| FREE YOUR INNER RHYTHMS |
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by Alycin Hayes INNER RHYTHM HEALING is a unique form of interactive music where participants both give and receive healing musical vibrations. The controls and distractions of modern life have caused many of us to lose touch with our innate ability to openly express our healing inner music. In my workshops I use percussion music combined with traditional rituals that include visualization, hot stones, movement, vocalization and directing positive energy. The techniques I create are based on my studies with healer musicians I studied with during my adventuring around the world. Participants in my workshops learn how to open their creativity, initiating healing vibrations within themselves and others. The first rhythm we hear is our mother’s heart beat. The most popular toys that children play with are toys that make sounds. From pots and pans to toy drums we start out life expressing ourselves with instruments of sound. Our voice is also a creative instrument which becomes more controlled as we learn to speak a language. Talented children are trained to perform using their voice and other instruments through the repetition of composed music and lyrics. This sounds lovely to our ears, but unless the child is also encouraged to compose their own music it can eventually become inhibiting. Most species of animal use some form of rhythm to express themselves. The lizard bobs its’ head. The bird sings. The wolf howls. The gorilla beats its’ chest. Animal rhythms inspire my music. I am in good company. Mozart had a pet starling that he mourned so when it died that he held a funeral for it. In Thailand I designed percussion instruments for a band of Asian elephants at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center. The elephants quickly learned how to use their instruments and then amazingly began to improvise with distinct meters and varied, repeated original melodies. To the Western ear the deliberate, sometimes delicate insistent elephant sounds range from meditative to haunting. Columbia University Neuro scientist David Sulzer/Dave Soldier who co-produces the Thai Elephant Orchestra's music CD's insists it is. "I have no doubt they're improvising - and composing, which is the same thing". " Asian elephant conservationist Richard Lair said "Just as there are a lot things they don't understand about our music, I am sure there are things we will never understand about theirs." The Thai Elephant Orchestra has 2 CDs available on Amazon.com. The third CD is currently being mixed and will be released soon. What do most of us do when we feel an emotion we don't know know how to express? First you may pace or tap or your fingers in a controlled way. Failing a better outlet you tighten up your muscles, clench your teeth, escapes into TV or indulge in overeating trying to contain your feelings. If that doesn’t contain what you are suppressing you may find yourself yelling at the ones you love in a frustrated attempt to express your feelings. Ancient African tribes communicated messages from village to village with their drums. In my workshops I use drums and other easy to play percussion instruments to help you playfully air what you don't know how to express. No previous musical experience is required to find the point where your original, honest musical expression occurs. Releasing your inner rhythm enables you to openly voice your naked inner creativity which naturally leads to healing yourself through the expression of happiness, sadness, fear and anger through music. Listening and communication skills are enhanced. We start by playing centering grounding rhythms that invite peace throughout your body, then move on to more exciting magical music. If you have a heartbeat you can learn to improvise, to compose, to truly express your individual inner music ... your healing inner rhythm sound expression. My First Band  Alycin pictured top left playing the hand drum.
Alycin Hayes Adventurous Percussion Music Inner Rhythm Sound Expression Copyright © 2006 Alycin Hayes"Drumming also has important biological effects. According to a study (111 normal subjects) performed at the Mind-Body Wellness Center in Meadville, PA, one hour of group drumming following a protocol entitled, Group Empowerment Drumming™ was shown to significantly increase circulating white blood cells called natural killer (NK) cells that seek out and destroy cancer and virally infected cells. (Bittman et al. Alternative Therapy, January, 2001)." "James Gordon, MD of the Mind-Body Center in Washington D.C. states "Oncologists should be open to group drumming if their patients are interested in it. Drumming can put people in a state of relaxation. It was used as a healing technique 1,000 years ago. Why not now?" (MAMM Magazine, July/August, 2001)" |
