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Every culture that we know of makes some kind of music, even if it’s only making simple beat by clapping hands, sticks or rocks together. Only recently, however, has scientific research begun to prove in theory what we know in practice. The basic reason is simple: our bodies are hardwired to respond to rhythm. When we hear an external rhythmic pattern, it automatically gets our heart pumping to match its speed. This “rhythm entrainment” is an autonomic — you don’t have a choice. So I find it amusing that one of the most difficult things for most people to do is to keep a simple, steady beat without speeding up or slowing down a lot. Try this right now: Tap out a steady 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4 about every 3/4 of a second (about 90 beats per minute) You can clap your hands, slap your thigh, or use a hand drum. Remember to breathe. I have led many hundreds of workshops since 1969, and many people unconsciously hold their breath when they concentrate on keeping a beat. If you have a tape recorder handy, tape yourself. Then listen back. You’ll probably be amazed that the speed of your beat varies noticeably. One of the things that distinguishes trained drummers from novices is that they have “steady time”: their internal time sense is accurate, almost like being a human metronome. The psycho-acoustic effect is different when the brain is stroked in a consistently repetitive manner, which is different from a constantly varying manner. When you “rock steady,” it’s easier for your brainwaves to shift into “automatic,” into deep alpha (which is a good thing). So it’s good to work with this rhythm method. I encourage you to make some rhythmic music of your own every day, even if only for a minute ... even if you don’t play “steady” right away. Here’s another hint — if you need a timekeeper, you can play along with one of many brands of noisy ticking wall clocks. At last — a positive use for their mechanical second-hand noise! Sound Health Book Club Over the past 30 years, one of the most common questions I get asked in my workshops is, “What books can we read to learn more about the healing powers of sound?” Now that book clubs are coming back into favor, thanks to Oprah and others, perhaps more of you may be interested in deepening your appreciation of the mysteries of sound and music. A good place to start would be the classic in the field, Sound Health (Harper & Row, 1985), by Steven Halpern and Louis Savary. It’s hard to find, however, as it has been out of print for a number of years. Many of the more recent books include some accurate information, some quite biased opinion masquerading as information, and some downright erroneous dis-information and mis-information. In future installments, I will explain what I mean more fully. For now, it means you can’t trust everything you read. Like working your way through a smorgasbord meal, you’ll want to pick and choose from what is offered. A book called The Secret Power of Music, by David Tame, for instance, begins with a fine overview of ancient music for the first hundred pages or so. Then he goes off the deep end by blasting every genre of music since Beethoven. He includes libelous statements about various composers, and carries on in a decidedly unprofessional manner. In fact, he proceeds to do the very thing he criticizes others for doing. So you may want to just read the beginning, and skip to the next offering. One of the all-time classics is now back in print: The Soundscape: Our Sonic Environment and the Tuning of the World, by R. Murray Schafer (Destiny Books). Dr. Schafer presents his pioneering exploration of our natural acoustic environment. You’ll appreciate our “soundscape” (a term he coined) more after reading his words, and doing the exercise to help you become more aware and sensitive to the sounds around us. When I was introduced to his work in 1976, it confirmed my own experience, and opened me up to higher levels of awareness. In past installments, I’ve discussed the pluses and minuses of “The Mozart Effect.” The book of that name provides a useful overview of the field, but includes many inaccuracies. Once again, proceed with caution. If you have specific questions or comments, I’d be happy to respond on an individual basis, and perhaps, in some cases, share my responses in future columns or in my discussion group. If you aren’t already a member, you can join at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stevenhalpern. There aren’t a great many books on what makes a great musician great. A landmark book has just been published that you may find quite helpful, The Mastery of Music, by Barry Green (Broadway Books, 2003). Barry is the author of The Inner Game of Music with Timothy Gallwey, and weaves together insights, interviews and more in this extraordinary work. It offers inspiration, enjoyment, and nourishment for musician and non-musician alike. If you have a favorite book you’d like to recommend or have me comment on, please feel free to email me. Until next time, stay tuned. Steven Halpern is one of the world's leading composers of music for healing, wellness, and inner peace. His latest recordings include PERFECT ALIGNMENT, featuring Grammy award winner Paul McCandless, and INNER PEACE II, with Madeleine Singer. Look for them at Borders, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, your neighborhood independent retailer, or online at www.innerpeacemusic.com. For a free catalogue call 1-800-909-0707 |
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