Eduardo Martínez

Receiving more Love in your Life...

2009-09-23T18:27:00.000-04:00

"If you want to experience more love in your life, give more love to yourself & others..." (Luz taught me that.) Eduardo Martínez

Luz, 2009.

Connectedness vs. Separation...

2009-09-21T10:11:00.002-04:00

"When we judge another or a situation, it is our attempt to create separation, where there exists only a universal connection." Eduardo Martínez

Chico (on top, RIP) & Solo, two of my four-legged best friends, 2005.

Something about the vastness of the ocean makes it timeless...

2009-09-21T09:59:00.002-04:00

"Something about the vastness of the ocean makes it timeless..." Eduardo Martínez

From Sunsets in Puerto Rico

Sunset @ Isla Verde Beach, San Juan Puerto Rico, 2005

I feel an immense sense of gratitude as I see & feel the sun warming up my life today...

2009-09-21T09:45:00.001-04:00

"I feel an immense sense of gratitude as I see & feel the sun warming up my life today..." Eduardo Martínez

Buddha sculpture photo I took in 2006, in one of Ajanta's caves, India, more than 2000 years old.

Let your spirit soar to the highest places...

2009-09-21T09:38:00.001-04:00

"Let your spirit soar to the highest places..." Eduardo Martínez

Machu Picchu, sacred site high up in the Andes, March 2007.

Cultural Fusion Interviews

2009-09-09T16:55:00.003-04:00

"A god can do it. But will you tell me how a man can penetrate through the lyre's strings?" Ranier Maria Rilke

I have had the opportunity to participate in Yvette Dubel's Cultural Fusion BlogTalkRadio Internet show during the past few months. Here are the three interviews/panel discussions I have done.

Blessings,

Eduardo Martinez

What participants are saying about The Sound Gathering sound & drum circles...

2009-09-05T17:23:00.021-04:00

“This sound circle is far more than simply beating a drum. It is beating the rhythm of our humanity & common core in all. I enjoy your easy nature; you seem to really be attuned to the participants’ needs, open to questions as well as great sharing of your knowledge. I am getting those good vibrations. I enjoyed the deep connection with all in the circle, a great uplift from cellular buzz to laughter, the clearing & inviting rhythms turning into something else, & learning about toning.” Jan G., Amherst, NH USA

“Fabulous learning opportunity, Eduardo. I couldn’t be happier to have met you & played with you. I learned new beats I then have used at home in ritual. I feel so balanced & peaceful afterwards, more my true self as I go back into the world. Thanks for sharing your gifts & wisdom. I enjoyed toning, singing each other’s names & the Heart Beat [sequence]. You are poised, have a great sense of humor, a wealth of knowledge, are kind & generous. You’ve got a fan :-)” Deborah Fay D’Onofrio, past coordinator of the Full Moon Drum Circle at the UU Church in North Andover, MA USA

“I enjoyed the free drumming time after the rhythm is set. You have a calmness, presence & offer clear explanations.” Stephanie Rutt, owner of Tree of Life Interfaith Fellowship, Amherst, NH USA, one of our current circle locations.

“I felt peaceful, calm, & [a sense of] releasing. I enjoy the music, the drumming, the singing, the way you vary what we do, your knowledge, talent, the way we are all participants & share with one another. Thank you! I love coming to our sound & drum circle.” Clare S., Amherst, NH USA

“The space between my cells expanded & felt cleansed. [I enjoyed] allowing my body to just “be.” I enjoyed your gentle guidance & the healing power of the circle.” Barbara T., Amherst, NH USA

“The drum circle helped me out mentally & emotionally. It seemed to be very therapeutic once I figured out the rhythm. I loved it when we went from the basic rhythm to improvising. I really enjoyed all aspects of tonight’s circle, how you conducted the circle by the subtle leading of the tempo & beat, incorporating little lessons on how to use your hands on the drum.” Bailey W., Amherst, NH USA

“I was excited to participate. I find drumming to be fun, calming & relaxing. You are kind, warm, friendly, accepting.” Elaina, Derry, NH USA

“I love drumming & definitely benefited emotionally, physically (quite the workout) & mentally as it helps energize me. [I enjoyed] the rhythm; it speaks to my soul. I find balance & peace in this sound circle. You are open, accepting, a great teacher, easy to follow, non-judgmental.” Diane C., Derry, NH USA

“I enjoyed the brief explanation of the origins & meaning of the beats. The sound circle was very well done. I loved how you encourage participants to be creative. I’d like to learn & experience more! The sound circle was very relaxing & certainly had a calming effect.” Michelle M., Derry, NH USA

“You have a gentle & spiritual energy. I felt free to drum… This sound circle was very grounding. Perfecto!” Carol T., North Andover, MA USA

“My heart beat was lowered; my mind/thoughts quieted… I enjoyed your guidance using rhythms in the first hour. I enjoyed the sound circle because of the resonance of the energy, the places the sounds touch in me…” Carole L., North Andover, MA USA

“I enjoyed dancing. Nice social interaction doing group things. You are very gentle & personable. I enjoyed the singing of each other’s names, the back massage, the vocal parts… Nice variety of activities.” Sherry L., North Andover, MA USA

“[The sound circle’s] variety was great. As a novice I need exposure to lots of ideas & techniques to grow. Loved the gentle Heart Beat, the contemplative feelings & sounds…” [Eduardo] is gentle, knowledgeable, spiritual & patient. I loved combining spiritual expression & vocalizing with learning drumming techniques. Chanting our names was very moving & opening.” Denise V., North Andover, MA USA

“I enjoyed the physical release: wrist pain, gnawing in my stomach, knee pain, were tonight specifically relieved. I also enjoyed the laughter, the instruction, plus the attitude “that it’s all good,” open & safe for all to experience. I enjoy your personality, ease, feeling of comfort, professionalism & knowledge. I am glad that the circle is free range & easy to blend in without feeling as though anything is wrong. Very comfortable [sound circle], no pressure, fun & informational as well as experiential.” Amy W., Amherst, NH USA

“I have relaxed with the gatherings. I enjoy both the drumming & toning, & your ability to adjust with each situation in the group. I have really enjoyed it & learned a lot being in the circle. And feel it is very healing. This circle is amazing. I am glad I have been a part of it.” Victoria A., Amherst, NH USA

“Love it when rhythm connects us all. All was clear & nicely guided. ” Szerja S., Amherst, NH USA

“It felt wonderful to be drumming. You are very friendly & easy going.” Mary D., Amherst, NH USA

“I de-stressed, warmed up, relaxed & felt my energy raising. [I enjoyed] the free drumming & the relaxing post massage. You have an informative but relaxed manner. I’ve enjoyed your circles very much. For me they are more grounded & comfortable.” Susan H., North Andover, MA USA

“Emotionally the circle was very uplifting. Great energy to share. I loved the energy of being a part of this circle.” Cindy H., Amherst, NH USA

“[I enjoyed the] connection with spirit.” Dana G., Amherst, NH USA

“[The sound circle] was fun.” Gerry M., Derry, NH USA

“I enjoyed the healing, the feeling of peace & your calm nature.” J. R., North Andover, MA USA

“The sound circle made me focus. I enjoyed [Eduardo’s] knowledge of the background of music.” Bob F., Amherst, NH USA

“I feel more grounded & I do love to drum… It makes me happy... I enjoyed listening to your beautiful voice & learning new sound healing modalities.” Pam, Amherst, NH USA

La Vida Latina Cambridge, MA CCTV Interview

2009-09-04T18:15:00.013-04:00

"Deje el mundo cambiarle y usted puede cambiar el mundo." ("Let the world change you & you can change the world.") Ernesto "Che" Guevara ...

I had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed for the Cambridge Community Cable TV program La Vida Latina, by my good friends Karin Koch & Irene Bosch. The program is in Spanish, as its target audience in the Boston, MA area.

The program covers sound & music in general, as tools for relaxation & creativity. I also speak & demonstrate the work I do with The Sound Gathering (TM), sound & drum circles in the local communities.

Enjoy!

Eduardo Martinez

For a larger screen version of this interview, please visit My blip.tv channel.

(Added 9/16/09) Also, here is the short promo trailer for the same show:

For a larger screen version of this interview, please visit My blip.tv channel.

Simplicity: My new Mac Desktop Look

2009-09-03T14:04:00.011-04:00

I decided to eliminate everything from my Mac's desktop, partly inspired by MinimalMac.com. I find the clean desktop is the equivalent of a clean desk, nothing to distract me from the chosen immediate goal or project I am working on.

In addition, this photo now on my desktop, has personal significance for me. It was taken on the beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where I grew up... You are welcome to download it as well (available in Picasa) & use it if you want. I have also simplified my status bar at the top, just leaving on it my wireless Airport status icon. I certainly don't need a ticking clock telling me of every passing second or minute ;-)

Let me know if you have felt equally inclined to unclutter (or declutter) your workspace, including your Mac or PC. By the way, I did exactly the same thing with my PC laptop for its desktop...

Blessings,

Eduardo Martinez

The Spiritual Significance of Music

2009-07-03T15:20:00.001-04:00

"Believe in your dreams & they may come true; believe in yourself & they will come true." Unknown

Music has the ability to lead us in transcending time and space. It connects us with something larger than ourselves. Creating or listening to music is an exercise in stepping out of ordinary time into magical time and space. As co-creators we can access this magical state. Similar to the alchemist of previous ages, today’s musician transmutes simple and readily available raw materials, notes, silence, and time, to weave a much more valuable tapestry called music. The listener is equally transported when listening to such music. In a way, the musician also transcends reality and achieves a certain degree of immortality by having contributed to the harmonious sounds in our universe.

Music can help us to connect with our hearts and souls in a way that our intellect can only hint at. Blaise Pascal, the 17th century philosopher and mathematician, said: “The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing.” Musicians choose the language of music to express that which cannot be accessed via words or the intellect. Ancient philosophers also studied music and recognized that it held the secrets for understanding ourselves and the universe around us. This includes a deeper awareness of the physical world as well as our own spirituality. Just feel your heart strings being gently pulled when listening to or playing a song you hold dear.

The musician can also use music as dharma, or virtuous path, as it shows us discipline, dedication, love, and beauty. The pursuit of beautiful music is an evolving ideal, one that the musician knows well and will never reach absolute perfection with, but is a better person for having tried. The musician also has a sacred responsibility to use music in ways that are uplifting and inspiring. Music is a tool imbued with the intent and energy of the composer and the performing musicians, and its impact on its audience is the message carried by these intentions. A great power and a great responsibility indeed!

I am always in awe of the immense power of music in connecting us in meaningful and spiritual ways. Music highlights that which is common within all of us, while it seems to wash away those things that seemingly separate us. When I lead improvisational sound and drum circles, I rejoice watching experienced musicians and beginners alike, creating beautiful sounds together. The smiles are priceless. Music and music-making belong to everyone, not just the chosen few. Most indigenous societies through time have understood this, and practiced music as a community activity.

On a personal level, my music and my spirituality are one and the same. I have chosen music as my vehicle to express that which is within my spirit and soul. I practice meditation before sitting down to compose and play, as I feel the depths of my being connecting to a higher power. Even a simple note has the ability to bring a tear of joy to my eyes. More than it being “my music,” I feel I was just able to tap into that endless stream of sounds and energy that is always around us, and listen to a few notes and silences passing by. The music I share is what I was able to listen to, and now pass on to others. Music IS my meditation, a mirror reflecting my connection to myself, to others, and to the Universe.

(Note: This interview is featured with many others from around the world, accessible for free at: The Spiritual Significance of Music website)

T'ai Chi & Yoga for Musicians (& all others too) - One-Pointed Focus

2009-05-05T17:24:00.001-04:00

"!Ama Sua, Ama Kjella, Ama Lllulla! - Don't lie, don't cheat, don't be lazy". Quechua greeting during Inca times.

I am going to be sharing some thoughts here during the next few blogs, about T'ai Chi (Tai Chi) & yoga for musicians. I have studied & practiced both T'ai Chi & yoga since the early nighties, as well as being a certified T'ai Chi instructor & teacher in a style called T'ai Chi Chih (loosely translated as "Knowledge of the Supreme Ultimate"). This style emphasizes the health & relaxation benefits of T'ai Chi, & not its traditional martial arts roots.

I am also a musician & classical guitar player. Over the years I have always paid attention to the right balance of warm up exercises, fitness as well as the correct technique & posture needed to play an instrument well. Musicians are athletes, in every sense of the word, & attention to our well-being at a physical, mental as well as emotional levels is necessary to play freely. I'd venture to also say that our spiritual well-being is very important, maybe the most essential level.

The first concept to be aware of when making music is that of focus. Call it concentration, one-pointed focus, being in the flow or the zone... All are describing the same focused performance level. Both T'ai Chi & yoga can be thought of as moving meditations. As a matter of fact, because of the element of movement in both, many practitioners have an easier time with them than, let's say, sit down meditation. And it is precisely why a movement practice can be very important to a musician in developing the level of focus & relaxed attention needed to play music.

Most of my mistakes when practicing & performing music, are mistakes of attention, or lack thereof. By being faithful in my daily T'ai Chi & yoga practice, I have found a direct correlation between my focus & my music playing.

I'll continue sharing more thoughts on this in the next installments.

Blessings,

Eduardo

Mother Earth, Father Sky

2009-04-26T12:28:00.006-04:00

Mother Earth, Father Sky
You blessed me today
with the sounds & sights of your lovemaking...
The wind blowing amongst the trees & leaves
like a whisper in a lover's ear.
The sun warming the Earth,
like the slight touch on a lover's skin.
And I saw & heard the river
be moved by your lovemaking too,
flowing rapidly sometimes,
slowing down to a trickle at other times,
wanting your embrace to last forever...
I am your son...
And as I opened my eyes,
I felt the wind caressing my hair,
the sun warming my own skin,
& my heart feelings flowing just like the river...
I felt loved...

Blessings,

Eduardo Martinez

Self-Determination & the elections in El Salvador

2009-03-19T18:53:00.005-04:00

"Love is ALL. ALL is Love. ALL is well." Eduardo Martinez

I've been reading about the civil disobedience movement & non-violence. Instead of non-violence I prefer the name peaceful-means, as it denotes a positive energy. It portrays more clearly what the objective is, versus what it is not.

As the elections in El Salvador happened this week, there was a campaign of mis-information in that country, as well as here in the USA. The media & right-wing party in El Salvador, & some of our senators & representatives here, were erroneously trying to convince people in El Salvador that the USA government would only approve of & work with that country if the people elected the right-wing party. To our credit, the USA State Department clarified that our government was committed to allowing self-determination for El Salvador, & that we would work with whomever won the elections there.

As I have been working with peaceful-means to conflict, I realized that one of the worst & most insidious forms of violence is not allowing a person, a community or a country to have their self-determination, the ability to choose freely, who they are & what they want. As in the case of the elections in El Salvador, maybe special & commercial interests pretend to hold people down with poverty (another insidious form of violence), or with their own government structure in place. But in the end, peaceful-means & truth have always won, paraphrasing Mahatma Gandhi...

Blessings,

Eduardo

Music: La Guitarra California Festival 2009

2009-03-17T17:35:00.002-04:00

"La canción del piano - es un discurso. La canción del cello - es una elegía. La canción de la guitarra - es una canción..." ("The song of the piano - is a discourse. The song of the cello - is an elegy. The song of the guitar - is a song...") , from La Canción de la Guitarra (The Song of the Guitar), by Spanish poet Eugenio d'Ors (as featured in the DVD: Andres Segovia: In Portrait

... And speaking of classical guitar, there is a wonderful festival coming up: La Guitarra California 2009, September 25, 26 & 27, 2009. Featured performers are: Manuel Barrueco, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Berta Rojas, David Leisner, David Tanenbaum, Jérémy Jouve, Carlos Pérez, The Alturas Duo, Judicaël Perroy & Michael Partington. This promises to be a great festival, & renews my desire to visit California, where I used to live some years ago.

Please visit the festival's official web page for additional information, La Guitarra California 2009. Hope to see you there!

Blessings,

Eduardo

Music & Social Justice: Let Peace Expand CD

2009-03-06T11:15:00.002-05:00

"As musicians/healers, it is our destiny to conduct an inward search, & to document it with our music so that others may benefit. As they listen to the music coming through us, they too are inspired to look within. Light is being transmitted & received from soul to soul..." pp. 13, from Effortless Mastery: Liberating the Master Musician Within, by Kenny Werner

I highly recommend a CD I have been listening to lately, called 'Let Peace Expand.' It is the beautiful work/play of two friends right here in New Hampshire, USA, Lisa Murray & Cynthia Schroer. These are their own words about the CD:

"The Let Peace Expand CD grew out of a desire to contribute to the expansion of peace consciousness throughout the world. Lisa Murray began writing the songs contained on Let Peace Expand at the onset of the Iraq war with "Calling Mothers." The title song, "Let Peace Expand," emerged after hearing about grass-roots efforts to establish a U.S. Department of Peace. "Just a Little Good" was inspired after seeing Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth.

Along the way on this musical journey, Lisa teamed up with Cynthia Schroer to co-found a local "Peace Place" in New Hampshire. The Peace Place is a "start-where-you-are" peace action incubator where simple acts of peace building are discovered, encouraged, and promoted. Individuals and groups of all faiths and humanistic philosophies are welcome to use the Peace Place for personal and communal peace-making efforts, no matter how small they might appear. An example of Peace Place offerings is the monthly coffeehouses, which are hosted there to raise money through voluntary donations for various causes that support well-being around the world.

Cynthia's voice brings the songs on Let Peace Expand to life, with Lisa on acoustic piano. Cynthia views her vocal involvement with this CD as a continuation of her conscious use of voice for over twenty years to encourage others to connect with their own essence, a source of peace in the world.

The final track on the CD is simply "Peace." The hopeful words are set in a minor key, giving subtle reference to the fact that the work of peace is not always comfortable. "Peace" sums up Lisa and Cynthia's aspiration that the Let Peace Expand CD will move listeners to think, probe, heal, seek, and be inspired to create a landscape of peace within themselves, their communities, and the world.

To purchase a CD or to read more about Let Peace Expand, go to their website: Let Peace Expand.

Sound clips of the CD may be heard at:

Let Peace Expand @ CDBaby.com, where the CD may also be purchased."

Blessings,

Eduardo

What is a Sound Circle?

2009-02-15T14:24:00.013-05:00

I am often asked what a sound circle is. To me, it is a gathering of beings (& why I call mine The Sound Gathering), to share sound, music-making & silence. We gather to share & learn from each other. It is more improvisational in nature than formal music-making, & the results are often beautiful & harmonious.

Some people may ask how does it differ from a drum circle. I started doing drum circles some years ago, incorporating Native-American as well as African drumming sequences. But my interest in combining drumming with all other sound modalities grew as my personal sound practice grew. I now also incorporate I Ching drumming (started by Melinda "Mo" Maxfield in California some years ago, as part of her Psychology Ph.D. dissertation), all percussion instruments (wooden drums, shakers, gongs, etc.), toning, chanting, crystal & Tibetan singing bowls (one of my favorites), chimes, Sanskrit Mantra chanting, acoustic & electronic instruments, spontaneous movement, breathing & vocalizing, & occasionally my laptop (to make sounds & also record the sessions). I am often "treated" by others when they bring their own instruments, & create amazing sounds I may not have heard before. Then I want one of those instruments too!

The key is also to make the sound circles enjoyable & fun for all. Everyone is welcome, from beginners to seasoned sound circle participants, from very young children to our beautiful senior citizens. I am a little "jealous" of those first-time participants, as they will often experience that night a completely new (to them) & wonderful "shower of sound & light" :-) Every time I make sound I get to experience this as well, but that first time is priceless...

Drop me a note to share what other things you add to your own sound circles, or would like to experience in one of them.

Blessings,

Eduardo

Music & Social Justice: Amandla! DVD

2009-02-11T11:53:00.027-05:00

A wonderful documentary about the power of music as an agent of social change. Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony is the story of the contribution of South African song & music in the anti-apartheid movement. There is plenty of music in this DVD, & surprisingly all of it is uplifting & moving. One of the producers commented that for some parts of the movie they were seeking more somber music, but could not find any! Vuyisile Mini (1920-1964) is one of the featured musicians, amongst many. He was executed by the South African government for expressing his dissent through his songs. I know of many musicians that give their lives to music, but few that would give their lives FOR their music, & freedom!

I am still going through the “extras” in the movie, including the director’s comments. There is also an interview with Dave Matthews, founder of the Dave Matthews Band, being a native of South Africa. Synchronistically I just found out last night as I was writing this blog, that Nelson Mandela was freed on a day like today, February 11, 1990. He eventually became the first South African freely-elected, post-apartheid president. I cannot but feel deeply the contribution that music made to the changed history of this nation.

Some additional websites with related information:

- Vuyisile Mini in Wikipedia

- Amandla! Singing Down Apartheid

- BBC's 1990 Headline: Mandela Freed!

"Amandla" is a Xhosa and Zulu word meaning "power", as the documentary demonstrates. It won multiple awards, including some at the Sundance Festival in 2002.

And by the way, the letters in the word "amandla" also spell "mandala" (meaning circle in Sanskrit) ...

Let me know if the documentary "spoke" to you as well :-)

Blessings,

Eduardo

Music & Dance Events @ the Dana Center for the Humanities, Saint Anselm College

2009-02-04T11:08:00.015-05:00

I recently discovered a great music & performance arts venue right here in New Hampshire, the Dana Center for the Humanities, at Saint Anselm College, in Manchester, NH. Last Friday night I attended the International Guitar Night event with founder Brian Gore, French steel string master Pierre Bensusan, renowned classical guitarist/composer Benjamin Verdery, & terrific guitarist, singer/songwriter Cecilia Zabala, from my father’s hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Great show, great venue! The Dana Center strives for excellence & cultural diversity through their scheduled performances.

There are many great upcoming performances, including:

- Classical Dance of India: Ragamala Music & Dance Theater with Taiko Drumming
This is a unique performance that combines classical Indian dance with Japanese Taiko drumming!

- St. Petersburg String Quartet

- Luna Negra Dance Theater

So check them out if you are looking for great & diverse performances. Drop me a note if you attend one of their events, & what you thought of it.

Blessings,

Eduardo

The Sound of Silence

2008-10-17T14:11:00.005-04:00

I have been making an attempt to have & experience more silence lately. Maybe that is why I have not posted here in a few weeks ;-) It may seem strange for a musician, but someone once said very eloquently that music is contained in the space between the notes. How true!

Now, I enjoy my iPod as much as everyone else. It allows me to take with me not only my purchased music, but also my own compositions & drafts, so that I can listen to them in various environments. This generates many more musical ideas. While I enjoy silence, I am not talking here about an anechoic chamber (sound-deprivation chamber), even though I’d love to experience that sometime soon. If anyone knows how to get me some time in one, I’d be forever grateful.

What I am referring to here is more akin to listening to our surroundings. When I exercise outside, I listen to the immediate sounds around me, instead of my mp3 player. I quite honestly have never been able to exercise with one, not that there is anything wrong with using a music player. When I am out in nature though, or open a window at home early in the morning, I enjoy the seeming cacophony out there. The sunrise & sunset are the two busiest “sound” times in nature. Nocturnal animals go to sleep before or at sunrise, while diurnal animals, like most humans, get to start the day. The process reverses itself at sunset. Sometimes there is a deafening level of sound, & then quickly shifts as everyone goes about their business (or is it “busy-ness”?). Try it sometime!

An aspect seldom talked about in all the discussions regarding our disappearing ecological environments, is that our soundscape ecology is also disappearing with them. Once a natural environment is gone, its unique sounds are lost forever, as no two environments are exactly alike. This is similar to no two music performances ever being exactly alike, even when played by the same musicians, at the same venue. I have also been thinking more about what a healthy sound environment does to our own health. I cannot help but notice how my indoor cats glue themselves to the open windows at home, listening to & admiring everything outside. I have also noticed this effect, to a much lesser extent, when I play a nature recording inside of my home. It is a distant second choice for the cats, & for me, but better than no nature sounds at all, especially in the middle of the winter here in New England, when we remain mostly indoors.

I’ve long admired & listened to the work of Bernie Krause with his nature recordings. You can check them out at
Wild Sanctuary . He truly has made excellent nature recordings & is helping preserve a shifting soundscape.

Another area where silence plays a central role in my life is in my meditation practice, as well as in my mantra chanting practice. During meditation, the focus for me becomes my breathing. As my mind & breath quiet down, I can start to feel & eventually hear the pumping heart, & the blood rushing through my veins. When doing chanting, often we focus on the sounds of course, but there is an interesting experience of silence afterwards, while there seems to be the sound energy still floating around after we stop.

I welcome your thoughts & experiences with sound.

Blessings,

Eduardo

The Sound Gathering Recordings

2008-08-31T13:33:00.012-04:00

(Update 9/15/09: I have now placed an audio file player directly on this website/blog with my recordings, so you'll be able to find everything right here.)

I have now added a link to the right of this post, titled TSG Recordings @ Wellness thru Sound & Music (or click text), with past recordings made at a The Sound Gathering sound & drumming circle. Some/many of you were present during this recording in 2002, at the Illuminations bookstore, in Westford, MA, USA. I also uploaded one of my music pieces, titled "Serenity", for your enjoyment.

The Wellness through Sound & Music is part of the Healing Music Organization, & now they have this website as a social/networking site. It allows me to upload many more audio files, & much larger, than let's say MySpace, so I'll be using each for slightly different purposes. Watch out for more music postings.

Blessings,

Eduardo

Fostering Creativity: The MacDowell Colony

2008-08-14T16:55:00.000-04:00

I had the opportunity to attend the MacDowell Colony’s Medal Day & Open House this past Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008. It was an amazing opportunity as the MacDowell Colony is only open to the general public once a year, including the artists’ studios. The colony, which resides in Peterborough, NH, is an artist colony, where artists from various disciplines, & from all over the world, apply for residencies of between three to eight weeks in length. Financial assistance is even offered to those that couldn’t otherwise attend.

This was a serendipitous day trip for me, as I engage often in thinking & researching creativity, & what fosters it, in my own music & artwork, as well as the work of others. I have noticed that creativity cannot be “forced” to happen, but there are certain elements that can foster it: time, space, financial means, an emotionally nurturing environment, amongst others.

The elimination of distractions is another element. I visited around 15 artist studios on Sunday, & invariably heard often that one of the biggest advantages of being in the colony was the elimination of such time wasters as TV, & access to the internet. The residents do have access to the Internet in the main hall, but not in the studios themselves. I for one, have notice this in my own creative life, where having internet access is a blessing, if used effectively, or a potential timewaster if used unchecked (endless email anyone? :-).

Another interesting fact about the colony is that its tax-exempt, non-profit status was legally challenged a couple of years ago by the Peterborough Board of Selectmen (local town government), looking to collect property taxes from the colony. The high court system as well as the New Hampshire Supreme Court sided with the colony, stating that their work of offering artists residencies was of benefit to the local society, as well as society in general. Indeed, art is essential to our society’s well being, they stated. The residents often end up working/playing with local residents & organizations, exposing them to the various aspects of their art, & even performances.

My focus was of course the studios of the various composers presently at the colony. Of note, Michael Klingbeil had also created some custom computer software to analyze & modify recorded sounds, called “Spear”, which I found very interesting & have started using. Michael offers the software as a free download. Thanks Michael! Download directly from Michael’s website.

Blessings,

Eduardo

The Sound Gathering @ Circles of Wisdom, Andover, MA, USA

2008-08-05T13:18:00.014-04:00

We now have a permanent sound/drumming circle location for The Sound Gathering! It is @ the Circles of Wisdom Bookstore, in Andover, MA, USA, the 2nd Sunday of each month, 7-9 PM, starting on September 14th, 2008. This came about in a truly amazing way. Right after I sent my original message to the group, I also asked Sarah Fletcher (Westford, MA) to please forward it to her healing mailing list, which she did. Well, that same day, Cathy Levine, owner of Circles of Wisdom, had sent me an email, I visited her wonderful space the next day, & we agreed harmoniously to all the details on the spot! Synchronicity at its best! Besides providing us with a wonderful & spacious room, Circles of Wisdom also has a large mailing list for Mass., as well as New Hampshire, so we can benefit with additional participants & visibility. So thanks to Sarah & Cathy for helping co-create our sound gatherings. Please visit this link to the Circles of Wisdom for additional details. There will also be a The Sound Gathering circle ceremony on November 30th, at 4PM, to close the open house (pun intended :-) for Circles of Wisdom (well, all good events must come to an end too ;-). Join us during the day if you can, & you can learn about all the other wonderful events & resources they provide!

Blessings,

Eduardo

World Music: A Steady Diet

2008-08-04T20:20:00.005-04:00

Welcome to this installment of my blog. I thought to share some world music I have been listening to lately. First, what is "world music?" I believe all music is world music, as in we are all one. But the more common definition can be handy when referring to music from other parts of the world besides the United States. Well, I find inspiration pretty much everywhere, including listening to world music, both familiar & unfamiliar. The dilemma we have here is that we can be somewhat insulated sometimes, while the rest of the world is indeed singing! To that effect, I recently embarked on listening to various sources of world music, both live & prerecorded.

- National Geographic Channel's Nat Geo Music Series: I found by coincidence this world music TV program while keeping company to my recently adopted feral cat (my fourth, but that is another blog altogether, maybe ;-) very late one night. By the way, a little Animal Planet & National Geographic channel TV time has been a great way to get my feral cat, Baraka, used to both animal sounds & sounds you’d find in a home (because of the commercials). Here in New Hampshire where I live we have Comcast, & one of their cable TV channel lineups includes the National Geographic Channel. Basically, it is a series of music videos from around the world, but that you’d probably not see on MTV, or elsewhere. Some of the videos are composites of different world locations, for the ultimate armchair travel experience, that is if you can stay in your chair & not dance. Check your cable or satellite TV listings in your area. In mine the series is on for 3 hours, between 3A.M. to 6A.M., so thank you DVR :-) (Digital Video Recorder, or TiVo, if that is what you use). The whole National Geographic World Music Home webpage is full of free features, videos & audio, as well as the Nat Geo Music TV webpage. Follow this link I also found on the Nat Geo website for a very interesting idea on how to finance your next music or CD project.

- A second source of world music for me lately has been the excellent UK magazine Songlines(click on link to subscribe). Each issue includes a compilation CD with tracks from various different world musicians & CDs. Subscribing to the magazine is like buying the compilation CDs & getting the magazine for free! It is a great way to listen & then decide if/which CDs to independently buy.

And for my favorite, live music:
- The Nashua Public Library has a Bach Lunch Concert Series on Wednesdays at noon, & the Summer Concert on the Plaza Series on Thursday evenings (click here for calendar). Neither focuses exclusively on world music, even though they have plenty of it. Here I was just introduced to the fascinating & beautiful music of 35th Parallel (Mac Ritchey & Gabe Halberg), described by the Nashua Public Library website as: "Take a musical journey through the Middle East, North India, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. Gabe Halberg and Mac Ritchey play instruments ranging from the Middle Eastern oud to the Indian tabla, from tar and jaw harp to bouzouki and didgeridoo." I’d add that they play both original compositions as well as traditional songs, with a strong emphasis on hand percussion. Quite a treat. You can purchase their Green Vine or Crossing Painted Islands albums (CDs here, mp3 downloads here). Make sure you visit their informative website too, at 35th Parallel.

- Lowell Folk Festival: Free, huge, full of ethnic music, food & fun! Do I need to say anything else? ;-) This festival just passed, so mark your calendars for the last full weekend in July of 2009 for the next installment. This year highlights included the Dance Pavillion (highlighting Puerto Plata, 85 years young! & his latin music group), with its various dance music acts, Balla Kouyaté (virtuoso player of an ancient instrument called the balafon, the West African ancestor of the marimba, the xylophone, the vibes, and a host of related instruments), Helder Moutinho (Portuguese fado male singer - a rarity for fado, since most are females), Pilon Batuku (Cape Verdean funana), & many more.

Hope you enjoy a dash of world music in your music diet, to liven things up!

Blessings,

Eduardo

Joy through Breath, Movement & Sound

2008-07-22T21:01:00.008-04:00

This is an article I wrote some time ago, but more recently I have given much thought to this information, as I deeply integrate all three techniques in my sound healing practice. I am a certified T’ai Chi instructor, as well as a long-time meditator & sound healing practitioner, so breath, movement & sound blend easily in my classes. Enjoy, & I’d love to hear back from you.

Blessings,

Eduardo

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Joy through Breath, Movement and Sound

by Eduardo Martinez (Creative Commons copyright Eduardo Martinez; see sidebar for specific license)
Spirit of Change Magazine, March/April 1997, pp. 36-38 (Minor revisions July 2008)

Introduction
A human being is one of the most amazing energy transducers around. We convert food, oxygen and sunlight into energy through biochemical processes in our bodies. Emotions, thoughts and feelings also contribute. We can also garner and bask in the energy of the universe. Called Chi, Ki, Prana, or simply "life force", this universal energy permeates all of creation.

Energy is energy is energy. We are often tempted to categorize energy as physical, mental and spiritual, but these are just the expressions of the same universal energy. The source is one and the same. It is that thread that connects us with All That Is in the universe.

So how can we learn to flow with the life force, so more of it is available to us? The experience of harmony is one of those conditions that facilitate communing with the life force. That surge of energy when we are at peace within ourselves, with our Higher Selves, with others, and with the natural rhythms around us is an exquisite state. Things, situations, people and experiences all "flow" in our lives. So we can say that the experience of energy in us is enhanced by harmony, flow, joy, fun, and "effortless ease." This is quite contrary to what we have come to believe: work hard to accomplish more.

Ok. So if energy is so abundant, how come we don't have more of it? How come we don't have more of it with joy and ease, instead of working so hard to get it? The three techniques explained below will give you some ideas. There are more similarities than differences between them, if you peek underneath the veil. And remember, always have fun and joy when doing them!

Energy in Our Bodies
The energy in our bodies moves through the path of least resistance. When we are in harmony, loose and relaxed, the life energy swirls through our meridians and chakras, visits our organs, and is available to help generate positive thoughts and feelings, just the way energy was meant to do. What happens when we are tense, in disharmony, or have a disease? In these situations energy is either absent, "pinched" or "blocked" in certain parts of our bodies. Anyone that has ever received a massage knows very well how soft tissue can store tension (pinched energy), and how relief is achieved by helping relax the affected area, thus restoring the normal energy flow. Bodywork is a wonderful way to maintain the flow of energy in us. Other beneficial methods include acupuncture, acupressure, as well as the multiple energy/healing methodologies, like Polarity Therapy, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, etc.

I like simplicity, and suggest that we practice the basics before anything else. Any form of therapy will be enhanced if we breathe and move correctly. Oftentimes these techniques by themselves will bring about the much-sought increase in energy and well-being. Sound can also be utilized as a tool for awareness and as a form of therapy, adding tremendously to the joy and fun. Sound is energy in the form of a vibration that can travel to any part of our being to bring about healing where it is most needed.

Breath, Movement and Sound
All three are ancient techniques spanning diverse eras, continents, philosophies and cultures. Yoga, Qi Gong and T'ai Chi (a form of Qi Gong), among many others, utilize the centuries-old basic principles of correct breathing, correct movement and sound vibrations to bring about balance and harmony to ourselves and our surroundings. It is interesting to note that the creation of a sound requires breath and movement. Practically every major civilization and culture, and many smaller ones, have sought to increase their well-being through a combination of these methods. So what makes them so effective and timeless?

For one, there is a simplicity about how these techniques work that brings about a "recognition" within us, a sense of "having come home." And this is important to understand, because the correct way to breathe, to move, and to generate sound are all very natural to everyone, or at least they were once. Our lifestyles, stress levels, diets, job environment, leisure activities, societal pressures and busy family lives have all contributed to us forgetting how to breath, move and generate sound effortlessly (remember "effortless ease" from the Introduction above?). If you have any doubts, observe a newborn. Savor how he or she moves, breathes and babbles freely. Also feel that somewhere within us we know how to do all of these. We just have to remember...

The Joy of Correct Breathing
There is no question about it. We all have to breathe, twenty-four hours a day, all of our lives. So how can there be anything else but "correct breathing?" Well, first, breathing is mostly an automatic, or autonomic function of our bodies. We don't have to think about breathing, for the most part. Imbalances in the body, as well as stress, affect our breathing patterns. Shallow breathing, mostly in the chest area, is the norm for many people. Normal breathing, on the other hand, is deep, relaxed, and carried out with the chest and the abdomen (there is movement, right there). Our full lung capacity is exercised when we take a deep breath and feel our lower abdomen section move in and out.

Over time we have forgotten to breathe correctly, thus neglecting possibly the fastest and easiest way of generating energy. Ancient wisdom has it that energy is a function of oxygen and interest, or ENERGY = OXYGEN + INTEREST. This is the "body/mind connection" at its best, where the body contributes to the energy available to us through correct breathing, while our mind, or what we are interested in, contributes the focus and attention that makes possible the flow and effortless ease in what we do.

We can remember how to breathe by bringing awareness into this otherwise automatic activity. Another potential benefit of aware, correct breathing is to experience the "gap" between the inhales and exhales. In traditional meditative practices, it is at this time when activity ceases, and inspiration, peace and harmony come pouring in to our souls, that moment when we are most connected to everything that exists. Each breath is how we invite the world in.

Breathing Exercise; An Exercise in Awareness
Sit down on a comfortable chair with good back support, in a quiet, peaceful place, both feet flat on the ground or floor. If you have a door in your office, this can be a very invigorating mid-day break from your work routine. Place the palm of your right hand on your lower abdomen, just below your navel. Have your back against the back of the chair. From this position become aware of your breathing for about five minutes, with no effort to change or modify how you normally breathe. For most of us, we realize that there is little movement of the lower abdomen. So we first relax the muscles in the abdomen as we progressively breathe deeper and deeper with our stomach area, for another five minutes. The Chinese call it the lower T'an T'ien (pronounced "dantienne"), and is located about two inches below the navel. It is the residence of the original Chi, or energy, and is the primal vitality center in the body where energy is developed and stored. It is very common to become aware of other parts of our bodies that are tense. Just relax them and continue concentrating on the breathing. Feel the freedom and joy that come with each breath. Feel the energy rushing in. With time and practice you can do this simple exercise in the middle of your day while doing other activities, without anyone noticing.

The Joy of Correct Movement
Movement is a somewhat more active way to generate and move energy in our bodies. The real secrets of movement are harmony, balance and ease. There is a delicate interaction between breath and movement. Observe yourself the next time you walk down the hallway.

Correct movement balances the life force in us. Disciplines like T'ai Chi and Yoga emphasize correct posture, slow, smooth and continuous movements, total relaxation, physical and mental coordination, grounding, balance, natural breathing, lightness and suppleness.

One of the main principles is that of Yin/Yang, the eternal opposites that exist in balance (see figure 1. Yin/Yang symbol), and that contain some of each other (the dots within each one). As an example, in T'ai Chi, when we move forward, we become aware of the shifting of our weight from our back leg to a neutral, balanced point, and then completing the weight shift to our front leg. We refer to the weight bearing leg as the "full" leg, while the other leg is "empty." It is only through contrasts that we come to know our world. We appreciate light because we know darkness; we refer to high and low, female and male, fast and slow, tensing and releasing, softness and firmness, inhale and exhale, doing and being, as opposites, but upon closer examination, each represents the other side of the same phenomenon. One cannot exist without the other.

How did we forget or favor one aspect more than the other? This we call lack of balance or harmony. Somewhere along the path we forgot how we were meant to move, quite often for the same reasons that we forgot how to breathe correctly. Correct movement is our birthright, not something that we have to spend years learning how to do. Yes, we do get more sophisticated as we grow up. We go from not moving much, to kicking and waiving our arms, to crawling, to taking a few steps, to running. But for most of us, we forgot to do it all with effortless ease.

Correct movement allows the energy to flow in our bodies in balanced, complementary ways. Left and right, distal and proximal, upper and lower body, all take turns to host the life energy whirling by. Movement becomes graceful, purposeful and effortless. And in this process we allow more and more energy to move through our beings, in an eternal dance with the life force. But how do we get started? The above mentioned techniques are extremely powerful tools to remember how to move correctly. Awareness of how we move can be the starting point, the same as with correct breathing. This is no small coincidence.

Movement Exercise; Another Exercise in Awareness
The best place to do this one is probably in nature, or at least outdoors. This is somewhat difficult to do sometimes during the long New England winters, but watch out for those clear, crisp, sunny days. Find a trail where you will not be disturbed. All that is required in this exercise is to be aware of your walking. Be consciously aware as you take each step, as you shift your weight forward, as you breathe in. Speed is not a requirement; it might even spoil the fun. Become aware of any physical discomfort. Ask yourself, "Am I moving with ease and joy?" If not, slow down, and continue to focus on your every step. Cherish the fact that you are performing with each step a feat of balance and grace. The first time you do this exercise you might not experience much, but as you practice, your body will tell you how it feels. All you have to do is listen, and move accordingly. The miraculously things is that each individual moves somewhat differently. Each of us is unique in our movement, and the correct movement techniques, like T'ai Chi or Yoga, should be adapted to the individual, and not the other way around. The "correct way to move" is nothing more than a template that we look at and then conform to our physiology. Be unique and have fun while you are doing it.

The Joy of Sound
Sound is a vibration, a form of energy that travels in a wave form, through a medium, like air, water, living tissue and our bones. The sounds we hear are brought to our ears by the surrounding air, which causes pressure changes within our ear. If our ears are capable of detecting sound, why not the rest of our body?

As a matter of fact, our whole being does respond to sound, from an ultrasound wave being reflected back to the medical instrument after reaching a particular organ, to the emotions and physical sensations triggered by our favorite musical composition. Vibrations exist at a cellular level. The utilization of sound through history as a healing modality is as extensive, if not more, than that of breath and movement. Music consists of sounds and silences organized in time.

Sound therapy is currently used in hospitals, schools, psychological treatment programs, and even corporate offices as an effective tool to reduce stress, alleviate pain, improve coordination, movement and balance, increase production, and treat learning disabilities. Certain sounds can slow our breathing rate and heart rate, sooth our emotions, decrease muscle tension and improve our sense of well-being. But how does this happen?

Entrainment is one of the ways in which sound affects us. This process refers to the phenomenon by which one rhythm aligns or synchronizes with another rhythm. A baby's heartbeat matches the mother's when resting on her chest and our breathing slowing down as a result of listening to soothing music are two examples. In the case of sound healing, when an individual projects a tone on another, sound healer and client entrain to the basic vibratory nature of the expressed tones.

Another phenomenon is resonance. Resonance refers to different parts of the body vibrating according to different tones and frequencies. Science has documented the resonant frequencies of the different organs and tissues in the human body. They are usually given as a frequency range, allowing for individual variations. Cymatics therapy uses a computerized instrument that generates resonant frequencies to positively affect unhealthy tissue in our bodies, returning it to its natural resonant frequency. This technique does not affect healthy tissue. We can think of our beings as having a "signature" frequency, which is a composite of all the frequencies present in our bodies. Like fingerprints, no two signature frequencies are exactly alike.

One of the most simple and effective ways to utilize sound to generate and circulate energy is to simply tone. The human voice is not only a magnificent instrument, but it also carries pure intention with it. Martial artists utilize the "kia" sound, along with a strong exhale, just when they are striking because of the increased energy and focus it brings to their movement. We can experiment in the comfort of our homes with different vowel sounds and tones to increase our health, energy and harmony. It is hard not to giggle in the beginning, but after all, laughter is sound!

Sound Exercise; Still Another Exercise in Awareness
Sit in a comfortable chair, with both feet on the floor. The first part of this exercise consists on focusing our attention on a specific part of our body, like a shoulder, or the heart area, and to start generating tones (elongated vowels, like "aaahhh") with our voices. Experiment with different tones and volume levels until you feel sensations on that part of the body. Continue for five to ten minutes. Louder is not necessarily better. Some people might experience heat, or a tingling sensation, and others just an intense awareness of the area. Remember that sounds are energy. We are just becoming conscious of what sounds affect us in what ways. Try different areas of your body on different days. The second component of this exercise is to tone a sound that comes to mind, and sense where in your body it is traveling to. Try different sounds on different days, and even on different times of the day. Play with it.

Conclusion
The three techniques explained above work beautifully well when done simultaneously, or separately to complement each other. All three come together in harmony, for the creation of balance, as self-awareness tools, and as tremendous generators of energy. Some of the principles that make them effective independent of each other, like entrainment, also work to synchronize their use. As an example, when doing a movement technique, like T'ai Chi, breathing becomes an integral part of the movement. As we breath and move synchronously, adding soft music in the background will affect the pace and intensity of our practice. Our thoughts slow down. Breath, music and movement occupy the same time and space. We can also tone while practicing any movement technique, and we find very quickly that tone, movement and breath also share a dance. One becomes the others. Singers know about the coordination of breath, sound and movement.

Energy is physical, mental and spiritual in nature. It is available everywhere, to everyone. When dealing with the life force, we can allow it to flow where it is most needed at a given moment, be it moving a hand, helping another individual, treating a disease, generating a thought or a feeling, or feeding our soul. And all with a sense of joy and fun, knowing that it is inexhaustible and life-sustaining.