I was just looking at a sales page for one of the most well-known sound healers in the U.S.  I have been a fan of his for a long time but when I clicked to play a sample, i was reminded that all of his music ( or all that I’ve ever heard) is synthesized, i.e., electronically produced.

As I listen to these ethereal sounds I am brought to the crashing awareness that for many people, especially older people or perhaps people with shaky emotional/mental stability, these sounds could very easily be interpreted as “scary” or “other-worldly” in a very negative sense.  Why is that?  I don’t know for sure, but I have a feeling that it could be because of the unfamiliarity of these kinds of sounds in that person’s life.

I’ve written many times about familiar music vs. unfamiliar music and the fact is, most people prefer familiar, comforting music that they have positive associations with.  Another aspect, I believe, is that acoustic instruments like a grand piano or tympani, or a violin, have a more “grounding” quality to them that the ethereal sounds of much synthesized “healing” music.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this so please send them my way!

Thanks,  Alice

Tonight I went to one of the best concerts/shows of my life!  I went to see the show “Celtic Woman” at the Palace Theater in Louisville and it was fantastic!  Of course I love Celtic music anyway and I’ve been seeing this group on TV for several years now.  When I heard that the group was coming back to Louisville this year I knew I had to go.  I waited until almost a week ago and when I checked the ticket prices I gasped…they were $88 and $102.00  I will tell you that tonight I was able to get a better price than that and even though I was up in balcony 4 I could see very well.

The energy and beauty of this program was unmatched by any concert show I’ve ever been to and you know that I’ve been to a lot.  The young woman that dances around with her violin, playing all the while, is simply amazing!  I’m thinking seriously of going back again tomorrow night.  At the end of the concert tonight they actually did 4 encores!!!   Each one was better than the one before.  If you have a chance to see this brilliant group of singer and instrumentalists, do NOT miss it!!