As our nation took a brief pause to reflect on and honor the men and women in the armed forces who gave their lives in service, an idea popped into my mind. In 1991, knowing that the healing power of music could be helpful to those directly involved, as well as their families, I donated hundreds of free cassettes and CDs to the soldiers and their loved ones.

     These were distributed through a variety of organizations. In 2005, with the internet, I’d like to make a more personal offer. If you are the loved one of a veteran, or a soldier (especially if they are currently stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan), I’d like to send you a CD that is perfect to include in the care packages you send over. Or, if your family member is no longer on active duty, these CDs are great to play at home to help dispel the stress and create a more peaceful environment.

     This topic recently became more personal to me when my friend Nadia McCaffery lost her son in Iraq. You might have read about her or seen her on the TV news. She’s the mother who invited the press to photograph the returning flag-draped coffin of her son—in direct violation of recently implemented protocol. To find out more about her peace efforts networking with mothers in Iraq, visit her website at www.patrickspirit.org.

     Nadia and I met many years ago, through her work with hospice, and especially her work with Dannion Brinkley and his organization, Compassion in Action. Nadia is also a near-death survivor. She and I talked, in the hypothetical, in the mid 1990s about ways that we could bring more healing into the life and death situations of hospice. The situation in Iraq and Afghanistan adds a new dimension.

     If you’ve ever heard Dannion Brinkley speak, or read his books, you know that how much he loves the music of Chakra Suite and its earlier incarnation, Spectrum Suite. He listened to this music constantly during his recovery from his near-death experience in 1975, and credits the music as a major factor in his recovery. Chakra Suite is a mainstay of his hospice work, and it is one of the two CDs I’d suggest. The other is Transitions: Music for Solace and Comfort.

     If you’re part of this special demographic, I invite you to contact me. We’ll send you the CD of your choice. And, of course, you may also order other CDs as well, and still get the additional gift.

How To Play Piano Like Me

There’s no easy way to segue into this next subject, so I’ll just dive in.

     For over thirty years, people have asked me, “How can I learn to play like you do?” Although I don’t have the time to do much one on one teaching, I have done some lessons by phone and by tape. Mostly, I suggest that you simply sit at the piano, arrange your fingers in a certain way, take a deep breath, and play along with some specific compositions that are on specific albums.

     It’s first and foremost a state-related experience. You have to learn to play your self first ... to tune in to your nervous system and Being-ness through deep relaxation and meditation ... as well as learning a few pentatonic scales, etc.

     Now, you have an additional resource. Much to my surprise, a book arrived at my doorstep the other day. When I opened the package, what did I see but a new book of sheet music published by the Hal Leonard Company: Ultimate New Age: 39 of the best contemporary instrumentals.

     Suddenly, my memory banks clicked in. Almost a year ago, I remember being invited to be part of this book. I told the editor, “I don’t write out my music. But if you want to transcribe it, I’m up for it.”

     And guess what? They did a pretty good job. Actually, it may well have been a computer program that did the translation of my recorded music into little black dots on white paper. In any case, if you read music and always wanted to play in the style that I do, here’s your chance. Ocean Suite (part l) is my contribution. You’ll have to supply your own ocean, though. You can find the book at many bookstores, or of course, at Amazon.com.

     Many of the other artists in the compilation do indeed write out every little note themselves ... and play their songs the same way night after night—many piano favorites such as David Lanz, George Winston, Kitaro, even Enya and John Tesh. You’ll still need to learn to play in a relaxed state to play like I do, but with these other examples, you’ll have a head start—and a lot of fun, too.

     Until next time, stay tuned, and remember: Healing Music is Sound Medicine.™

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© 2005 by Steven Halpern. Steven Halpern is an award-winning composer, recording artist and sound healer who has touched the lives of millions with his music. He is currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of his ministry of healing music and the release of his first recording, Chakra Suite. Visit him at www.innerpeacemusic.com.

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