Calming Rhythms

We rely on music to soothe our family’s souls.  I guess that's only natural considering we're musicians.

From making music to listening to music, we fill our house with great tunes.

Upbeat music stirs us into a joyous celebration (think Salsa).  Soft classical music comforts Evan after surgery.  Kenny Logins sings the children to sleep.  Relaxing Greek Isles (an easy listening/relaxing CD) can settle an agitated atmosphere in the house faster than anything else.  

My single most treasured album that inspires me to move into action when I don’t have an ounce of ambition is Acoustic Garden featuring Tingstad and Rumbel.  This upbeat yet comforting soundtrack always resets my energy.

Recently I have added a new genre of music to our repertoire:  Music Entrainment Therapy.  I discovered the Strong Institute website, a company formed out of research, which creates musical soundtracks called Rhythmic Entrainment Intervention (REI).  This has been a significant find for me.

The idea behind Music Entrainment Therapy is to take the listener from one energy level or emotional state to another, using gradually changing music (rhythms, tempos, volume, timber).  An interesting description of music therapy can be found at the Free Dictionary.com.  Especially interesting is the description of the effects music has on the human body, including:  brain function, breathing, heart, blood pressure, muscle tension, endorphins, and stress hormones.

While I found the Strong Institute and REI hoping it would help my kids, I am surprised to be relying on it for myself.  If I am having a moment when I just have had too much, I’m overwhelmed or just can’t find my inner place of calm, I play the Calming Rhythms CD and without fail, I feel calmer.

The only endorsement I can share is my own experience.  I can say that in atleast one instance, it helped one of my kids recover from an emotional melt down.  Putting this therapy into action daily for the kids or just figuring out how to use it with them regularly, is still a work in progress.

I would love to hear comments from anyone else who has tried REI.  You can download a free sample to experience REI it for yourself at the Strong Institute website homepage.  Please note that the Strong Institute advises that these soundtracks are played softly, just loud enough to first hear it.  The brain is able to take in the sound and benefit from it at these low volumes.