This article is brought to you as part of the ASCAP Member Wellness Program.

Being a music creator, you likely find that sound already plays a therapeutic role in your life.

 

“We heal through music, express our emotions through music, and observe the subtleties of our world consciously and unconsciously by listening,” says creator and ASCAP member Alex Falk.

 

A certified sound therapy practitioner and co-founder of Atonal Meditation, Falk is all too familiar with the healing properties of sound – specifically, sound bath meditation and its potential benefits for creators in particular.

 

“Sound baths are especially effective for artists, because in this practice we are entering a meditative state just by leaning into our innate spiritual connection and relationship to sound,” he says.

 

Sound baths involve using instruments and tools – such as singing bowls, gongs and drums – to emit frequencies and vibrations that can help induce a state of relaxation and inspire healing, creativity and focus, explains Nicole Rutsch, a reiki master teacher, sound healer and transformational coach.

 

“The harmonic tones and melodies used in sound baths resonate with the mind and body, making it easier for musicians and performers to relax and tune in,” says Rutsch, who offers sound baths and guided meditations on Alo Moves. “Creators’ inherent familiarity with music allows them to be more receptive to this kind of sonic ‘medicine.’”

 

If you’re looking for a self-care practice that will help you recenter your energy and find relaxation, here are a few reasons to consider incorporating sound bath meditation into your routine.

 

It Can Help Improve Your Performance and Productivity

Whether you’re playing an instrument or singing, showcasing your craft requires concentration and connection to the piece you’re performing. Sound baths can help improve your musical performance and productivity by enhancing your ability to practice mindfulness and body awareness.

 

Sound baths use resonant instruments that produce harmonic vibrations, which can heighten your sense of bodily awareness, leading to improved vocal resonance, breath control and overall musical performance, says Rutsch.

 

“It can be easy as an artist to get into your own head and get caught up in the process or procrastination,” adds Falk. “We are often our own biggest obstacles to creativity. By experiencing a sound bath, you can slow down, quiet your mind and allow yourself to listen to your intuition and cut out external distractions.”

 

If you’re performing on stage, your nerves can cause you to overthink and prevent you from truly living in the experience. Sound baths can also be a helpful tool for practicing what it’s like to use sound as a guiding compass on stage.

 

“This heightened focus allows performers to fully immerse themselves in their craft, resulting in improved precision and artistic expression. Additionally, sound baths can alleviate performance anxiety, promoting mental clarity and enhancing overall performance quality,” says Rutsch.

 

It Can Help You Better Cope With Stress and Rejection

Creators face many unique hurdles that can bring up stress, anxiety, rejection and anger. Sound baths are an excellent way to build emotional resilience while tuning into these feelings. They can help to silence your inner critic and activate a state of expansive awareness that allows you to let go of assumptions and practice non-judgment, Falk says.

 

For example, quartz crystal bowls, which are often used in sound baths, create resonant sounds that can be completely felt throughout your body. According to Rutsch, these soundwaves can entrain brainwaves and induce a state of deep relaxation and calmness.

 

Many practitioners believe sound baths produce certain frequencies that correspond to particular energy centers, or chakras, in your body. They believe that these energy centers run throughout your body and are connected to different skills and emotions. For example, the root chakra is at the base of your spine and is associated with your sense of security, independence, and strength.

 

“Exposing oneself to these frequencies helps balance and harmonize energy centers, leading to emotional equilibrium, improved focus, and a sense of alignment,” says Rutsch. “The restoration of correct harmonic patterns through sound projection can further support overall wellbeing.”

 

The harmonic frequencies in sound baths interact with the different energy centers in your body to promote balance by releasing tension and blocked emotions, she explains. So in the case of rejection, for example, sound baths can be an effective tool to help you let go of frustration, anger, and disappointment.

 

It Can Positively Impact Your Mood

Because sound baths can trigger an emotional release, they hold the power to help improve your mood and provide better mental clarity. Receiving criticism and being self-critical is a natural part of being a musician and composer, and when coupled with high-stress situations, can take an emotional toll.

 

“The mindfulness and present-moment awareness required during a sound bath can help individuals detach from stress-inducing thoughts and emotions, fostering a more balanced and centered emotional state,” explains Rutsch. “While experiences may vary, the combination of relaxation, brainwave modulation, emotional release, harmonic resonance and mindfulness in sound baths can contribute to a transformative shift in emotional responses to stress and discomfort.”

 

As mentioned, some believe the harmonic frequencies emitted during sound baths interact with your body’s different energy centers to unblock them. So if you’re feeling “stuck” in your emotions, incorporating sound baths into your routine can help you recenter and move forward.

 

“Sound affects us profoundly on a physical and psychological level, because sound impacts the body and mind almost immediately,” says Falk. "Studies have shown listening to music that is calming can lower the body’s stress responses in as little as one minute. Soothing sounds in our environment can help us reset our nervous system by lowering our heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure.”

 

It Can Help Sharpen Your Listening Skills, and Inspire You With New Sounds

When you’re performing on stage, your entire body and mind should be fully immersed in the music so that you feel every note, vibration and tempo change. Sound baths provide an immersive experience for your senses, helping you become more attuned to your body and breathing.

 

By helping you become more aware of the sounds around you, it can help sharpen your listening skills, says Rutsch. This will not only help with the creative process of producing new music but also strengthening your performance and technique.

 

“Sound baths foster a connection between the mind and body, promoting coherence in performance. Active listening during sound baths sharpens musicians’ listening skills, enabling them to appreciate musical details,” Rutsch says.

 

Sound baths can also inspire creativity by exposing you to new instruments, sounds, colors and timbres, says Falk. “Artists like Erykah Badu, SZA and Jhené Aiko have experimented with adding singing bowls and tuning forks to their tracks and are introducing new sounds to the musical landscape. Coming to a sound bath might introduce you to your new favorite instrument or help you find the missing element that elevates one of your songs.”

 

It Can Help You Cultivate Self-Confidence

Let’s face it: Being in the music industry involves receiving feedback, whether warranted or not.

 

This can be encouraging and motivate you to reach new levels, but it also has the potential to cast self-doubt and foster self-limiting beliefs.

 

Because sound baths use a variety of instruments that produce healing energy and release tension, practitioners believe they can even help with promoting more confidence and belief in yourself.

 

“Specific sets of bowls designed for self-confidence, self-worth and heart healing assist individuals in stepping into their authentic selves,” explains Rutsch.

 

For the best results across the board, Rutsch recommends listening to a sound bath daily or at least three times a week. “Consistency in experiencing sound baths allows musicians and performers to fully immerse themselves in the healing and transformative qualities, supporting their overall wellbeing and enhancing their musical journey,” she says.

 

The frequencies and vibrations from the sound baths continue to entrain your body and mind outside of the session, too, adds Falk. “It has a cumulative effect, so the more you practice it, the more you’ll benefit.”