Last week, I wrote about playing the tenori-on for my grandfather and aunts and uncles. I mentioned that Pa wasn’t into it, but my aunt thought it would be great to meditate to. I told her I’d write some meditation music for her and I started on the plane ride home. When I wrote her to get more specific requirements for the music (how long does she like to meditate? Is she listening on earbuds or a stereo? etc.), she said,
“I really liked what you shared with us the other night. As for meditating, I don’t use music. However, the patients where I work start every morning with a daily reflection/meditation time (or relaxation for most). They love to listen to music – especially when it starts to get colder and they can’t do it outside. I use a wide range of music because people don’t like the same stuff. What i use the least is classical. It needs to be something that is not intense as that is too challenging for fragile minds/bodies/spirits in early recovery – all systems are adjusting to not having certain things. So nerves are more raw and concentration is more difficult. Rhythm is good – not too much atonal stuff (not very soothing for our patients) and on the slower side. They meditate for 15 minutes. I have another group that does it for 30 minutes. I rarely play all one thing for the entire time – i play different songs, etc. no words.
We have a wide range of ages but usually have a lot of folks in their 20s. I am thinking your music is something they will be able to relate to with ease. I have a built in sound system that is fairly good for the 15 min folks – the 30 min ones use a boom box. Alas, I work in an imperfect environment!”
She is a senior counselor at a rehab center. I like the idea of writing some non-challenging but still interesting music for people to grab onto in recovery.
I am just going to start sending her mp3s. Would anyone like to contribute some stuff? Maybe we could even post it on the NAP.
I’ll give it a try. When do you need it by? And do you want it of any specific length? she says that she plays different “songs” over the 15 or 30 min period, So should we send enough material (3 or 4 or more “songs” for one 15 minute session or just whatever length we want, just short enough to allow for other music to be used as well during the sessions?
And i’d be ok with them being posted here. maybe your aunt can write a guest post about using music in that context.
(and whatever happened to the sounds from mars? anything ever come of that, or is it just super top secret and you can’t talk about it, or you’ll have to kill us?)
there’s no deadline. i’m just gonna send her stuff as i get it “done.” it’s not going to be anything fancy. i think whatever length feels right to you.
it’s a cool idea to have her post. maybe after things settle down – my grandfather is still in his last days, so thing will be pretty rough for her for a while.
as for the sounds from mars – i heard in a meeting the other day that they’re going to turn on the microphone as soon as they can confirm that it’s not going to mess anything else up. it’s gotta be soon, though, because they’re shutting the whole thing down in november.
I’d love to contribute. It sounds like basically what she’s looking for is ambient music, which is something I do quite a bit of. I could definitely find one of my shorter pieces, or excerpt one of my longer ones, and send it to you.
“non-challenging” actually sounds challenging. Writing music for rehabbing twenty-somethings sounds tough too. Hmm, have to think on that one.
charlie – yay! wednesday – yeah.
So how does one get something to you, CB?