Made Of Music

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Did you know that a black hole about 2.5 billion years old is humming the deepest musical note ever created—a B-flat that’s a million billion times deeper than the human ear can hear? While perusing the web, I came across this fascinating fact about our musical universe, specifically the Perseus Cluster, where vibrating gases in a galaxy 250 million light-years away produce this cosmic hum. Now that’s intense. To say the least, our universe (and beyond) is undeniably musical.

Whether it’s the chirping of birds, the humming of bees, the whistling wind, the chatter of people in the streets, or the latest tunes blasting through your iPod, music surrounds us every minute of every day. Even silence, in essence, is never truly silent. As technology advances, scientists continue to uncover more natural elements of our world that contain these innate vibrations. As Jill Neimark states in her article Sound Healing: The Restorative Powers of Chant, Rhythm, and Music, “It’s been 30,000 years since primitive man first picked up a bone and carved a flute. It’s now possible to map music’s traces in the brain, study its impact on the immune system, and listen to the songs of black holes and living cells.”

Music is everywhere—including in our genetic and cellular makeup. Since we, as human beings, are literally composed of music (it’s in our living cells… I’m not just making a bad pun here), isn’t it only natural that we respond favorably to it and reflect its harmony in our world? Across the globe, every culture is fascinated by music. It moves us, entices us, enthralls us, and relaxes us. As Bob Proctor, one of the renowned teachers featured in the cult-hit self-help DVD The Secret, suggests: “When you’re feeling down, did you know that you can change it in an instant? Put on a beautiful piece of music, or start singing—that’ll change your emotion. I guarantee you’ll feel good.”

There is a universal connectedness between humans and music—even the smallest exposure can affect our mood. Think of how songs in major keys create feelings of happiness, while those in minor keys evoke melancholy. This led me to wonder: What else hides behind rhythm and melody? Beyond altering our mood, could music have other health benefits? According to scientific research, music—especially drumming—has physical, mental, and spiritual advantages.

So, the next time an annoyed neighbor or a nagging parent bangs on your door, telling you to “be quiet,” let them know you’re drumming for your health. As Michael Drake, ceremonial drummer and author of The Shamanic Drum, raves, “Today’s drummers are rediscovering the ecstatic side of drumming.” Here’s hoping you can, too.

Physical, Mental & Spiritual Benefits of Drumming

Boosts the immune system
Alleviates pain
Promotes physical rehabilitation
Helps fight cancer and AIDS
Builds muscle and endurance
Regulates breath
Promotes the production of endorphins and endogenous opiates (the body’s natural painkillers)
Acts as a treatment for stress, fatigue, anxiety, hypertension, asthma, chronic pain, arthritis, mental illness, migraines, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, paralysis, emotional disorders, and a range of physical disabilities (Source: About.com)
Produces feelings of well-being
Releases emotional trauma
Encourages tranquility
Enhances focus and memory
Reduces stress and decreases depression
Aids visualization
Improves communication
Accesses the entire brain: “The reason rhythm is such a powerful tool is that it permeates the entire brain… The sound of drumming generates dynamic neuronal connections in all parts of the brain, even where there is significant damage or impairment, such as in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).” (Source: About.com)
Reintegrates the self
Induces meditative states
Encourages deeper self-awareness
Synchronizes the frontal and lower areas of the brain, integrating nonverbal information from lower brain structures into the frontal cortex, which produces ‘feelings of insight, understanding, integration, certainty, conviction, and truth that surpass ordinary understandings and tend to persist long after the experience, often providing foundational insights for religious and cultural traditions.’” (Source: About.com)