Music and Meditation

The Open Music Ensemble conducted a workshop on June 5th, a little less than a week ago here at the IDP. At that workshop/performance, I had the honor of having a conversation with a few of the members, and I wanted to share a few thoughts about meditation, music, and art based upon those conversations.

For those who practice meditation, having a musician play in the same room as you while you practice might either seem a crutch or an impediment to quieting the mind. Music seems to stir up emotions and thoughts despite our best intentions. While we might see this disturbance as a boon to our practice, a challenge to our most rooted thoughts, or a hurdle to be overcome, each one of these perspectives would see music as incompatible with meditation.

As I listened to the music that night, I noticed that unlike other music ensembles who improvise, this ensemble created music that interposed relatively spacious music with extended periods of silence. It was as if we were experiencing sound as an effect of musicians meditating. I am guessing that each spent more time listening and waiting than playing. (MORE)

Source: Beliefnet