In almost every culture that I have witnessed, vicariously or directly, music plays an essential role in connecting people to a higher power, nature, each other, and most importantly themselves. Music used with intention becomes a powerful resource that supports transcendence and enlightenment. The primary components of spiritual music are usually rhythm, melody, sometimes lyrics, and specialized instruments that have unique timbres.
Rhythm: No one can underestimate the power of rhythm. From a spiritual aspect, rhythm has the potential to connect us with our heartbeat, and the heartbeat of someone else and can even manipulate how fast or slow your heart and respiration rates can go. Many Indigenous cultures globally, have specific rhythms that are only taught to healers in training. Fast rhythms may also be typically played by the Healer of the community to induce an altered state of consciousness. Rhythm is used as a primary way to support someone in looking deep within themselves to negotiate with their energy and see what is hindering their spiritual growth. Within times of trial and strife, rhythms have also been used to summon courage and perseverance. This has been seen in many cultures globally in times of war or people who suffered enslavement. Within Music Therapy specific cultural rhythms are not appropriated, but discussed. Certified Music Therapists may engage the client in discussing if rhythm plays a role in their spirituality and ask if they are comfortable sharing how. Rhythm clinically may also be applied to support mindfulness. For instance, I may ask a client to take a moment to listen to the rhythm of my voice, guitar, or drum. I may then direct the individual to notice any sensations or memories that arise or to simply focus on how long they can keep their attention. Another way this may be achieved is by getting the client to make the rhythm for themselves using their body by either stomping, snapping, clapping, or tapping. These tools are taught with the intention that if the client finds themself in a distressful situation, they may self-regulate. Medically we may also use rhythm to alter someone’s respiration and heart rate to a more optimal pace that can actually be read on the biofeedback monitors. This is often used to support people dying within Medical and Hospice environments.
Melody: Within Western music theory there are specific modes or specialized scales said to induce different emotions and moods. Ionian (the Major happy mood), Dorian (whimsical, dreamy), Phrygian (mixed mood, energetic, sensuality), Lydian (intrigue, discovery) Mixolydian (contemplative, confidence), Aeolian (grief, lament), Locrian (anger, release, aggression). The beauty of melody is that it is subjective. The above scales may have a total different effect on you because of how your culture perceives melody. Other musical systems offer other scales and melodies that bring out other perceptions of emotion. For instance, Weddings are a good example. In Western contexts, wedding music is usually jovial, but in areas of the East like Ukraine (where I am from), wedding songs can be quite grievous and lamentful. Globally, we have assigned specific patterns of sound to different events in life and our environment and use melody to recognize them in our lives. Melody can evoke visceral memories and put us into specific emotional states. Clinically, using this awareness and knowledge, music therapists can offer clients many opportunities to experience a wide range of emotional expressions., especially when clients are celebrating and mourning life. This may induce feelings of connection otherwise not felt without that melody.
Lyrics: Lyrics can be very specific and provide spiritual music with explicit intentions and some may call prayers. Words sung can elicit a lot of specific images and can be used to narrate what the spiritual experience is for. While rhythm and melody do the same, it is more of an unconscious and subliminal experience. It is easier to project yourself on the music, while lyrics are more concrete. In Music Therapy, this is where lyrical analysis comes into play. Lyrical analysis is where the music therapist invites the client to review the lyrics for themselves and offers them the opportunity to change the lyrics for the sake of personalizing them. This also provides the client an opportunity to contemplate what their spirituality means to them. Within some organized faiths, individualizing written spiritual lyrics are not welcome. Within a clinical context, the wishes of the client are always respected and honoured. Composing an original song inspired by music from before may be another alternative.
Instruments: Cross-culturally, we as a collective have also assigned specific meanings to instruments and perceive some to be more effective in connecting us to a higher power than others. It also lends itself to how a culture perceives its higher power. Some Faiths may perceive their higher power as being grand, and outside of themselves. For instance, in Catholic churches back in the day, grandiose organs, pianos, and choirs were used to orchestrate the music. Experiencing this music and hearing the timbre of these instruments can elicit that visceral feeling of being in the presence of the Divine for some. For other Faiths, the instrument used may be as small as a rattle, but this timbre and sound elicit the same feeling of Divinity and Connection. Clinically, this is another variable of spiritual music that I admire and also explore by using pre-recorded music or instruments shared by the client. These receptive musical experiences can prompt the client to reflect further on their spiritual experiences.
Music and spirituality are so deeply entwined and provide many with a deep sense of empowerment. Music therapists support clients in deepening their relationship with music in a variety of environments including:
Long-Term Care & Hospice: Music is often used to promote comfort, physical relief, and spiritual support when the client is passing away. Receptive musical experiences such as listening to fondly remembered songs supports families and their dying loved one to connect and communicate. This is especially the case when the dying loved one is no longer conscious. Music therapists also support individuals dying when they may not have family members present in their lives to support them through this process. In either context, music is used to support communication, emotional expression, and catharsis for the individual and families.
Funerary Rites: It is also not uncommon for music therapists to collaborate with funerary directors to offer musical performances at the funeral of their clients. Music therapists can act as an advocate for the family with the directors to ensure that the musical needs of the family and the deceased are actualized. Services may also be offered after the ceremony to the family to continue to support them through grief.
Hospitals: Individuals undergoing long stays at the hospital may miss being able to connect spiritually and may benefit from music therapists supporting them in their experience. If awaiting surgery, the individual or family may want to use music to ease any anticipatory anxieties. Music therapy can also be applied when the patient is recovering to support rehabilitation and an alternative way to connect with family if need be. Hospitals are not always conducive to spirituality and music therapy offers an alternative way to connect when it may not be available.
Recovery: At times, recovery is not always physical. Many use music as a spiritual resource when recovering from mental health struggles, trauma and addiction. Exploring alternative ways to use music as a way to connect to a higher power, when appropriate, can be very empowering and uplifting. Music is known to alter mood and offers individuals and groups an opportunity to develop new insights into their experiences and develop wellness tools.
The key word is Their. It is not my job to push my ideology of what spiritual music is or when someone needs spiritual music, but to have an awareness as to how music is used clinically and culturally to support Spirituality. It is also my job not to assume based on skin colour, ethnicity or gender, what music will best fit you. It is my duty to discuss with the client what type of music is spiritual for them and know what I am comfortable and ethically obligated to offer.