Relieving Stress - Music and Dance

Whether it's the sound of a crisp hi-hat, a deep tone of the bass guitar, or the soothing touch of a violin.  We are receptive to music in different ways and on many different levels.

When someone asks me what my favorite music is, I am challenged to come up with an instant answer.  The reason is because the answer to this question can vary depending on the mood I'm in.  When I'm sitting on my couch and reading a book I may opt for a nice Jazz piece.  If I'm lying down and relaxing my mind, I may listen to some meditation music or even recorded sounds of nature.  When I'm stimulated and I want to dance, I will listen to something more upbeat like electronic and trance music.  During the times that I'm opinionated, I might pump up some hip hop.  I might even fall to the level of listening to a Britney Spears track just to feel materialistic and superficial.

One of the most invaluable human attributes are our ears which are directly connected to the most important part of our body - the brain.  Music and sounds are made up of different wavelengths that are directly and indirectly tapped into our mental framework.

The essence of music can alter our state of mind and our responses can vary depending on the frequencies we receive. 

Hip hop generally breaks down to a 4/4 beat with a tempo anywhere between 80-110 beats per minute.  With the use of a simple bass drum, snare, and bass guitar, one can create the foundation of a break beat which encourages the listener to sway back and forth.   This may be emphasized through a head bop or a side-to-side leaning motion.  As the beats per minute increase, we begin to open the doors to break dancing which include an array of expressive movements. 

Jazz tends to be a little different (not mutually exclusive) than Hip Hop in the sense that it incorporates many different tempos and timings.   Although Jazz may incorporate the 4/4  back and forth movement, Jazz can also take on many different faces due to its versatile style.  With the access of a variety of different scales and "jazzy" notes, instruments such as the bass, guitar, drums, saxophone, pianos, and other horned instruments begin to take on a very different entity.  When the beats per minute are on the lag, we tend to feel relaxed.  On the other hand, when the speed is increased, we may find ourselves "swinging" or "gliding" to the music.

This past weekend, I took some time to get out of this boring city to dance.  As I mention above, my choice of music for livening my spirits is Trance.  Trance consists of a 4/4 beat which is generally driven from 118-145 beats per minute.  Because the tempo is much faster, your heart beat tends to increase respective to the music. A good DJ will mix a variety of tracks that buildup one after another shaping and molding your energy level.  With the use of synthesized effects, the listener may respond through emotions of euphoria and excitement.

Music enlightens the soul and is a perfect way to untie those stressful knots that buildup in your life.