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Posts Tagged ‘Meditation Music’

How do you choose the best meditation music? Baroque music is often recommended, and particular pieces may have the right number of beats-per-minute to alter your brainwaves. But more on that in a moment. The science isn’t that settled in this area yet, and you may find that any music which you don’t enjoy will just distract you rather than help your meditative state.

Personal experimentation is called for then. You can start with baroque if you like. Compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach are commonly recommended. Try “Prelude from Cello Suite” or “Allemande” (Cello Suite 3). Frederick Handel’s music works well for many as well.

But you don’t have to limit your experimentation to classical music. Meditation music can include Jazz, guitar and Indian sitar compositions too. Gregorian chants are used by some, as are CDs with the sounds of nature mixed in with the music. We’re all unique enough that different things will work better for each of our meditation practices.

However, there is one element that can really improve meditation music. It is the addition of “binaural beats.” These are cyclic pulsations caused by having the same notes or sounds on an audio recording, but slightly out of tune with each other. The effect is to “entrain” your brainwaves, meaning they begin to follow the beats. This technology of “brainwave entrainment” has been around for a couple decades now, but it is being used more often now.

The idea is that the beats in the music will slow your brainwaves down so you go from the normal waking or “Beta” state of consciousness (14 to 30 hertz) to and “Alpha” brainwave state (8 – 14 hertz) or deeper. The alpha state is one of relaxed alertness, and is considered a light meditative state. The “Theta” state (4 – 8 hertz) is one of deeper meditation – if you stay awake (drowsiness is common).

Do this kind of meditation music work? My wife and I have tried several different products, and yes, brainwave entrainment works. My meditation CDs quickly put me into a relaxed meditative state, and the ones designed to synchronize brainwaves to the theta range (4 – 8 hertz) either facilitate deep meditation or, if I am laying down, put me to sleep. My wife found greater self awareness and less stress as results of listening as well.

So which is the best meditation music? Many kinds may work well. But what is added to the music may be the most important thing.

Meditation music produces measurable results. It slows our heartbeats down to about one beat per second, which can allow us to relax, let go, meditate and/or fall asleep.

There are different types of meditation however, and different types of music are appropriate for each. A relaxing meditation is intended to help you slow down and release stress, so the best music is easy to listen to and has elements that embody peace and harmony. The instruments and type of music are those that you associate with these qualities. This can differ from person to person. For example, you might associate flute music with lilting tunes and it might then invigorate you, while someone else may equate flute music with peaceful forest scenes or waterfalls.

Positive music is the best kind for meditation because it has beneficial qualities and is emotionally and spiritually uplifting, many believe even healing. Additionally, it can be relaxing, calming, or even physically and mentally stimulating. Positive music is not about lyrics, but about the music itself.

The music of the ’50s was almost all positive, so much so that there was no need to call it that, as there was no “negative” music to speak of. Today’s music is much different; heavy metal, grunge, punk rock, and other genres all contribute to a large body of negative music, music that expresses and evokes images of anger, fear, ugliness, hatred and pain. Even classical music written with a lot of discord can be considered negative. In the early 20th century, the works of Arthur Schonburg were rejected and in some instances almost caused riots amongst concert goers. Since then discordant music has been accepted and incorporated by modern music composers and music schools.

Negative music has become a part of modern tv and movies, forming the basis of music scores that evoke terror, suspense, and fear, and thereby helping to shape modern culture.

Positive music, on the other hand, has been present through all time, and thanks to modern media, people are becoming aware of positive music forms they never even knew existed before, examples of which are Gregorian chants and ancient Jewish and Arabic music. Positive music has the ability to transform and uplift, infuse people with feelings of content and wellbeing.

This is not to say that sad music is negative. I’m thinking specifically of the music of Sarah McLachlan when I say that a singer/songwriter can reach deep and then soar, and leave you with a feeling of being understood in your sadness, yet uplifted with comfort and hope. There is rock music such as the music of the Moody Blues or U2 which can evoke images of angels.

This is not a statement about any particular genre of music in its entirety, just that if you listen carefully, you will recognize whether the music you are listening to is positive or negative by the way your mind, body, emotions and psyche react. When you are practicing a relaxing meditation, you can learn to choose the right music, and positive music is a great place to start.