The Practice--Archival Article: Naturally-Acoustic
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| Lisa Spector and Sanchez |
Feed Your Mind with
Whole Music
Originally published in the Natural Inquirer (Skagit Valley Food Coop)
What if your shopping list looked
something like: Organic broccoli, organic carrots, organic soy milk, and
acoustic music CDs? It might if you think of music as an energetic substance that
your body absorbs and digests. Current
research shows it does.
According to psychoacoustic experts
(researches the effects of sound/music on the nervous system) music entrains
our minds and bodies. Every cell in our
bodies responds to musical vibration and while some types of music lifts our
moods and immune responses, some music can lead us into a black hole of
depression and low immune responses (think heavy metal). While many of us recall Don Campbell’s 1997
book, The Mozart Effect, not everyone
prefers classical music.
We can still reap the benefits of music
by listening to other genres including world and jazz, among other favorites. Some popular music is considered healthy if
it has a strong melody and it doesn’t possess boosted bass & drums or harsh
lyrics. While we feel safe purchasing
our groceries at food cooperatives we can also feel assured with the music CDs sold at
this coop.
Most of us by now are familiar with
the Putumayo World Music label. We have
seen the CDs with the distinct folk art design of Nicola Heindl in boutiques,
bookstores, coffee shops and grocery stores.
Think of the seductive French Café compilation often heard
wafting through the coop. It feels
fantastic, no?
Founded by Dan Storper and Michael
Kraus in 1993 Putumayo World Music label sports the motto, “guaranteed to make
you feel good.” When asked how he
accomplished this mission, Storper responds, “We try to select music that our
staff of all ages and backgrounds in the US and Europe love with the hope that
others will appreciate the songs as well.
I sometimes call what we’re striving for as ‘the spirit of Bob Marley’
because he’s the king of universal music.”
While Putumayo presents tastefully
produced groove and lounge compilations, I prefer its acoustic compilations
such as Acoustic Africa, but I’m also
enamored with the 2003 compilation which presents a musical mix, French Café. With an array of world and jazz music
traditions, the compilations consistently emit a wholesome vibe.
“We’ve developed an extensive list
of more than 100 potential themes,” says Storper. “Based on a combination of music that’s being
collected which can evoke a theme, ideas that we’ve had for awhile or
customers’ suggestions, we’ll pick a theme and try to collect enough
exceptional music.”
The label also donated over
$1,000,000 to 38 non-profits including Amnesty International, Oxfam, Mercy
Corps and Coffee Kids. A kid’s music label
with teaching aids was launched in 1999 and a radio show, Putumayo World Music
Hour in 2000 which airs on 170 commercial and non-commercial radio stations and
streams on the Putumayo website. The
label opened offices in Europe, Asia, Oceania, South America, and Africa. The label appeals to cultural creatives with
its uplifting ethnic music and support of social justice.
Founded in 1985 by Tami Simon,
Colorado-based Sounds True provides music for therapeutic uses ranging from
Joshua Leeds’ classical relaxation CDs to Marjorie De Muynck’s acoustic
soundscapes.
Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, De
Muynck discovered through her sound healing practice that acoustic music works
best in a healing environment. Some
people find that they have acquired sensitivities to EMF (electromagnetic
field) and find that an acoustical music wash combined with overtones from
tuning forks and other sound healing tools eliminate blockages from their
chakras.
She worked mainly with
instrumental overtones tuned to the key of the universal vibration “ohm” on her
recording In the Key of Earth. On her follow-up recording, Healing Music Vibration she brought in
jazz instruments and a harmonica which she combined with sound healing tools,
and crickets, birds, bees, and bats.
While many sound healing recordings employ electronics, De Muynck
prefers natural sounds.
“I was moved to compose using
acoustic music as I wasn’t attracted to using preset synthesized music that
was really made by a technician at Roland Music,” says De Muynck. “Because so few people really experience the
sound of nature and its simple beauty that I tried to emulate that as much as
possible within my compositions. The
music to me feels more elemental and that in itself is healing.”
A professional jazz musician, sound
healer, and scholar, De Muynck ‘s Cherokee grandparents introduced her to the
sounds of nature and her musician father to jazz and blues. “Most of the world music I’ve listened to for
over a half of century was songs about the natural world and how all is part of
the weaving of life.”
She doesn’t only play this music
for humans, but found that animals also respond positively to its healing
effects. Her own animals enjoy the music
and she noticed wildlife responded positively too. “I can honestly say that a few times I’ve
noticed the birds have sung along with the music, both rhythmically and
tonally,” says De Muynck.
While birds respond favorably to
sound healing recordings, a project Through
a Dog’s Ear (TADE) spearheaded by classical pianist Lisa Spector and
psychoacoustic expert Joshua Leeds found that dogs respond best to psychoacoustically-designed
classical music. Through 2 years of testing
of 150 dogs coordinated by Dr. Susan Wagner (veterinary neurologist), the
researchers found that “psychoacoustically-designed classical music caused 70%
of the dogs in a stressful kennel environment and 85% of dogs in their homes to
be noticeably calmer after listening to the music.” (TADE Volume 2” liner notes).
“Veterinarian offices are recommending TADE
for pre and post surgery because they have seen results of how calming and
comforting the music is for dogs,” says Lisa Spector. Dog trainers have also found the music an
effective tool for a variety of anxiety issues.
While dog trainers and shelters
have found the series effective, Spector cites, “Through a Dog’s Ear is music for dogs and everyone who loves them.”
Dogs might even hook their human companions on Mozart and other delicious
music.
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