June 2011

    Music with Surgery 30-day blog series comes to an end

Thirty days ago I accepted a challenge to create a new blog post each day during June for my Surgery and Music Blog.  Since getting the word out about the exciting benefits of music with surgery is one of my main missions these days, I excitedly accepted the challenge.  Having surgery is one of those serious and often terrifying live events and people want to know what they can do to make it as safe as possible and to get through it with as little trauma and side-effects as possible.

So many people are at first shocked to find that they need surgery, whether it's heart bypass surgery, a joint replacement of a diagnosis of cancer, and seriously fear that they may never return from the hospital.  Fortunately, the vast majority of people do survive and are better off for the surgery.  For this reason, I began my series with a look at "fear of surgery" and "fear of anesthesia."  One of the things that people need to know is that they are in very good company and that no matter who you are, fear is a totally normal response to upcoming surgery.

Next, we take a look at a very brief history of surgery from primitive times forward and another bird's eye view of anesthesia over the last few hundred years. After that you'll read about how to use music with general anesthesia, regional anesthesia and local anesthesia, how to talk with your surgeon about wanting to use music with surgery and then a look at other kinds of surgeries specifically with some patient video testimonials. 

Research is being conducted all over the world on the use of music before, during and after surgery and it's benefits are undeniable.  The Surgical Serenity Headphones specifically are being test at the VA Hospital here in Louisville.  Just go to www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com/surgery_blog         or   Surgery with Music 30-day_Series if you're on Facebook to read these interesting and informative posts!

  Drum Circles for Healing, Empowering and Bonding

Today, drum circles are being created all over the world, often for the very same reasons.  Drumming circles in hospitals, schools and universities are happening daily and participants are realizing all that they have to gain from their willingness to try something a little different.

The good news is that you don't have to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on a fancy drum or musical instrument.  You can actually just take a large metal trash can or 5-gallon paint can and drum on it with your hands or some wooden spoons.  Of course you can purchase a nice, small hand-drum online or at your local music store or a Third World Country crafts store like we have here in Louisville with "Just Creations."  I've even written a little e-book on "Drumming for Health, Wellness, and Fun" that you can download here. 

Drumming is so much fun and you need no knowledge of music or notation to just jump in and start expressing yourself through rhythm.  When people start drumming I can see their whole bodies begin to relax and smiles appear on their faces as they enjoy the rhythms and connectedness to other group members. 

We are beginning to have some regular drum circles at my office:  Healing Music Enterprises, 2720 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206.  Just send me a message through the website if you're interested, or through Facebook.  Link is at bottom of this ezine.  Hope to see you there!
 

 The Power of music, sound and vibration

 If you've been a subscriber to this ezine for awhile, then you probably already know that people experience great healing through music, sounds, and vibration.  Although volumes have been written on the topic, I like to summarize it periodically for my readers because I believe that it is not only interesting but also quite valuable.  There exists music therapy, music medicine, music healing, sound healing, sound medicine, vibrational healing, vibrational medicine and all kinds of variants of these as well!

Music healing happens when a human being intentionally creates music that he believes is beautiful to the ear, heart, brain, soul and body. We all know compositions that make is feel safe, secure, warm and loved.  We know pieces that energize and inspire us; pieces that make us feel hopeful and empowered.  Music does this through intention as well as through vibrations.

Then there are the healing properties of specific sounds such as a gentle rain, the breeze blowing through the pines or the palms, crickets chirping in the forest and birds singing after a storm. 

Of course all of these are comprised of vibrations and vibrations alone can lead to and speed up healing.  There is even something called "vibro-acoustic therapy" and drumming is a part of that.  All of our bodies and each organ internally vibrates between a specific range of vibrations when they are healthy.  When they fall into a state of "dis-ease" they naturally vibrate faster in an attempt to heal themselves.  Our bodies are created to heal themselves naturally, but we can speed up the process by adding more vibrations.

We have pulled together an informative package to help you understand what is happening in the life of the Alzheimer’s patient.

We sat down at a beautiful Steinway Grand Piano and recorded the 23 most commonly requested songs as we have entertained the elderly. The beautiful sound of a great piano comes through in these simple piano solos. The recordings allow the listener to revisit their past, generate discussions between listeners, or sing along. The recordings are music only as to engage the listener’s mind and have them bring up the words or lyrics they remember.

Your Music is Ready to Use!"

Your music will arrive on high-quality, self-contained, wireless headphones that are already pre-loaded.

• No downloading music files.
• No trying to load your MP3 player
• No hassle of ear buds the may fall out.
• No wires or cords to get in the doctor's way. .

"Using Music with Alzheimer's Patients” (Interview)

This program presents the latest information on why Alzheimer’s patients respond to this music and oftentimes sing along or clap in time to the music when few other things get their attention or engage them at all. You don’t want to miss out on an opportunity to provide this simple but powerful intervention for your friend or family member.

That's just 3 items in this specially priced package!

Please visit our limited time offer to see all 7 items
 

Speaking is something that I love to do because for me, speaking is a form of teaching that allows me to reach far more people than if I were still a college professor.  Although I love being associated with colleges and universities, I also love the freedom of being able to fly anywhere in the country or the world to be a keynote speaker on "The Healing Power of Music."  I have received invitations from as far as Hawaii, Spain, and Turkey and always try to fulfill these invitations and deliver more than I'm asked to deliver.  I consider that the knowledge and experience I have acquired is something to be shared and experienced by as many other people as possible! 

I am always happy to stay in private homes and come when the fares are affordable.  I consider myself to be a sort of "music healing missionary" and love to travel to far-away or remote places as well as the major cities and highways and by-ways of life!  I can tailor my talk to your group's specific needs and requirements and will offer the most reasonable fee that I possibly can.  Please don't assume that your group can't afford me.  I will work with you to make it happen.  Just visit our speaker information page and then let's talk!

See you next month!!

Alice Cash

For nearly two decades, I've been helping people use the music that they already love to heal their lives and increase their wellness quotient!  I am one of the world's only clinical musicologists and hold  Bachelors and Masters degrees in piano performance, a Ph.D. in musicology and a Master of Social Work in clinical social work.  I am also a licensed clinical social worker. I work with people and diagnoses of all kinds, enabling them to find healing, acceptance and hope.

Many people assume that I am a music therapist but I am not.  I was trained originally as a concert pianist, then as a musicologist, then as a clinical social worker.  I love performing, researching, and teaching and have put them all together in a career called "Music Medicine."  However, the field of music therapy is much better known and has degree programs and credentialing  that is very valuable and important. 

 To hear me speak, and watch me in action "is to have a day that will amaze, educate, motivate, and inspire you!"  (Joanna Driver, meeting planner in England)  To hire me as a keynote speaker for your association or organization n.  Visit our speaker information page