Sing a Song

Music is the song of the heart and has power, that when accessed, can change moods, elevate thoughts and reduce pain. 

Transcript

Sing a Song

When our oldest daughter was attending BYU Idaho, they were conducting a research study on the power of music. Now I may not have all of the details right, but it was so interesting to me and it was it made a big impact on her. So, they had three plants in a very controlled environment.  They were planted on the same day, the exact same time, they each had spaces that measured the with the exact same amount of light from the same sized windows. Each plant also had music that played 24/7. The only variable in this study was that each plant was exposed to a different kind of music. The first plant was exposed to hard rock and, the second plant was exposed to today’s top hits intermingled with some other genres and the third plant got to listen to Hymns and songs of praise and worship.  

Well within a very early amount of time you could see that the first plant, the one subjected to hard rock was not faring well, and by time designated to complete the study, that first plant was black and almost completely dead.  The second plant was doing OK, it was holding its own, it certainly didn’t look like the first one, but it didn’t grow at all, while the third plant the one that was exposed to Hymns was double in size and was beginning to bloom. What does that say about the frequency of music that we are exposing ourselves to. 

I’ve always told people my kids, and people I’ve zoned, that if they wake up on the wrong side of the bed or they have a particularly difficult challenge or just plain need an attitude adjustment, and they can’t manage to change their own frequency There are two secrets that can help immensely.  The best thing to do is to change the frequency immediately surrounding yourself so that higher frequency can have influence and help you to change your own frequency, therefore helping to elevate your mood.

The first is to turn on music with a high frequency.  The study done at BYU Idaho certainly validates the point that hymns of praise have one of highest frequencies of any type of music. Try this experiment and you’ll see for yourself that you’ll be feeling a lot better in no time.   

The second is essential oils. Essential oils can change frequencies.  Did you hear that…It’s a scientific fact? Not only can the frequency of oils be measured, but they can also change the frequencies of things they come in contact with, so put lavender, your favorite citrus blend, rose, or anything else that elevates in a diffuser that circulates directly on or around you, like when you’re at the computer, or put them directly on your skin, under the nose, behind your ears, and on your pulse points. There’s a fabulous web page for those new to the basics of frequencies and essential oils.  I’ll link it in my show notes at www.mannaormeatloaf.buzzsprout.com (https://www.aromaoutfitters.com/how-to-raise-your-body-frequency-with-essential-oils/)

That last little bit of info was totally thrown in as a bonus, because today, I really want to talk about the power of music.  Don’t you love music?  I do too!

Johnny Depp once said “Music touches us emotionally, where words alone can’t”.  There are countless studies done on the deep connection we, as human beings, have to music.  Barbara Else, senior advisor of policy and research at the   American Music Therapy Association told Medical News Today. “The elements of music – rhythm, melody, etc. – are echoed in our physiology, functioning and being.”

There was a study done in 2011 by researchers from McGill University in Canada, and they found that listening to music increases the amount of dopamine produced in the brain – a mood-enhancing chemical, making it a feasible treatment for depression,  anxiety and other mental health disorders.  But the power of music is also being researched for its potential to improve, or even replace some current medical treatments. 

This is an emerging science and many universities are now offering music therapy as part of their curriculum.  Our Nephew is actually getting his degree in that very field, starting this fall.  The Hospice company I worked with for 6 years used Music therapy with our terminally ill patients as a way to lessen stress, therefore lessening pain somewhat.  You may think that’s a stretch, but a study led by Brunel University in the UK suggested music may reduce pain and anxiety for patients who have undergone surgery.

“By analyzing 72 randomized controlled trials involving more than 7,000 patients who received surgery, researchers found those who were played music after their procedure reported feeling less pain and anxiety than those who did not listen to music, and they were also less likely to need pain medication”.

My research on this topic revealed at least a dozen other clinical studies done on the effect music has on the neural receptors that allow us to feel and process pain. Isn’t that amazing.  Music is so powerful!

Another link I’ll share is found on the Tabernacle Choir Blog and it’s titled The Powerful Effect of Music on the Brain.  So amazing!

I have loved music since I was a little girl, and my parents had a lot to do with that.  My mom was the beautiflly pitched alto that harmonized perfectly through every hymn in church. My dad was the lead singer/guitar player of a real live boy band when he was in college. The Laymen. Besides being incredibly talented, he still has a beautiful voice, he was a handsome devil to boot, still has that going for him too.  They played a lot of gigs at BYU in the day. If you think my mother had a chance when he woo’d her, she did not.  They were married, and me and my brothers and sisters eventually became his groupies.  One of my fondest childhood memories was sitting at the foot of my dad as he played his guitar and taught us silly songs about Little Willy, and serenaded us with Ghost Rider in the sky and others.  I would watch his fingers dance across those strings, sometimes so fast, it could make you dizzy.  My uncle Kent was also great at leading our extended family at Suzanna’s a funny old man…..complete with all the knee slapping and whistling that made all us cousins hoot and holler, and join along,

Doug’s mother is the most incredible pianist ever!  She stared playing in Canada when she was 8.  She’ll be 89 in less than a month and still teaches lessons.  She can embellish like a boss, has been a soloist for many concerts over the years, the only difference between her and a legite concert pianist, is that they make a living doing it, and she does it as a service, just for the joy of it.  It was important to her that each of her children have music in their homes when they got married, so as a result we all have piano’s.  Ours is a beautiful Baldwin upright, that I wished I played more than I plunked.  I tried desperately to make our children continue their lessons, but, sadly we don’t have any accomplished pianist in our family.  Every time I walk past it, though, I think of her love.  For music and for her family. 

I love to sing, but I’m more of the comedic shower-singing type, as evidenced by my occasional podcast episode attempts.  

Our son Drake used to sing all the time.  I always knew the state of his heart by the songs he was singing.  I miss hearing him sing.  He actually proposed to his sweetheart Heather by writing her a song and singing while playing it on his guitar, on a beach at Lake Powell, on a bed of rose petals, romantic little devil.  The power of music, can free our souls and help our hearts take flight. 

Plato said “Music is a moral law.  It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and charm and gaiety to life and to everything”.

The Lord said, My soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads” (D&C 25:12).  Never really sung the hymns at church?  It’s time to change, and One of the best resources I found on why our singing is considered worship is The power and protection of worthy music By then, Elder Russell M. Nelson, our current prophet from a devotional at BYU may 4th, 2008, I highly recommend you read or listen to it in its entirety. (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2009/12/the-power-and-protection-of-worthy-music?lang=eng) 

We have many musically gifted people in our ward, and a few years ago, they started doing one Sacrament meeting a year, where after the Sacrament, the time was turned over to the congregation.  Anyone who wanted to, was invited to come to the pulpit, ready to share the name and page number of their favorite hymn, and then expound on why it is so meaningful to them.  Then all the members would join their voices in singing that song, before they’d go on to the next person.  Usually, there are about 3x the amount of people who would normally share their testimonies on a Fast Sunday, but that’s what I hear person after person, testimonies sung with the power of faith, and sent heavenward in honor and praise.  They are my favorite meetings. 

Wouldn’t it be fun to do that same kind of thing for a Family Home Evening, or Family Reunions?  

I just love a scripture found in Ephesians 5 vs. 19 and 20.  I feel like it’s beckoning me to have a well of good music in my heart to turn to when I need it. “speaking to [ourselves] in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in [our] heart to the Lord;

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19–20).

Re-read that like I had to.  Can you imagine if we spoke to ourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual song.  Making melody in our hearts.  That is so beautiful, and again, a way to worship and honor our God.  

That’s one of the reasons I memorized How Great Thou Art, and I am brought to tears when I marvel at the beauty of the earth or hold a new grandbaby.  I always think of those words.   Do you have any hymns memorized like an old friend that can comfort, strengthen or give praise to God.  Maybe it’s time to have a few of those at the ready.

As I wrap up yet another week, I want you to remember that music doesn’t have to be just a pleasantry in the background.  We can access the power of music by intentionally choosing good music. 

While I was contemplating the content for this episode.  I thought of a favorite song from way back in the annals of my life. The first time I heard it was from my parent’s record player in the basement of our home when I was a young girl, and I love the words and the melody.  Watch the Youtube video of the phenomenally talented Karen Carpenter sing it in 1973.  I hope it leaves you with a desire to sing. After all… It’s SO good for the soul.

(Sing) Sing, sing a song
 Make it simple to last
 Your whole life long
 Don't worry that it's not
 Good enough for anyone
 Else to hear
 Just sing, sing a song