MUSIC AND THE HEART: how music can heal and connect the

MUSIC AND THEHEART: how music can heal and connect the mind, body, soul, and community

PHAS E T WO | W E E K O NE

A Note from Mrs. Godfrey

Hello fellow music-makers, world-changers, and dream-followers! YOU are valued. The West Ada Choir Directors have worked hard to bring you new and creative content during phase two that will inspire you to dig deeper. I am so proud of my co-workers, and I am so proud of you for being here and being willing to try new things! I love new! And change! And what-if! It can be incredibly difficult, though, to feel empowered and capable when things change and morph so quickly. I know some of you have jobs. I know some of you are taking care of family members. I know some of you are balancing work, school, home care, and trying to find a stinking WiFi signal that is strong enough to just load that one thing PLEASE. I just want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for joining in in the way that you can. We do this for you ☺

This week will be a journey of self-reflection, connecting to and understanding our emotions, and engaging with our greater community. Do what you can, be present and try new things, and know that we’re on the other side of the screen thinking of innovative ways to engage with you because YOU. ARE. AWESOME.

- Mrs. Godfrey, Meridian High School Choir Director. Contact anytime - [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

What To Expect

Take these topics in bite-sized chunks, one day at a time OR dive in deeper and look at multiple topics in a day.

Pursue one OR two OR three topics. Do NOT feel the need to make the pie from scratch, and then eat the entire thing. Take a slice or two. Do NOT drink through the firehose, but let your directors guide you through a successful week with these units.

Every topic will have a “digging deeper” section for further research if your curiosity ispeaked. Use it (or don’t use it) in a way that works for you.

At the end of the week, fill out your “Check for Understanding” form!

What To Expect

Music and the Heart

Study of music and aligning heartbeats.

Optional Assignment – create your own mantra

Music and the Mind

Study of music and the auditory and emotional

connections in our brain. Study highlighting those who get chills more often when listening to music and why

Optional Assignment – take the quiz the participants in the study took to see if you are “open to experience”

Music and the Body

Understanding music therapy and techniques that heal

physical and mental ailments.

Optional Assignment – move to music in various ways

Music and the Soul

Start here if you’d like to practice mindful breathing all

week vs. one day. Understanding mindfulness, practicing mindful presence

to engage breath

Optional Assignment – daily (or one day) mindfulness 5-minute breathing sessions with guides using different

techniques. Start here if you’d like to practice all week

Music and the Community

Sharing my story and my mottos, examples of people using music to connect and

change history, and a chance to share your story. Do this

one last if possible.

Optional Assignment – share your story via Teams, e-mail, or another format discussed

with your director, and connect through shared

experience

Music and theheart.“THE HEART THAT FEELS MUSIC WILL FEEL PEOPLE.”

-SCHINICHI SUZUKI | PHILOSOPHER | EDUCATOR | CREATOR OF SUZUKI METHOD

Heartbeats align when we sing a common theme.

THE ABOVE STATEMENT IS A DRIVING THOUGHT

DISCOVERED THROUGH THE STUDY BEING ADDRESSED IN

THIS SECTION.

IN THE NEXT SLIDES, WE WILL DISCUSS THE FINDINGS OF THE

STUDY.

ON THE LAST SLIDE OF THIS SECTION, I WILL ASK YOU TO

ENGAGE IN OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENTS AND DEEPER

DIGGING IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AND ABLE.

LEARNING INTENTION: I WILL UNDERSTAND AND APPLY

BREATHING TECHNIQUES THAT CORRELATE WITH SINGING

PHRASES AND HELP OVERALL HEART HEALTH.


OVERVIEW

In the original research study/article “Music structure determines

heart rate variability of singers”, high school choral students were

asked to sing three different singing exercises, with the hopes that

heart rate fluctuations could be monitored. Special attention was

focused on when and if heartrates aligned and why it did or did not

happen.

The study also addressed how breathing informs singing, which

informs heart rate, and the positive effects this cycle has on our heart

health and overall wellbeing.

Breathing

Singing

Heart Rate


STUDY

The three singing exercises were meant to address three different types of unified singing and

breathing patterns. It is here that they saw patterns take shape.

1. Humming – Using the same tone and no text, singers breathed whenever they wanted to.

2. Hymn Sing – Using Fairest Lord Jesus, singers were accompanied by a pianist and sang this

well-known hymn with specific 8-bar phrases and collective breathing at the end of the phrases.

3. Mantra – Singers sang Just Relax, a mantra (a simple statement repeated frequently) designed

to be sung at a 10 second duration “producing respiration cycles of 0.1 HZ”, which has been

proven to improve blood pressure and enhance the natural push and pull of our Heart Rates (this

is a healthy thing, to see a natural rise and fall in heartrate over time).


RESULTS

1. Humming – With no set breathing pattern, heart rate

variance (HRV) did not align.

2. Hymn Sing – With a set breathing pattern and

predictable musical phrasing, the heart rate variance

(HRV) aligned significantly among all singers.

3. Mantra – With a mantra designed to focus breathing

at 0.1 HZ and a 10 second phrase, the heart rate

variance (HRV) aligned significantly among all singers,

and at the HZ expected.

Picture taken from fig. 3. of study findings


WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR

HEARTS?

We should sing together, and often, using a unified breath.

In doing so, we create predictable breathing patterns that

positively effect our blood pressure, natural heart rate

fluctuations, and overall heart health and wellbeing (more

on this in the article if you’d like to dig deeper)

If we breathe together, we sing together. If we sing

together, our hearts align. If our hearts align, we can then

move and grow and change for the better together.

Pretty simple, right? ☺


OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT: CREATE A

MANTRA!

Create a 10 second mantra that you can sing and repeat throughout your day that will remind you of positive things we can control in our life.

1. Time your mantra and aim for the 10 secondhappy place

2. Create a school-appropriate phrase you can sing and share with others

3. Want to be brave? Share your lyrics (or your mantra through a recording!) with your teacher and peers

Mrs. Godfrey’s mantra: “Be true to your own best.”

DIGGING DEEPER

Want a link to the full study? https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00334/full

Want a link to an abridged, easy-to-digest overview? https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/07/09/200390454/when-choirs-sing-many-hearts-beat-as-one

REFERENCES

VICKHOFF, ET AL. “MUSIC STRUCTURE DETERMINES HEART RATE VARIABILITY OF SINGERS.” FRONTIERS, FRONTIERS, 22 MAY 2013, WWW.FRONTIERSIN.ORG/ARTICLES/10.3389/FPSYG.2013.00334/FULL.

HAENSCH, ANNA. “WHEN CHOIRS SING, MANY HEARTS BEAT AS ONE.” NPR, NPR, 10 JULY 2013, WWW.NPR.ORG/SECTIONS/HEALTH-SHOTS/2013/07/09/200390454/WHEN-CHOIRS-SING-MANY-HEARTS-BEAT-AS-ONE.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00334/full

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/07/09/200390454/when-choirs-sing-many-hearts-beat-as-one

http://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00334/full

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/07/09/200390454/when-choirs-sing-many-hearts-beat-as-one

Music and the mind.“MUSIC IS A MEANINGLESS NOISE UNLESS IT TOUCHES A RECEIVING MIND.”

- PAUL HINDEMITH | COMPOSER | PERFORMER | TEACHER

Why do some people experience chills when listening to music?

THE ABOVE QUESTION IS THE DRIVING FORCE FOR A STUDY OF

MUSIC AND THE MIND.

IN THE NEXT SLIDES, WE’LL EXAMINE THE STUDY AND LEARN

FROM THE FINDINGS.

ON THE LAST SLIDE OF THIS SECTION, I WILL ASK YOU TO

ENGAGE IN OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENTS AND DEEPER

DIGGING IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AND ABLE.

LEARNING INTENTION: I CAN SELF-REFLECT ON MY EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO MUSIC AND

IDENTIFY THE MAIN PARTS OF THE BRAIN THAT INFORM OUR

EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO MUSIC.


OVERVIEW

In the Oxford Journal Social Cognitive and Affective

Neuroscience, an article titled “Brain connectivity reflects

human aesthetic responses to music” sought out a way to

measure people’s ability to experience deep emotional

connections to music, with an emphasis on getting the

chills. The researchers measured white matter in the brain

of participants, and pathways going from auditory and

emotion-sensing parts of the brain. Their hypothesis: more

white matter = stronger pathways = stronger emotional

response to music for music’s sake.


STUDY

10 participants were chosen who report regularly having chills (or

other strong emotional reactions) when listening to music, and 10

participants were chosen who reported not having chills. Each

participant brought a set of songs to the study that are either their

favorite pieces (no chills group) or the pieces that regularly give

them chills (chills group). Personal responses were gathered before

and during the experiment about their response to various songs

and their general openness to music. Measurements were also

taken on brain connectivity and activity while listening to different

pieces. The measurements were taken while listening to neutral

songs participants did not pick, as well as their personally-picked

pieces.

EXAMPLES OF PERSONALLY PICKED

PIECES (TAKEN FROM SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS, TABLE S1)

Coldplay “Strawberry Swing”

Belle & Sebastian “The Model”

Blue Devils Drum Corps “Constantly Risking Absurdity”

Aaron Copland “Appalachian Spring” mvmt 2

Death Cab for Cutie “I Will Follow You Into theDark”

Carl Orff “Carmina Burana”

Gustav Mahler “Symphony No. 7” mvmt 1

N’Sync “This I Promise You”


THE BRAIN CONNECTION

Three areas of the brain were studied:

1. Posterior Superior Temporal Gyrus (pSTG)

◦ Regions of the brain devoted to audio

perception (hearing and interpreting sound)

2. Nucleus Accumbens (aIns)

◦ Emotion and reward-processing region,

3. Medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC)

◦ Emotion and reward-processing region, social

behavior and cognition

pSTG

pSTG

aIns mPFC


STUDY

When the aIns and the mPFC activate, a wide variety of visceral (gut reactions) and abstract (heart reactions) responses can occur. Researchers chose to measure chills, because the chills encompasses the best of both worlds and falls right in the middle of the many emotional connections to be experienced. They hypothesized that there would be a strong correlation between participants with more white brain matter between these three parts of the brain and the participates who had a stronger tendency to experience chills.

more white matter = stronger pathways = stronger emotional response to music


RESULTS

Individual emotional responses to music vary and are dependent on behavioral and personality factors. However, there is a strong correlation between the strength of a person’s connections between their pSTG, aIns, and mPFC parts of their brain, and that person’s tendency to experience chills when listening to their favorite pieces of music. Their auditory sections are strongly linked to their emotional and social sections of the brain!

more white matter = stronger pathways = stronger emotional response to music

Picture taken as part of results of study – measuring the way the three

areas of the brain connect, and the volume of white matter that

connects them.


OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT: TAKE THE PARTICIPANT’S QUIZ!

Interested in seeing what the participants used as part of their determining their “chill” factor? Take the quiz on the next slide!

1. If you know you experience chills frequently, refer back to the table of different visceral and abstract reactions and determine if you lean more one way or the other (two slides back)

2. If you do not experience chills frequently, identify your three favorite pieces and share your thoughts with your director or friend as to why they are still your favorite

REFERENCES

ELLIS, ROBERT J., ET AL. “BRAIN CONNECTIVITY REFLECTS HUMAN AESTHETIC RESPONSES TO MUSIC.” OUP ACADEMIC, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 10 MAR. 2016, ACADEMIC.OUP.COM/SCAN/ARTICLE/11/6/884/2223400?SEARCHRESULT=1.

Want to see the full study? https://academic.oup.com/scan/article/11/6/884/2223400?searchresult=1

Want to discuss further? If we can train thebrain to create stronger pathways, do you think we can become more emotionally responsive to music? How would we go about doing this?

DIGGING DEEPER

https://academic.oup.com/scan/article/11/6/884/2223400?searchresult=1

Aesthetic Experience Scale in Music (AES-M) aka Participant’s Survey! Taken from the study, adapted from Silvia &Nusbaum (2011) and Sloboda (1991)

FOR EACH OF THE BELOW STATEMENTS, IDENTIFY YOUR NUMBER:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

NEVER/RARELY NEARLY/ALWAYS

When listening to music, how often do you…

___ feel absorbed and immersed

___ completely lose track of time

___ Feel chills down your spine

___ get goose bumps

___ feel like you’re somewhere else

___ feel like your hair is standing on end

___ feel like your heart skips a beat

___ feel like crying

___ feel touched or moved

___ feel detached from your surroundings

___ feel a sense of awe and wonder

___ feel a lump in your throat

___ feel sensation in the pit of the stomach

___ feel like your heart is racing

How often do you feel a strong emotional response

directly to music?

Please report 3-5 pieces of music that reliably

induce intensely pleasurable emotional responses.

Music and the body.“MUSIC CAN L IFT US OUT OF DEPRESSION OR MOVE US TO TEARS – I T IS A REMEDY, A TONIC , ORANGE JU ICE FOR THE EAR. BUT FOR MANY OF MY NEUROLOGICAL PAT IENTS, MUSIC IS EVEN MORE – I T CAN PROVIDE ACCESS, EVEN WHEN NO MEDICAT ION CAN, TO MOVEMENT, TO SPEECH, TO L IFE . FOR THEM, MUSIC IS NOT A LUXURY, BUT A NECESSIT Y. ”

- OL IVER SACKS | AUTHOR | NEUROLOGIST | NATURAL IST

How does music heal?

The above question will drive our dive into music therapy and music and movement.

In the next slides, we’ll examine stories and studies of healing through music.

On the last slide of this section, I will ask you to engage in optional assignments and deeper digging if you are interested and able.

Learning Intention: I will better understand how music can affect a person’s body and well-being as a whole.


GRANDPA JACK

My husband’s Grandpa, Grandpa Jack, had Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. I only got to

meet him once in person before he passed, and he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and gracious

man. Josh told me that Grandpa Jack had a “tick” to helping him control his physical shaking as

his condition worsened – humming to himself. Whenever Grandpa Jack wasn’t moving or

speaking, he had to do something to keep his shaking under control and humming just so

happened to do the trick for him! When I met him in person, I witnessed what was the most pure,

endearing sound. It did not bother me. It did not make me feel uncomfortable. It was just who he

was and how he found comfort – the hum was healing in the moments he needed steadiness. The

hum was an anchor for him that grounded him. In his life, music was a healing salve to his

shaking bones and his tired mind.


THE MAN AT THE RETIREMENT HOME

My family and I will go to local retirement homes and sing to the wonderful people who live there.

There was one instance where I witnessed a beautiful memory come back to a man who suffered

from dementia and was blind. After singing, my family and I were packing up to head home. An elderly

gentleman sat down at the piano, no words, and started to play. He began playing the jazz ballad

“Misty”. Luckily, I knew the incredibly touching lyrics to this piece. I watched as his hands glided over

the keys, and I began singing with him – no conversation had to happen beforehand, and no

conversation had to happen after – we just paused life and re-created what I believe is a beautiful

memory for this man. I don’t know his name, but I know that music was a haven and a healing space

in that moment.

Here’s a snippet of his beautiful playing and my singing:


NICU BABIES AND MUSIC THERAPY

I hold a special place in my heart for those who experience

NICU stays. We just had our first child, Emerson, and the

birth process was very traumatic. Emerson had a stay in the

NICU. Thankfully, we had incredible nurses and doctors

surrounding his healing journey. The American Psychological

Association published an article titled “Music as medicine”,

in which they highlight Music Therapy to improve the healing

process for NICU babies. Music, performed in three

different ways, was successful in improving sleep patterns,

sucking behavior, and alertness in all babies who received

therapy. Singing to the babies, however, was the most

effective treatment of the three.

Emerson – then and now!


VIBROACOUSTICS AND PARKINSON’S

The same article highlights work being done in

vibroacoustics – a process of using sound and

vibration to correct and improve movement and

tremor issues. The initial findings are showing

positive results in using the art of music as a

healing process, and a long-term study is providing

further evidence in this realm. Patients are able to

walk easier, use longer strides, and have reduced

tremors after short bursts of vibroacoustic therapy.

Remember Grandpa Jack? I think he was on to

something with his humming… ☺ always ahead of

his time.

Vibroacoustics chair – think of sitting on a

loud subwoofer, but for healing


MORE HEALTH BENEFITS AT A GLANCE:

Various studies on music therapy highlight these health benefits as well:

1. Increases production in immune system’s effectiveness

2. Reduces stress levels

3. Eases anxiety and discomfort during procedures and cancer therapy

4. Restores speaking abilities

5. Improves pain relief

6. Aids in rehabilitation


BOTTOM LINE: MUSIC HEALS THE BODY IN MULTIPLE WAYS!

It pays to get up, move, sing, and feel music in and through you!

Singing songs makes babies feel better.

Humming helps my Grandpa.

Dancing and playing piano restores memory.

Vibrations help people with Parkinson’s walk easier.

Move your body, engage with music, and lean into its healing effects in your life!


OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT: GET UP AND

MOVE TO THE BEAT!

Enjoy Just Dance? Find various YouTube recordings

or play the game for 10 minutes and get your heart

pumping and body engaged with some dance

tunes! You can start here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j_eNHiBUpU

(obviously, it’s Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”)

Want to connect with your body in a more relaxed

way? Do a five-minute stretch with relaxing music

you enjoy! You can also use this music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6_akBtKZdE

DIGGING DEEPER

Want to read more about the general healing

effects of music?

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-

mood/how-music-can-help-you-heal

Want to read the APA article?

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/11/music

REFERENCES

NOVOTNEY, AMY. “MUSIC AS MEDICINE.” MONITOR ON PSYCHOLOGY, AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, NOV. 2013, WWW.APA.ORG/MONITOR/2013/11/MUSIC.

HARVARD HEALTH PUBLISHING. “HOW MUSIC CAN HELP YOU HEAL.” HARVARD HEALTH, FEB. 2016, WWW.HEALTH.HARVARD.EDU/MIND-AND-MOOD/HOW-MUSIC-CAN-HELP-YOU-HEAL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j_eNHiBUpU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6_akBtKZdE

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/how-music-can-help-you-heal

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/11/music

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/11/music

http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/how-music-can-help-you-heal

Music and the soul.“MUSIC DOES MORE THAN SOOTHE THE SOUL, IT BRINGS BALANCE TO THE MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT.”

- BERTICE BERRY | SOCIOLOGIST | AUTHOR | EDUCATOR

Mindfulness opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our song.

The above statement will guide our journey into mindfulness practices and inform our breathing for strong singing.

In the next slides, we’ll study mindfulness techniques and practice applying them to our daily routines.


Learning Intention: I will practice being mindful and renew my appreciation for the benefits of being connected with the breath when singing.


WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?:

Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing

one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly

acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts,

and bodily sensations.

Simply put: Mindfulness fully recognizes what is.

Mindfulness can prepare our minds and bodies for

simply breathing and being. It can prepare our souls for

connecting deeply and authentically with music. It ties

the journey of our musical selves together.


HOW DOES IT CONNECT?

Music and the heart: heartbeats align when we

align our breath. Mindfulness is a healthy practice

for understanding breath management.

Mindfulness practices support guided breathing

which extends to music.

Music and the brain: strong connections between

certain parts of our brain lend to strong emotional

connections with music. Mindfulness can center

our awareness and help us become more

empathetic and attentive listeners.

Music and the body: music has healing effects on

our body in many ways. Mindfulness can be used

as a tool to amplify those effects – creating space

in our lives to lower anxiety and promote positive

understanding of self.


MINDFULNESS IS:

1. Mindfulness is awareness of the present

moment in a non-judgmental way

2. Mindfulness is stepping outside of

ourselves

3. Mindfulness is acceptance of what is

4. Mindfulness is a practice anyone can enjoy

and benefit from

5. Mindfulness focuses on being

MINDFULNESS IS NOT:

1. Mindfulness is not positive thinking

2. Mindfulness is not me, myself, and I

3. Mindfulness is not willing ourselves to be

better or do better

4. Mindfulness does not have a religious

requirement

5. Mindfulness does not focus on changing

things

Mindfulness opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our

song.

BELOW ARE VARIOUS MINDFUL TECHNIQUES TO TRY:


MINDFUL TECHNIQUES: RAIN

Use this technique to guide your

understanding of hurtful or frustrating

moments.

Use this technique to practice being kind to

one’s self.

Use this practice to center one’s self.

R

Recognize

“what’s here?”

A

Allow

“this is what it’s like.”

I

Investigate

“be kind.”

N

Non-identify

“it’s not me.”


MINDFUL TECHNIQUES: A BODY SCAN

PRACTICE AND CALM REMINDER

Use this technique to check into and relax

four big zones of our body.

Use this technique when feeling anxious,

angry, or overwhelmed.

Use this technique to practice being aware of

tension in the body and re-align the body

properly.

CALM

Chest –breathe, lift, and expand

Arms –lift, drop,

tense, release

Legs –move, still,

tense, release

Mouth –clench, release,

still, smile


MINDFUL TECHNIQUES: RELAXING

BREATH

Breath in for 4 counts

Hold the breath for 7 counts

Let the air out for 8 counts

Use as a way to connect to your breath.

Use when you need to still yourself or when

you’re getting ready for bed.

4

7

8


MINDFUL TECHNIQUES: GUIDED

MEDITATION

Five-minute guided meditation you can do

right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmFUDk

j1Aq0

Three-minute guided meditation you can do

right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEfs5TJ

Z6Nk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmFUDkj1Aq0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEfs5TJZ6Nk


MINDFUL TECHNIQUES: TRACE A LEAF

Use this technique to breathe in the fresh air

and practice on re-focusing your attention.

Breathe in while tracing one side of the leaf

and breathe out while tracing the other side.


MINDFUL TECHNIQUES: MINDFUL

LISTENING

Use this as a way to practice being open and non-

judgmental while tuning in to sounds in an intentional

way.

Use this to practice staying open to new experiences.

Find a song you’ve never heard of before, put your

headphones on, and immerse yourself. Resist placing

immediate judgment on the piece – instead, aim to

dissect and engage in every aspect with that song.

The idea is to uncover as much as you can about that

song before placing judgment on it


MINDFUL TECHNIQUES: MINDFUL

AWARENESS (5,4,3,2,1)

Wherever you are, stop, and just be. Fully

notice your surroundings – hear, smell, touch,

see, taste

Use this when you would like to feel

grounded.

Use this when practicing gratitude or

appreciation for what is.

5 – things you can see

4 – things you can hear

3 – things you can touch

2 – things you can

smell

1 – thing you can

taste


OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT: 5-MINUTES OF

MINDFULNESS

Take any of the above mindfulness techniques (or research your own techniques!) and practice being mindful.

Go further – practice this multiple days this week.

Go further – keep a log of your reactions and thoughtsafter your mindful moments, and log one sentence about your experience to share with your director and/or peers.

DIGGING DEEPER

Want to learn more? Check out any of the below websites:

http://projects.hsl.wisc.edu/SERVICE/courses/whole-health-for-pain-and-suffering/Script-Mindful-Breathing.pdf

https://www.mindful.org/a-quick-calming-body-scan-to-check-in-with-yourself/

https://www.mindful.org/beginners-body-scan-meditation/

https://www.helpguide.org/harvard/benefits-of-mindfulness.htm

http://projects.hsl.wisc.edu/SERVICE/courses/whole-health-for-pain-and-suffering/Script-Mindful-Breathing.pdf

https://www.mindful.org/a-quick-calming-body-scan-to-check-in-with-yourself/

https://www.mindful.org/beginners-body-scan-meditation/

https://www.helpguide.org/harvard/benefits-of-mindfulness.htm

Music and the community.

“PARTICIPATION. THAT’S WHAT’S GOING TO SAVE THE HUMAN RACE .”

– PETE SEEGER | SINGER | SOCIAL ACTIVIST

Music connects people.

The above statement is a vision the MHS program started growing last year – it is what guides this topic of music and community.

In the next slides, we’ll discuss the personal experiences that form our view of the power of music.


Learning Intention: I will reflect on personal music experiences that have shaped my understanding of the importance of music in my life and greater community. I will engage and empathize with others’ shared experiences.


A note: I firmly believe this topic should be the last

you land on. Aim to dive in (or skim) the other topics

to open your heart, mind, body, and soul to

experience music with your whole self and discover

how it can bring us into closer community. Make this

the cherry on top – sharing in life and love and music

together.

From the amazing thoughts of my husband: “To be in

community is to live shared experience.”


INTRO AND THOUGHTS

I can’t explain it with words. I’ve already tried to

do so – giving you studies, practices, a chance

to dance, a chance to create, a chance to be.

And still, all the words in the world fall short to

the beauty that is creating art – with a

community – with the most intimate of

instruments we possess: Our voice. When you

open your soul to me and share your voice, you

are giving me the great gift of shared love and

trust. How stunning.

In my years of teaching, I have strived to be a

wave. I want to be in motion, moving and swelling

and growing and changing and going forward.

Through the years I have found that the thing that

gives me the most life when creating something

so beautiful and pure as choral music, is that I

get to create something together in real time, to

form something greater than I could ever achieve

on my own, to then share with the community

that surrounds us. That sharing of experience

moves me and makes me believe I can be more.

It is art in its best form.


INTRO AND THOUGHTS

But, in realizing that community and the gift of entering into creation together – one heartbeat

aligned, breath guiding our steps, the mind opening to emotional experience and body being healed

through the pulse of our songs – I can’t begin to explain the importance of this without my

community. I need you. I need my fellow co-workers and friends. Here is what they said about the

importance of creating something in community and bringing their experiences to their community.


“Music, specifically choir, invites everyone from all backgrounds to come together in unity.

Everyone is welcome. Everyone is wanted. Everyone is needed and has a part to fulfill.”

- MRS. MACKEY | EDUCATOR | CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL

“A connected choir is a convergence of ALL the member's stories. Through the rehearsal process

the stories merge into one unified message, forging our communities' story.”

- MR. MCMULLEN | EDUCATOR | EAGLE HIGH SCHOOL

“A choir can start a rehearsal as strangers and finish it as family because of the deep connections

a shared musical experience can create.”

- MR. ANDERSON | EDUCATOR | RENAISSANCE HIGH SCHOOL


“I was selected to participate in an area honor choir with other high school singers as a ninth-

grade boy singing soprano in my own school choir. It was during that first combined rehearsal

that my life was changed forever. I had never experienced anything like it before—and I knew I

wanted to spend the rest of my life chasing that feeling and exploring it with as many others as

possible.”

- MR. PERCIFIELD| EDUCATOR | MOUNTAIN VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

“Great music and art makes the common uncommon and the mundane extraordinary.”

- MR. SEARE | EDUCATOR | ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL


“During the Christmas season and during the last days of school at the end of the year I would

always take my choirs to sing in the nursing homes. One year I took one of my choirs there to

sing, A man was there who had not shown any emotion or communication in 10 years. He was a

zombie who was going through the rest of his life unconnected with the world around him. When

the choir sang, he began to weep like a child. Afterwards the choir members would go and just

talk to the residence in the home. They noted that he continued to cry while they tried to

communicate with him. The staff came up to me later and commented on what a fantastic

breakthrough this was for him. We never know the lives we change and the people we touch.”

- MR. SEARE | EDUCATOR | ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL


HERE’S WHERE YOU COME IN.

I would love to hear from YOU. You are just as much an important

and vital part of our choral community. I want you to think on how

community has shaped your understanding of music, how music

has impacted you or connected you, a performance that was

especially touching (either as a performer or audience member),

the important role music plays in the wholeness of a person, etc.

And then share. Share your thoughts, stories, hopes, questions.

Share with your friends and peers, share with your director, and

take time to re-connect with your community.


OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT: CONNECT WITH

YOUR COMMUNITY AND SHARE STORIES

Connect with your choir and director via Teams, e-

mail, or another avenue your director communicates

Your director will most likely set aside a specific time

to engage so watch for updates

Use the previous slide to guide your conversations, as

well as prompts from your director

Want to be brave? Reach out to me! I’ll engage with

you via e-mail and Teams times I have already set up

with your directors! [email protected]

DIGGING DEEPER

Write a hand-written note thanking someone

for a beautiful shared experience (think

director, family member, peer, a student who

has graduated) or e-mail that person

If you need reminded that you are connected

and valued, reach out and ask for

encouragement – I’ve done this countless

times in my meetings with your directors. E-

mail your director and say “I need to be

encouraged”. It’s so brave and vulnerable!

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

MUSIC AND THE HEART: how music can heal and connect the