Music to Soothe the Savage Beast - Coping with Stress During Challenging Economic Times

Almost everyone in America has been affected by the economic uncertainty that has engulfed the country for the past eighteen months. Characterized by the continuing mortgage crisis, record unemployment, business closings, declining stock markets, bank failures, and more, the economy has touched all of us in different ways. How we cope with the individual stress associated with the economy has been different too, but a growing number of people have turned to music from India.
World renowned singer and music therapist Rajasree Mukherjee is a frequent visitor to the Bay Area where she introduces people to the stress busting benefits of Indian classical music. She has played a leading role in the promotion of Indian Culture and Indian Music abroad, especially East Africa, and her music is mainly Indian raga based instrumental compositions, with a touch of folk music and vedic chanting. The instruments used are mostly traditional Indian string instruments like sitar, sarod, santoor, sarangi, and wind instruments like the flute, fused with Western instruments like the violin, guitar, octopad, and keyboard. The percussion is mostly Indian - tabla, dholak, and pakhawaj - combined in a soothing yet invigorating blend of sounds to soothe the psyche.
“Music can be used to help heal many mental or physical diseases in human beings,” says Mukherjee. It has therapeutic qualities, hence the name ‘music therapy.’ It delves into the depth of humanity and human consciousness to create harmony,” she adds. “The body has a music and rhythm of its own and it is different for each individual. The whole universe is constantly vibrating with its own frequency. Music helps to harmonize the internal vibration of a person’s body with the exte
al vibrations of the world around him, helping to create a state of equilibrium. Music can link the universal energy field with the human energy field. Music is the trigger that triggers energy.”

Mukherjee acknowledges that people have different tastes. “Some like vocal renditions,” she says, “and some have aversion towards certain sounds, some prefer string instruments, and for some, rhythm is very important. Accordingly I suggest relevant music for them.”

Mukherjee has observed a clear change in the thought processes of people who listen to her recommended music. “They visualize certain scenes or things, like a garden, flowers, butterflies, a flowing river, quiet surroundings or a clear blue sky. Gradually the mind falls silent. There is no thought, no emotional turmoil but just a feeling of bliss. The body and the mind feel rejuvenated after the musical experience.”

“All of us have the power within us to achieve whatever we want, stay healthy, happy and at peace. I want to show through my music how people can do that I want everyone to experience and maintain their sanity in today’s unstable world. I feel I can contribute more to society by creating music that will target specific ailments like Alzheimer’s, Anxiety, Cancer, Depression, Insomnia, Pain, Multiple Sclerosis, and Stress. At this time of my life I want to concentrate on creating sound for healing.”

Mukherjee has produced several musical CDs for both entertainment and therapy and is currently writing a book on music therapy. Her website http://www.masharda.org. Now, relax.