Music and Health - 1st Report
March 20th, 2008
We are energy beings in an energy system.
We are vibrating beings in a vibrating system.
What is the difference?
I've been on a wonderful path researching my new book on music and sound and how it affects the body. As many have felt, we are living in interesting times. To me, science is a fascinating place to be right now, as new breakthroughs are reported. New technology allows us to probe deeper into the mysteries of our minds, bodies, and surroundings. Many in the scientific community are coming forward with fascinating research, challenging ideas, and personal accounts and experiences.
I am studying science, math and many other disciplines to make sure that what I am looking at is scientifically sound, given the most up to date information available. But I am also looking for future paths of inquiry, with the idea that as technologies continue to evolve; we will be able to test our hypotheses in the future. This is where my hope lies. I'm looking toward the intersection of math, science, sound and vibration, to a place where science, spirituality, and the arts interconnect. It seems to me that we are approaching what one could consider a third phase on science and medicine. The first phase could have been; take this pill, it kills the bacteria, therefore, taking it will make you well. The second phase, which I believe we could be in now, is beginning to reveal that our mind may have a more significant role in our lives and our healing than previously thought. The third phase could be seen as; our minds have a more significant role in healing of those around our eco-system and us.
It seems that, historically speaking, many breakthroughs in science began with a 'hunch.' History shows us that one can devote a lifetime to researching what began simply as a yet to be answered question. History has it's own process of evaluating what was relevant, and what was not. Much information has been lost, through our continuing cycle of annihilation of cultures wiped out or forced to assimilate, but that's another subject for another time. Science has a way of proving which 'hunches', which ones are 'true' and coming to a general consensus using our current model of 'scientific method’, which in a nutshell means; that which can tested. Hypothesis, research and testing, new hypotheses, more research and testing, and so on, with eventual report, making the information available for dissemination and possible challenge or confirmation, and the cycle continues. We 'stand on the shoulders of giants' as we build our understanding of our world and ourselves in an attempt to answer age-old questions; who are we? What are we? In what way are we connected to ourselves and the world around us? To take this one step further, what responsibility do we have toward each other and ourselves? We are living in what appears to be a sort of 'New Renaissance' due to the large amount of information available and exchanged, our ability to research, and share immediate information on a global scale.
As I look into this subject, of course, I am finding myself asking more and more questions. There is so much here, more than one lifetime of research. I'm anticipating enjoying this process of discovery and communication for many years to come.
So much of our lives have to do with music and sound. Everything, it seems can be connected to it, is influenced by it, and is part of the answer to the question; what makes us human? Everything it seems can be connected to or comes from vibration, which is a form of energy. Which leads me to the hypothesis; if we are indeed vibration beings in a vibratory system, what has the research concluded so far and can be tested in the future?
This question came to me when I was asked to meet with a gentleman who is part of EDS's think tank to discuss his work in artificial intelligence, neural nets and number systems, mostly those associated with music. His question to me was this; when we ask a computer program to analyze a piece of music, then ask it to tell us what the next note should or would be, why does this music not 'sound good?' From what I understand, this type of experiment was developed to test the ability of a computer program to ‘predict the future' by analyzing human behavior through the steps taken. More specifically, who is most inclined to commit a crime. It is my understanding that programs like these or not only being developed but are already in place and working with great success. But I was struck by the questions; what is it that humans are doing when they create and experience music that can't be recreated through artificial intelligence?
First, we must start with some assumptions. Many in musicology believe that art and music reflect the culture for and from which is created. (ex.) In my personal experience as a professional musician, I have tended to lean toward this statement, and in doing so, consider myself a student of culture, with a natural inclination toward my own culture. As a musician and composer/songwriter, I have felt it was my job to interpret the feelings of others and to put them into music for us to enjoy. This has not been a totally altruistic pursuit. In many ways Music has been my teacher, a type of 'language' I seem to have an aptitude for along with a deep unquenchable desire to revel in its mysteries. I like to think that in a perfect world, we would all have the ability to compose music and to speak in poetry whenever we desired. This does not seem to be the world we are living in and therefore the artists, poets, composers and such have been left with the task of creating works that interpret our life and times and hopefully continue to speak to us from eras past. I see a musician’s role as the creators of the soundtracks of other people’s lives. I am searching for that 'oneness' in all of us. My idea is this: if I feel this deeply and enjoy the music I am creating and performing, I assume that others will feel the same to some degree.
Some have asked; is music important for our survival? I would argue that there are many reasons to answer a resounding 'yes' to that question. A few of the many ideas I will be touching on have to do with the way humans perceive our 'space' (the idea of human sonar) and those who are in it, interpreting the ‘vibration’ of others through the electromagnetic spectrum, a small portion of which can be perceived by us as sound. I will also be looking in the science behind the concepts of energy centers of the body known to some at chakras.
I'm not sure that 'music that is good for us' is necessarily music that 'sounds good.’ This is what I hope to determine through my research and the research of others. I want to look at the intersection of these ideas. Using the analogy of nutrition, food that is good for us is not necessarily food that 'tastes good.' Does this bring on a frightening era of music that is created not necessarily to sound good but for the pure scientifically proven positive affects on the body? Could we be talking about music becoming bland and functional, sort of a 'Soilent Green' for the ears? Could this damn some of the music so many have historically found enjoyable to eventual obscurity? I argue, not. Using, once again, the analogy of nutrition, we have gone from times when mysterious drought and plague have altered the food supply, making food scare. During these times, populations were of course more concerned with filling their bellies and staying alive than overall nutrition. With breakthroughs in science we have a better understanding of the affects of nutrition on our health and ecosystem, subsequently creating more productive farming techniques, producing larger yields with more variety for a growing population. As with music, we live in an era where we now have incredible access to a greater variety of sounds. Generally speaking many of us are free to choose from multiple categories with the ability to create our own ‘soundtracks' for private use at anytime. For this reason I argue that we can develop a greater understanding through science of the affects of music and sound, not only becoming more discerning, but taking it a step further; with better understanding, we can develop new ways of listening and experiencing the world of sound and music.
I will be looking to the sounds of nature, to those rhythms found in our ecosystem, which signal, calm, and possibly connect us to our world. I will look to breakthrough studies in biofeedback and the body’s ability to calm itself, to focus and to heal. I am looking to studies in molecular biology and systems of the body to better understand how we work. I will include the latest research by neuroscientists using breakthrough technologies such as the fMRI in continuing research on the brain and music. I will include research on vibration and music on the body with the idea that we are bundled vibrating energy in a vibratory energy system. I will be looking further to the historical use of music in ritual as an expression of culture, most of all, in healing ceremonies.
For those who enjoy music and support the idea that music could be indeed good for us, my goal here is to educate and entertain by presenting thought provoking scientific research, with some stories and personal experiences thrown in for good measure. My last chapter will be on the possible uses of music and sound in an enlightened future. Thank you for reading and as always, thank you for listening.
Love and peace -
Liz Larin
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