MUSIC AND THE HEART: how music can heal and connect the ...
Transcript of 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]
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.
Heartbeats align when we sing a common theme.
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
Heartbeats align when we sing a common theme.
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).
Heartbeats align when we sing a common theme.
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
Heartbeats align when we sing a common theme.
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? ☺
Heartbeats align when we sing a common theme.
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.
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.
Why do some people experience chills when listening 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.
Why do some people experience chills when listening to music?
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”
Why do some people experience chills when listening to music?
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
Why do some people experience chills when listening to music?
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
Why do some people experience chills when listening 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.
Why do some people experience chills when listening to music?
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
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.
How does music heal?
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.
How does music heal?
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:
How does music heal?
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!
How does music heal?
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
How does music heal?
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
How does music heal?
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!
How does music heal?
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.
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.
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 practice being mindful and renew my appreciation for the benefits of being connected with the breath when singing.
Mindfulness opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our song.
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.
Mindfulness opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our song.
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 opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our song.
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:
Mindfulness opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our song.
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.”
Mindfulness opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our song.
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
Mindfulness opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our song.
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
Mindfulness opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our song.
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
Mindfulness opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our song.
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.
Mindfulness opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our song.
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
Mindfulness opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our song.
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
Mindfulness opens the soul up to breathing –and breath determines the strength of our song.
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
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.
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 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.
Music connects people.
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.”
Music connects people.
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.
Music connects people.
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 connects people.
“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
Music connects people.
“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
Music connects people.
“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
Music connects people.
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.
Music connects people.
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!