Beaches, Babies, and Blissful Barcarolles*
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Alice Returns to
Cancun
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Latest Research
on Music and Pregnancy
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Are You
Interested in Having Dr. Cash Speak at Your Next Event?
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Classes Offered in
Music Healing for Fall 2005
1. Alice Returns to Cancun for
Musicological Research
(J)
Great news! Nine months after my first trip to Cancun (last January), I gave
birth to the idea of returning to do some musicological research. The way I
see it, the more I can learn about native instruments and how different
cultures use music for healing purposes, the more I can help YOU to heal from
various illnesses. This time my primary destination for research in the
Cancun
area was Chichinitza and the Mayan ruins there. I felt sure that music was an
integral part of their culture and their worship of Kukulkan, the sun god, and
all of the other gods as well. What I found was something that I never could
have expected…
Right before leaving the U.S., we discovered that we’d be able to visit
Chichinitza on the day of the Fall equinox, the best possible day of the year
to be there! This is the day that the Mayan architects of the main temple,
Temple of Kukulkan, showcased by building it so that that shadows cast by the
sun at exactly 5:00 PM on the Fall Equinox create a clear image of a
descending serpent, the feathered serpent Kukulkan,
descending
the North side of the Temple of Kukulkan, seen above. The temperature was
about 98 degrees with humidity about the same. The air was leaden except for
an occasional zephyr. As 5:00 o’clock approached, the clouds began to gather
and as the crowd grew, so did the fear that the sun would be obscured and
there would be no shadow. Camera crews from around the world were there and we
were told that the famous shadow had not been seen he past four years. You see
in the first photo above that there was no direct sunlight at that time. At
almost exactly 5:00 PM, the clouds parted and the sun began to create the
famous shadows, minute by minute down the side of the temple. At the bottom of
the spot where the shadows fall is a huge stone serpents’ head and by 5:20 the
serpent was complete.
During
most of the afternoon, Mayan music was being played by local musicians on
authentic instruments. I was able to buy a copy of a clay flute which I am
playing in the picture of me in the surf. It is a pentatonic instrument with a
clear, piercing tone. In the other picture I am playing the simple, two-ton
e
drum that I bought from local crafts merchants that lined the paths to the
temple. When played together with the flute (yes, this requires two people)
the effect is quite trance-inducing. I can imagine that if this kind of music
was played for hours and hours on the Spring and Fall equinox, gradually
building to the 5:00 moment, the moment of the sun appearing and creating the
serpentine shadow would be a moment of near ecstasy. This is what music can
do. It’s power to send a crowd or a group into a frenzy has been well-known
for thousands of years.
For more information on Chichinitza: www.mayanbeachgarden.com/ChichinItza.html
Now,
once again I am seated by the azure waters of the Caribbean, caressed by the
warm sea breezes and drinking another exotic, tropical beverage, served by the
gracious, accommodating staff of the the Hotel GR Solaris. For me, Cancun will
always be a very special place. As a result of going to Cancun University, I
just feel like creativity flows through the air and the water there and gives
me ideas a thoughts that I cannot receive anywhere else. I highly recommend
it!
2. New
Research
on Music During Pregnancy
Earlier this week I was notified on a new study about music’s effect on a
fetus. You know that Music with Babies and Music with Pregnancy are especially
dear to me. I am the mother of three beautiful daughters and I did play lots
and lots of music for them (and myself!) while pregnant. They are all very
musical today and one is a professional violinist, but more importantly, they
are all very healthy and well-adjusted! For a new mother and baby, bonding is
the most crucially important task! Without a strong emotional bond, the child
is set-up for a myriad of problems from addiction, to fibromyalgia, depression
and anxiety, and so many others.
(See
http://www.birthpsychology.com/lifebefore/fetalsense.html)
I am not suggesting that playing music for your baby or
singing to your baby will take away the possibility of these diseases, but I
do believe that creating a powerful bond with your child creates a state of
security and self-esteem, a feeling of unconditional love and acceptance and
THIS is the best preventative medicine out there! We live in a society that is
so competitive, so judgmental, and so punitive that many babies are being
compared negatively to their peers or siblings before they are even born! The
nature of a lullaby is that it is loving and affirming of the little one in
every way. My new lullaby CD is the perfect gift for your baby, child, or
friend. Or even yourself!! The first run of them is almost gone so call or
e-mail me immediately if you want to get one! Meanwhile check out the brief
description of this latest study, which was actually done in Saudi Arabia (of
all places!) Have a good month and please stay in touch with me with your
questions, comments, or stories of music healing!
All the best,
Alice (aka “chantdoc”)
Foetal response to music and
voice.
NH Al-Qahtani Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine,
King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol, October 1, 2005; 45(5): 414-7.
Objective: To examine whether prenatal exposure to music and voice alters
foetal behaviour and whether foetal response to music differs from human
voice. Subjects and methods: A prospective observational study was conducted
in 20 normal term pregnant mothers. Ten foetuses were exposed to music and
voice for 15 s at different sound pressure levels to find out the optimal
setting for the auditory stimulation. Music, voice and sham were played to
another 10 foetuses via a headphone on the maternal abdomen. The sound
pressure level was 105 db and 94 db for music and voice, respectively.
Computerised assessment of foetal heart rate and activity were recorded. 90
actocardiograms were obtained for the whole group. One way anova followed by
posthoc (Student-Newman-Keuls method) analysis was used to find if there is
significant difference in foetal response to music and voice versus sham.
Results: Foetuses responded with heart rate acceleration and motor response
to both music and voice. This was statistically significant compared to
sham. There was no significant difference between the foetal heart rate
acceleration to music and voice. Conclusion: Prenatal exposure to music and
voice alters the foetal behaviour. No difference was detected in foetal
response to instrument and voice.
3. Are You
Interested in Having Dr. Cash Speak at Your
Event?
Alice is a Professional Member of the National Speakers Association and
President-Elect for the Kentucky Chapter. Alice has spoken at conferences and
professional meetings and events all over the world. Her presentations meet
with delight and rave reviews each and every time she speaks. Invite Alice to
speak at your next event!
"I didn’t want her to stop. Her
presentation was so uplifting and educational that I wanted to stay all
day!"
"Dr. Cash kept my interest through-out the whole session. I am a 60 year old
MeMaw that is raising my grandson. He is seven and has had a lot of turmoil
in his life already. I decided that I was not going to put him on drugs and
every time I hear about an alternative method of helping him, I jump to it.
Dr Cash explained methods of using music that I can use with my grandson
along with the healing work I do. I am a Reiki Master and a Spiritualist
Minister. Saturday, I became aware of a lot of new ways I can use music in
my spiritual work. Thank you for making this class available."
Additional rave reviews of Alice and her programs
4.
New Classes Offered for YOU
at HME Offices in Louisville
1. Baby Blues: What can you do?
Many women suffer from moderate to severe depression
following the birth of their baby. The effects include feelings of
hopelessness, despair, inability to cope, and low self-esteem. Come and
learn some coping skills and strategies, including music
2. Music with Pregnancy and Newborns: Healthier, Happier
Homecomings
There is much research from reputable journals and hospitals
over the last decade. From the second trimester on, there are lots of good
things you can be doing for your unborn child. Learn to use the music that
you love most for your baby’s health and well-being! (Support group
available after class is finished)
3. Surviving Cancer: Can music make a difference? Help for
you and your family
A diagnosis of cancer is frightening for the patient and
family. Getting into action with non- chemical therapies can be helpful,
calming, and enjoyable. Learn new and creative ways to cope with feelings in
yourself and family members. (A support group is also available at HME
offices)
4. Alzheimer’s Disease: A group for family members and
caregivers
The power of music with Alzheimer’s disease is well-known
and well-documented. Learn how to implement music interventions that are
easy and effective.
5. Planning for music with your surgery:
The Power of music through headphones before, during and
after your surgery is well- documented. If you or a family member or friend
has surgery or an out-patient procedure scheduled, you don’t want to miss
this important class!
6. Toning and Chanting with Addiction Recovery:
Are you in recovery? Would you like more than you’re getting
right now in your meetings? Learn the ancient techniques of toning and
chanting with someone who has studied and taught these techniques for nearly
20 years. No musical experience needed!
COST: One FREE class if you pay
entire tuition before first class. 6, 1-hour classes $180.00. Due at first
class. Some scholarships available. Each class will have a manual that
includes syllabus, readings, and assignments. Classes will meet on week-ends
and evenings, TBA when each class has 6-8 people in it.
Alice is willing to present any of these classes out of town
over a single week-end if there is interest. Call for more information;
schedule fills quickly!
CALL 502-419-1698 for more information
Alice
* Barcarolle: A moderate tempo “boat song”
that gives a sense of quietly rocking on the water. Chopin wrote a famous
Barcarolle; Gabriel Faure wrote many of them.
Questions to
chantdoc@healingmusicenterprises.com. Also,
please forward this to anyone who might be interested. If this was forwarded
to you by a friend, and you'd like your own subscription, please subscribe by
going to http://www.healingmusicenterprises.com/ezine.html
and sign up for your own free subscription.
You have permission to reproduce this ezine
in whole or any of it's sections. The paragraph below must be included
in any use. Please be kind enough to forward Alice Cash a copy of your
reproduction.
chantdoc@healingmusicenterprises.com
__________________________________________________________
Dr. Alice Cash has devoted her professional
life to the promotion of music for healing. Dr. Cash combines her Masters in
Social Work with her PhD in Musicology to educate people in the art and
science of music's unique properties. In 1996, Dr. Cash launched Healing Music
Enterprises as a vehicle to offer her expertise to health care professionals,
educators, students, organizations and people at large. Her services are in
high demand across North America and more recently, at an international level.
Dr. Alice Cash may be reached through
www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com
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