Drummers Get a Great Workout!

Rock drummers, some claim, are finely tuned athletes, as fit as any long-distance runner. But to get your head around that idea, you'll have to put aside all sorts of assumptions and stereotypes.


First, forget “Spinal Tap,” that hilarious mockumentary in which all of the band's besotted drummers perished mysteriously, such as in a gardening accident or by spontaneous combustion.
Forget, too, '70s icons John Bonham of Led Zeppelin and Keith Moon of the Who, whose extended drum solos were seemingly fueled not by a well-developed cardiovascular system so much as by, well, pharmaceuticals.
Consider instead: A recent study by two British sports scientists measured the heart rate, oxygen consumption, lactic acid buildup and peak endurance of Blondie drummer Clem Burke over a 10-year period ending in 2007 to find out just how much energy he used in a gig.
The researchers from the University of Chichester and the University of Gloucestershire found that Burke's exertion rate during a 1½-hour concert equaled that of a 10K runner or a professional soccer player. His heart rate averaged 140 to 150 beats a minute, reaching as high as 190 beats. He burned an average of 600 calories per performance and averaged about 2 quarts in lost fluids.
In short, banging on the skins is quite a workout. “Live rock drumming performance relies heavily upon the interplay between aerobic and anaerobic energy systems,” Smith wrote on the researchers' Web site, www.clemburkedrummingproject.com.
By Sam McManis • McClatchy Newspapers • November 26, 2009

Another kind of chanting

Most of the chants that I teach are Native American but I do love this kind too. What do you think?

Have you participated in a drum circle?

Drumming circles are a lot of fun and also can be very healing. There's something that's just so cathartic about picking up a drum with a nice resonant voice and letting loose on it! There's no right or wrong in a drum circle and everyone can do something different and it's OK! Usually we try to start and end together, but other than that, it's mostly free-form.

I'll be doing weekly drum circles at Healing Music Enterprises on 2720 Frankfort Avenue and would like to invite YOU! There's no charge but I'll ask for a love offering of your discretion. Bring your own drum or use one of mine. Family drumming on Saturdays at 1:30-2:30, adult drumming from 2:45-3:45. Please let me know if you will be there! Thanks!

Chanting and Meditation

People have been chanting for thousands of years. They have also been meditation for thousands of years. The two go hand in hand.

Recently there has been a lot written about the Law of Attraction and the amazing things that can result when this law is understood and practiced. Because I do believe that this is true and that it works beautifully when applied, I offer to you for your consideration and your use!

The Law of Intention and Desire: Inherent in every intention and
desire is the mechanics for its fulfillment. Intention and desire in the field
of pure potentiality have infinite organizing power. When we introduce an
intention in the fertile ground of pure potentiality, we put this infinite
organizing power to work for us.

I will put
the Law of Intention and Desire into effect by making a commitment to take the
following steps:

1. I will make a list of all my desires. I will carry this list with me wherever I go. I will look at this list before I go into my silence and meditation. I will look at it before I go to sleep at night. I will look at it when I wake up in the morning.
2. I will release this list of my desires and surrender it to the womb of creation, trusting that when things don't seem to go my way, there is a reason, and that the cosmic plan has designs for me much grander than even those I have conceived.
3. I will remind myself to practice present-moment awareness in all my actions. I will refuse to allow obstacles to consume and dissipate the quality of my attention in the present moment. I will accept the present as it is, and manifest the future through my deepest, most cherished intentions and desires.
Daily Inspiration"When there is no more separation between 'this' and
'that,' it is called the still-point of the Tao. At the still point in the
center of the circle one can see the infinite in all things." -- Chuang Tzu

The Serenity Prayer Chant

Many people who are in recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction, complusive eating or compulsive gambling, repeat the "Serenity Prayer." In some communities, the Serenity Prayer has been set to melody and is chanted, sometimes with the accompaniment.
The nature of chant is that it's repetitive, rhythmic, and has a narrow vocal range so that the average person can chant it. I would say this fits that description!

Native American Chant CD

With its thunderous drums and high-pitched chants, Native American pow-wow music is intense enough to scare away the uninitiated. Yet there are also gentle, soothing, and healing songs in the Native American tradition, and it’s this type of … Full Descriptionmaterial that is the focus of COME TO ME GREAT MYSTERY. With Native American artists Doug Foote, Lorain Fox, Thirza Defoe, and others on board, this compilation is filled with prayers, invocations, and songs that sound like blessings and benedictions. The presence of synthesizers and contemporary production flourishes may irk hardcore traditionalists, but these additions will make the album accessible to fans of relaxing New Age music.
Track List01. Come To Me Great Mystery - Thirza Defoe02. Hear My Prayer - Doug Foote03. Hue Hue - Lorain Fox04. Beauty Way - Allen Mose05. Calling To The People - Thirza Defoe06. I Am The Beginning And The End - Dorothy Tsatoke07. Prayer From Above, A - Doug Foote08. Kaio Kaio - Lorain FoxDownload with Mediafire

Healing Vibrations of the Harp

What do you think the most healing instrument is? Many people believe that it is the harp. A frequent reason that is given is that the harp is held next to the heart and that the plucking motion creates unique vibration that stimulates nerves in a way that promotes accelerated healing. It makes sense to me, but how much do YOU really know about the harp?


Ask a random person off the street to describe a harp, and they are likely to describe a huge and bulky instrument. All harps are not equal though. They often differ in both size in type. But where, exactly, did this seemingly simple instrument come from?

The harp is an ancient instrument, having been around since as early as 2500 B.C., that continues to be a major force in the modern-day musical world. This instrument has evolved in many ways in the last four millennia. The different harps have come from and evolved from Egypt, Ireland, and many other places and cultures. Harps such as the diatonic, triple-strung, single-action pedal, chromatic cross-string, and the double action pedal have been used.

The kinnor, which is an ancient instrument played by King David as told in the Old Testament, is often confused with the harp. The kinnor is actually a type of lyre. However, the first true harp can be traced back to ancient Egypt.

In Ancient Egypt the earliest evidence of a harp dates back to as early as 2500 B.C. These harps were actually bow shaped or at a very small angle, which forced them to have a small number of strings. Due to the lack of a column for support, these harps were unable to support very much tension. The first column appeared in Medieval Western Europe somewhere between the 8th and 10th centuries. These harps were known as the frame harps. This was also the very first harp to use a soundbox to amplify the sound from the instrument.

European harps differed from Irish harps and they were known as Renaissance harps. They had more strings attached to wooden pegs, and the pillar was thinner and less curved. These were known as diatonic harps.

The triple-strung harps appeared in the late 16th century after an invention of a double-strung harp. A triple-strung harp has three rows of strings and it was easy to play and amplify. The single-action pedal harp was designed in 1720. This harp was a combination of a diatonic harp and a single-strung harp but included new features currently known as pedals. This harp only included five pedals though, while the harps today use seven.

Other harps that were designed off of the earlier inventions exhibited amazing improvements from the diatonic and the double-action pedal. These harps were constructed in the early 1800s.

The harp is a beautiful instrument that many people love to play and listen to as the strings resonate. Although the history of the harp dates back all of the way to 2500 B.C., they are still played today and rank among other fine and quality instruments.

Article Source: http://babyboomerarticles.com


Whether you are a novice or master harpist, you can find all the instruments, supplies and music that you need to succeed at the Sylvia Woods Harp Center (www.harpcenter.com/). Discover the magic of the harp. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.

Interesting History of Vibrational Healing

Vibrational Healing Massage Therapy was first created in 1981 by Patricia Cramer, the founder of the World School of Massage and Advanced Healing Arts in San Francisco, following four years of intensive study with Pierre Pannetier, a specialist in Polarity Therapy. In founding vibrational massage, Cramer incorporated the philosophies of polarity therapy into her previous therapies grounded in massage, athletics, dance, tai chi, light therapy, aikido and meditation.
Cramer’s studies in polarity therapy led her to the belief that the human body is a system of polar opposites similar to the Chinese concept of Yin and Yang. According to polarity theories, most people become entrenched in one polarity instead of experiencing a full range of living or a balance of polarities. The result is an energy imbalance. When the body’s vibrations are restored to a balanced state, energy flows freely and one can move easily without discomfort. Trauma often occurs in individuals when there is imbalance. Cramer’s goal in vibrational healing massage is to treat the body as if it’s a musical instrument in need of fine tuning.
Read more: "Vibrational Massage Healing Therapy: How VMHT Restores the Body's Natural Balance and Flow" - http://spa-treatments.suite101.com/article.cfm/vibrational_massage_healing_therapy#ixzz0Ap9FYROYRead more: "Vibrational Massage Healing Therapy: How VMHT Restores the Body's Natural Balance and Flow" - http://spa-treatments.suite101.com/article.cfm/vibrational_massage_healing_therapy#ixzz0Ap9FYROY

The Connection Between Breathing and Peace

No matter what is going on in your life, you can always take a moment to focus on your breathing.

When you find yourself in a tense situation, for example, you may notice that you are holding your breath.
Putting your attention on your breathing can help you relax and immediately be in the here and now.

This practice, found in many spiritual traditions, is often referred to as mindfulness, being present, or living in the now.You may ask, since we're breathing all the time, why do we need to practice it?

What we're practicing is conscious awareness of the breath. Then breathing becomes a concentration exercise that not only focuses the mind but brings many healing benefits as well. - John-Roger with Paul Kaye -(From: Momentum, Letting Love Lead - Simple Practices for Spiritual Living, p. 61)

Singing and happiness: what's the connection?

In her blog post today, Marci Shimhoff writes about the power of singing as a path to happiness! Marci says "For the first time in history, we know that happiness isn’t an abstract emotion; it’s a physiological state that can be measured" As a clinical musicologist and speaker, people ask me all the time if it's more healing to sing or play an instrument or listen to favorite music on CD or iPod. The answer is SING!! That is the natural, God-given musical instrument and the one that stirs vibration and healing in our bodies. We also tend to sing the music that we love most and that is therefore uniquely healing to our bodies! I could go on and on, but I won't. Just don't forget to sing a little every day. Sing in the shower or the car or while you're walking the dog. Even humming or whistling can be powerful!

The vibrational properties of different instruments

Music healing is a very unique process for each person. That is why it's so important for healers to have not only a strong musical training, but also a good foundation in psychological, physiological and emotion healing. Our musical tastes are very personal and are a lifetime in the making. It's interesting because most of the music I've really loved during my life, I still love, but things I didn't like when I was younger, I've developed an appreciation of, if not a strong love of. Since becoming a music healer I've made a concerted effort to familiarize myself with more different kinds of music.

When I first started doing a lot of public speaking, many people would ask me what the most healing intrument was. At that time I would often repeat what I had read: that the harp was the most healing instrument for many people because it's held next to the heart and it's vibrations are considered to be universally healing...after all, that's what angels play, right?

Now I think it varies greatly. Some might like soft, classical piano music, some might prefer an Indian flute, some might perfer voices. There is no right or wrong. As my mother once said to me when I was trying to help her choose music for her surgery "Alice, just choose whatever you want as long as it's not "Nearer My God to Thee!" My mother has a great sense of humor which is extremely helpful when healing from a serious condition, which she definitely had.

Vibrations and Sounds in Nature

Today I received this post from my friend Jodi. She has an awesome blog entitled "God is a Verb." This is just an excerpt, to see the entire post go here.

“The three great elemental sounds in nature are the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood, and the sound of outer ocean on a beach.” ~ Henry Beston ~
"I have always loved the sound of water. When I stand on the sandy beaches of oceans, the rhythmic rise and fall of foamy waves lapping at my feet reminds me of the power contained in the mysterious unexplored depths of our planet. When I rest on the banks of a roaring river, I am mesmerized by the rushing waters that tumble over stones as they weave towards some distant connection. When I hear a motor boat cutting through a lake, stirring up a huge wake that ripples out in rounded peaks, I feel warm and content inside. When I sit and listen to the musical twinkling sounds of water fountains, I sense an inner peace that quiets even the most persistent thoughts racing through my mind. When I hear gentle spring rain pounding rhythms on my window pane, I become mellow and romantic. "

Why do the sounds of nature have this effect of us? It's the vibrations! All of these sounds; waves lapping, brooks babbling, and rain tapping on the window all create unique vibrations and most of us have pretty powerful associations with those vibrations. Sadly, there are people who have negative vibrations associated with these very same things. Vibrations can go either way depending on what has been previously associated, if anything.

When you're out in nature, pay attention to which sounds you really enjoy and which ones you don't care for as much. Just recently, many people have told me that they really don't care for birds very much. Several cited the Alfred Hitchcock move "The Birds." Others just said they she birds as noisy carriers of the "bird flu." How do YOU feel about the sounds of nature that you hear? Which ones do you enjoy, which ones do you not care for?

Vibrational Healing: It works!

Vibrational healing is a process whereby vibrations are introduced or transferred into a human being’s physical and energetic bodies, so that the vibrations which have become unbalanced in the human physical or auric body are adjusted. This is based on the idea that illness or disease in the human and auric body is characterized by blockages and imbalances. These blockages and imbalances causes a cell, organ, system, or energetic body to slow it's vibration. Slow vibrations result in disease (dis-ease) or illness. The process of vibrational healing adjusts these unbalanced vibrations.
To be healthy, an individual needs to have a high rate of vibration in their physical and auric bodies. This vibration is nourished in many ways including what we think, feel, believe, see, hear, smell, touch, eat, drink, breathe, and are exposed to. As an individual becomes ill their rate of vibration lowers. As the rate of vibration lowers the individual becomes more susceptible to other negative energies and invaders and the cycle of poor health becomes self-perpetuating.
Many internal developments affect the rate of vibration of a human body. Each cell, organ and system has its own vibration. Each emotion that one feels, creates a separate vibration in the human body; each thought we have creates a unique vibration; each color has its own vibration; every sound carries its own vibration; each smell has its own vibration.
Many external factors affect the vibration of the human body. We are bombarded with electromagnetic frequencies that can influence the vibrational rate of our physical and etheric bodies. Each household appliance, television set, cell phone, microwave oven is sending out these vibrations. Mother Earth is surrounded by various electromagnetic grids that can also affect our vibrations. Underground water can also disrupt the healthy vibration of the human system. And finally, there are many entities which can rest in our auras, homes and offices which can seriously affect our rates of vibration. The following provides a more detailed description of what can affect our vibrations and a brief look at different types of vibrational healing.
The relationship between the body, emotions, mind and spirit is not always with us. The additional mystery of the relationship of Mother Earth and the broader Universe is also never ending. It’s quite fascinating to realize that the human body is able to automatically balance the complex world of internal and external vibrations and find its own equilibrium. Illness occurs when our vibrations become unbalanced and this equilibrium is disturbed.
Different Types of Vibrational Healing
Vibrational healing has been used for thousands of years in ancient civilizations. Egypt is said to have used sound and color for healing and that many of their healing centers had special rooms devoted only to healing with color and sound. The Chinese have used acupuncture, another form of vibrational healing, for centuries.
In the United States today, acupuncture is becoming a much more common method for dealing with illness. Reiki, another form of vibrational healing is being practiced by many energy practitioners in North America and Europe today. Homeopathy is another form of vibrational healing. This uses the principle of "like cures like" and introduces minute amounts of certain substances at varying energy levels to activate the healing vital force of the human body. A simple form of hands on healing is another form of vibrational healing. An individual places their hands so that their vibration which is stronger, is transferred into an individual who has been weakened or fatigued. There are many other examples of vibrational healing which work effectively.

excerpted from http://www.mkprojects.com/fa_WhatIsVibrationalHealing.htm