest shock was when he demonstrated his work. My guitar never sounded so good!

As fate would have it, his shop was just a few miles from the recording studio, so I invited him to drop by. The following week, he did, and brought his own, handmade guitar. With no rehearsal or discussion, we agreed to roll tape. What followed was as huge a surprise to him as it was to my engineer and me: As soon as the rhythm kicked in, Jim closed his eyes, rocked back on his heels, and didn't come up for air until the entire song was done. Every note was perfect. He was "in the zone." We were too, and I think you'll find yourself there as well.

The rest of the album proceeded to unfold. I've been listening to it for the past several months, in a variety of situations. It's wonderful for driving on country roads through rolling hills--but I wouldn't suggest it for rush hour. On the other hand, it's great for unwinding after work. It'll move your feet and get your kundalini rising.

In describing how the music feels as well as how it sounds, people kept referring to shifting gears, from ordinary state of mind, to the zone. At times the music becomes transparent, and you may find yourself deep in the zone ... forgetting that you were listening. Like driving a car on cruise control, the music plays itself -- and takes you along for the ride.

We'll have samples of Cruise Control posted soon on our website, www.stevenhalpern.com, and the album should have hit stores by the first of this month. So if you'd like a change of pace from the deep relaxation and meditation zone, I invite you to listen for yourself.