I've played a few instruments when I was young and I believe I have a reasonable sense for harmony and rhythm. I enjoy music for the most part regardless if it is classical, jazz, pop or rock. But when it comes to so called relaxation music I occasionally cringe and experience nothing remotely related to relaxation.
My most vidid experience was a few month ago while attending a course when this apparently very talented woman's compositions were supposed to create a relaxed environment. To me it sounded more like a six year old getting to know the keys of a piano, painfully spreading her fingers while desperately trying to keep up with her vision of a beautiful tune, hence, not relaxing at all.
Today, I was reminded of this experience while getting some Bowen therapy work done on me. Apparently, therapists are paying $40 and more per CD for this questionable smooth. Now, I'm sure there are some great talents out there that actually have some sense of harmony and are able to tune into emotional depths and serenity but some just don't cut it. I'm not able to give an exact figure of how many self-proclaimed relaxation experts are amongst the genuine but I wouldn't be surprise if there are many.
Now, I might be a bit critical when listening to music since I have some minor musical background but I believe that musical sense is innate to everyone and although we find different music attractive there are certain rules of harmony and rhythm that are observed while trying to achieve a specific emotion or physical sense. Hence, everyone should get a feeling of relaxation while listening to those harmonies, regardless of their background. However, even if the harmonies match the universal pattern of relaxation, it is the rhythm that seems to play an important role as well. Just imagine the beautiful piece Bolero while the drummer changes the paces all the time.
It is the wonder of the forces of availability and demand that allows minor work, that does defeat the purpose, to be fed into the multi billion dollar business of what we call spirituality. On one hand I want to so "Good on ya" and congratulate those who knew how to play the business but then I sympathize with those who "suffer" from their products just a little bit more.
My most vidid experience was a few month ago while attending a course when this apparently very talented woman's compositions were supposed to create a relaxed environment. To me it sounded more like a six year old getting to know the keys of a piano, painfully spreading her fingers while desperately trying to keep up with her vision of a beautiful tune, hence, not relaxing at all.
Today, I was reminded of this experience while getting some Bowen therapy work done on me. Apparently, therapists are paying $40 and more per CD for this questionable smooth. Now, I'm sure there are some great talents out there that actually have some sense of harmony and are able to tune into emotional depths and serenity but some just don't cut it. I'm not able to give an exact figure of how many self-proclaimed relaxation experts are amongst the genuine but I wouldn't be surprise if there are many.
Now, I might be a bit critical when listening to music since I have some minor musical background but I believe that musical sense is innate to everyone and although we find different music attractive there are certain rules of harmony and rhythm that are observed while trying to achieve a specific emotion or physical sense. Hence, everyone should get a feeling of relaxation while listening to those harmonies, regardless of their background. However, even if the harmonies match the universal pattern of relaxation, it is the rhythm that seems to play an important role as well. Just imagine the beautiful piece Bolero while the drummer changes the paces all the time.
It is the wonder of the forces of availability and demand that allows minor work, that does defeat the purpose, to be fed into the multi billion dollar business of what we call spirituality. On one hand I want to so "Good on ya" and congratulate those who knew how to play the business but then I sympathize with those who "suffer" from their products just a little bit more.
