TUNE IN TO THE JOY OF
From listening to your favourite songs to singing in the shower, the magical effects of music can truly transform your mood
Think of a tune. Any old tune. It could be a nursery rhyme that you grew up with. Or a favourite dance track from your teens. It could even be that annoying “ear worm” that’s been planted by a current TV ad. Whatever you come up with, spend a few moments focusing on the feelings it brings up for you.
Just a shor t burst of music can transpor t you back to a happy – or sad – time in your life. As a soundtrack to a movie, music has the power to aler t you to imminent danger, or tell you that something exciting is about to take place.
“Music is highly emotive. It has a huge impact on our mood,” explains sound therapist Farzana Ali (Instagram. com/thesoundtherapist).
“Just think about how upbeat tracks are used to hype up spectators at sports’ events or boost the energy vibe in a gym setting. Runners pick playlists that will motivate them. Couples become nostalgic hearing ‘their song’.
“But, while some tunes jog memories in the same way tastes and smells can, others can reduce us to tears the first time we hear them. So what’s going on?
“It’s all to do with the tone of the music. Different musical tones encourage different feelings in us,” explains Farzana. “Certain tones – especially within classical music – are universally soothing. Some can even induce a deeply meditative state. In fact, you may already be using a DIY form of sound therapy when you pick out a favourite piece of music to help you wind down from a busy day, or lift your mood when things are getting on top of you.
“The soothing tones that have these effects are activating, calming ‘alpha’ brainwaves. These are the same brainwaves that are activated during meditation, or when you’re in that luxuriously relaxed and dreamy stage as you’re preparing to fall asleep.
You’re fully aware, yet deeply relaxed.
“Sound therapy goes one step fur ther – consciously employing the purest tones to ver y quickly access this alpha state. It is like a shor t-cut to meditation, and ideal if you think you lack the time or patience to learn how to meditate. You will be taken into the same state without even tr ying.
“Alpha tones slow your brain waves and your hear t rate. As well as de-stressing you and lifting your mood, this calmer state is proven to lower blood pressure and help with pain management.
“It’s a state most of us need to enter more often. Our 24/7 busy lives leave us with too little time to relax, but our brains and bodies are desperate to wind down. Finding your mind wandering into daydreams is a sign that your brain is gasping for more alpha time.
“Sound therapy is one ver y enjoyable way of car ving out that precious time from your busy day.
“Working with a therapist who is trained to practitioner level, you can explore how a range of sounds impact on you. And, just as a pop song from your childhood can take you back to a happy place, a therapist can help to introduce new sound-associations that will bring emotional benefits ever y time you return to them.
“If you just want to relax, DIY sound therapy is great. Listen to alpha wave mind music on a CD, app or YouTube. Or go to your nearest green space, and immerse yourself in the sound of the rustling leaves, and the wind in the trees. Known as psithurism, this is one of the most relaxing sounds known to man. In autumn, crunching through leaves as you walk is also amazingly uplifting.”
Sound therapy uses musical tones to induce a deeply meditative state