2006: Mozart's 250th Birthday

Note: This Ezine was originally sent to our subscribers in 2 parts:  12/31/2005   |   1/8/2006 On this last night of 2005, I am thinking not only of what a wonderful year it has been for Healing Music Enterprises, going full-time into the field of music healing, finding a beautiful office in my own neighborhood, making two new CD’s, and re-doing my website. I am also thinking of the upcoming 250th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and all of the people that will hear of him and his music for the first time. No doubt, the so-called “Mozart Effect” will also be mentioned in different places and publications around the world. Just in case people haven’t heard this, I want to make sure that you know before 2006 arrives, that listening to Mozart does NOT, repeat NOT raise your IQ. Not only that, but the people who did the original research and wrote the book “The Mozart Effect” never said that it did! It is frightening to me to think that well-intentioned people could do such good work, publish this work in the spirit of helping others, and then have their words twisted by marketers wanting to make a quick buck. In my own discipline of musicology, academic rigor is highly prized. As one who came late to musicology (I was a performance major at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels) this academic rigor was not always easy for me. Therefore, I am very sympathetic to musicians who are trying to make the world a better place, through music, but do not realize how critical (and yes, jealous) others can be. Perhaps because Don Campbell was a mentor of mine, I feel the need to defend his book “The Mozart Effect” and put these facts out before the naysayers emerge for the 250th birthday celebration. The original research was done in the early 90’s at the University of California, Irvine by a team of researchers working with pre-schoolers and another group working with high school students who were about to take their SAT exams. You can read all about it at http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4918 .

Anyway, I hope you’ll all take this opportunity to listen to something by Mozart during January. I’d recommend the “Overture to the Marriage of Figaro” or the “Piano Concerto in C Major, K. 467.” Mozart was an unbelievably prolific composer, who was a genius in every genre he attempted. Mozart died at age 35, a pauper. If you haven’t seen the movie “Amadeus” you might want to check it out. It’s amazingly accurate and very entertaining.

You might also want to check out these previous issues of the ezine on Mozart:

http://www.healingmusicenterprises.com/ezine/2001-11.html
http://www.healingmusicenterprises.com/ezine/2003-05.html

OK friends, enjoy your evening and I sincerely hope your New Year gets off to a healthy and harmonious beginning.

Please forward this to any friends or colleagues that you think would be interested in subscribing to Healing Music Enterprises ezine.

Sincerely,

Alice

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More on Mozart
(Originally mailed to subscribers on 1/8/2006)


Since I last sent out a letter on New Year's Eve, I've gotten many responses, thanking me for
this information and asking other questions related to Mozart and improved learning habits
or how any music affects one who is trying to study and learn new material. One dear friend
sent this information:

"I feel that what Mozart's music does is to help clear out negative vibrations in the environment of listeners. With those discordant vibes nullified for the time being, the environmental vibes come back more into balance and harmony. People's minds can work more effectively and efficiently."

"One of the worst things we can do after hearing a piece of music, especially at concerts and other performances, is to cheer and clap! These activities create the types of vibes that slice viciously throughout the healing vibrations, utterly destroying them. I don't like to attend concerts any more for this reason.

A far better behavior after a concert would be to just sit in one's seat, close the eyes and allow the vibrations to continue their healings."

Now this friend is particularly tuned in to her inner, sacred spirit and is able to feel music's healing vibrations in a uniquely spiritual manner. How many of us can really sit still long enough to be that 'tuned in' to the healing vibrations that have been set up around you, especially after a live music performance. That is one of the many reasons I recommend live music whenever
possible. There are a few rare hospitals and clinics around the world today that actually allow properly garbed (i.e. sterile covering over clothes) musicians, especially harpists, to play soft steady classical music in the operating room, the palliative care area, perhaps the intensive care unit.

Most of us are so used to being bombarded with unwanted music that it becomes difficult to enjoy the music that is out there for our pleasure. For me, the best way to feel the power of music is either to play it for myself on the piano, or to go to a live concert of some outstanding
musicians, like The Louisville Orchestra, the Juilliard Quartet, or a solo musician like Lee Luvisi (my primary piano teacher) or Joshua Bell. I find that truly outstanding singers can also transport me to a healing and serene place.

So, it's not just Mozart, but Mozart certainly is one of the best. The proof is in the listening to, becoming aware of and beginning the process of healing, from stress, from anxiety, from depression, all kinds of illnesses. Listen to a variety of music and please, let me know
what works for you!

Happy listening!

Alice H. Cash, Ph.D., LCSW

www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com
www.DrCashPrefers.com

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