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
I beg to differ! Ethereal sounds are the product of the musician not the instrument. Quality sounds can come from the alto sax, the electric guitar and the Hammond organ as well as the violin in the right hands. In a similar thought, I wouldn’t call any music play on a piano that featured the top 14 keys as “healing.”
While healing is not my specialty, as an early childhood music educator we almost always prefer acoustic instrumentation for our young pupils. While electronic music CAN be purposeful and high quality, the organic quality of acoustic music, which produces vibrations found in nature, is my preference for the growing brain.
God bless your work,
Kate
This topic has bugged me for a long time and i feel that music should not be judged by what was used to make the noise. Analog synth, piano, harp, drum machine, the point ia if music is good music is good i personally think there are advantages to both and both require a lot of skill to make. So for those of you who think synthesis is fake or unappealing know your facts and for people who dont like acoustic music then you have to take into concideration music originated this way