The Marriage of Touch Therapies and Music

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Good Morning!

 

The Marriage of Touch Therapies and Music

 

We already know that the power of touch can register on so many

levels of our physical, emotional and spiritual bodies. Touch

therapies are the connection between matter and etheric levels of our

energy. The greatest expression of acknowledgement can be as simple

as the laying of hands on another to comfort, to love and to heal.

 

Adding music and its therapeutic aspects, can bring together the

power of heighten awareness, moving the healing process to another

level.

 

As a massage and music therapist, I have had the pleasure of having

both in my life for over 20 years. In a massage session, it is a part

of the ritual to have soothing music playing during a session. But

how many of us have any awareness of the music as it applies to your

massage work?

 

Working with the power of music can add another level of

transformation for the patient. They may not even realize what the

connection was, once they get off the table, but are acutely attuned

to how much stronger, aware and better they feel.

 

Knowing some basic music terminology is not really necessary as a

massage therapist, but I know on some level, you can be astutely

conscious of when the music crescendos (gradually rising in volume)

or decrescendos (gradually lower in volume). You can here the tempo

or pacing of the music and understand how to work within this tempo.

 

Bringing the music into your hands and allowing it flow out through

your instrument can translate through the patients body into the most

moving and therapeutic journey they can experience.

 

Know your music. Be aware of its tempo, its highs and lows and how it

is build by phrase and chorus. Knowing your music allows you greater

interpretation of its flow as you give your massage.

 

 

Tips for the Marriage of Massage with Music:

 

1. Flow and rhythm are the two most important aspects of a massage.

 

2. These are two of the most important elements in music, as well.

 

3. Relaxation has an average tempo of 30-60 beats per minute. This is

a musical composition in adagio tempo. When choosing music for your

sessions, this is a good thing to look for.

 

4. Working with the music gives a sense of being in sync with the

body. For example, as the music crescendos or rises, your hands can

follow, moving up the body or moving up the scale (a selection of

related notes placed in ascending order by pitch).

 

5. As the music decrescendos or descends, your hands can follow by

moving down the body or moving down the scale (a selection of related

notes placed in descending order by pitch).

 

6. If you have music playing and the next song changes in tempo,

speeding up, you can move your hands not with the tempo but by

decreasing your movement by moving in half time (half the tempo of

the beats in one measure or phrase).

 

7. Sometimes, when your music is moving on to the next song, there is

silence between the musical tracks. This silence can be awkward

unless, you continue your hand movements as though they are

expressing the same music. It is as if your body takes over for the

rhythm of the silence and can be very moving to the therapist as

well.

 

8. Starting on a new muscle group immediately after the above silence

between songs can be very affective if you start on the down beat of

the music. (The first beat; given by the conductor with a downward

stroke or the " and " of a new phrase).

 

9. In some portions of the music you may be playing, there are

accents or a Marcato (an emphasized note; or heavily accented

phrase). Utilize this with your massage technique. This works well on

the extremities such as hands or feet.

 

10. An Arpeggio (describing notes in a chord played individually (one

after another) as opposed to simultaneously) coordinates beautifully

when working on the spine or hamstrings.

 

11. In Italian, Camminando (following easily and gently) or in

Spanish (meaning to walk) can be a free and easy technique when

transitioning from one muscle group to the next.

 

12. And Harmony (the sounding of two or more tones simultaneously; or

the vertical aspect of music) is our ultimate goal in any touch

therapy.

 

So, next time you are giving a session to your patient, don't just

put on some music and expect it to do the work for you. Engage along

with the music to enhance the power of your touch and to bring your

patient to yet another level of their healing journey, and yours!

 

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit