Music isn’t the only thing that makes you human. And it’s not even the main thing. But music is real. And that’s true even though it’s totally invisible and void. You can’t hold it, touch it, or physically feel it. So, it’s an amazing and complicated marker, among many markers, for what makes us human.

Unless you’re deaf, you know how real music is. What it does to you, working from the inside out after it travels from the outside in to you.

And, I need to walk the “deaf” comment back a little. Because way, way back in the day I dated a wonderful woman who was deaf. And I remember how much she liked to dance. One time, after a spin around the dance floor, I asked her how she did it since she couldn’t hear. And she explained she could “feel hear” the beat of the loud music through the floor. So, she was able to move to it.

I thought that was so cool. And I’ve never forgotten it.

A few years ago I shared an article about how people with advanced dementia can make sudden, remarkable improvements in cognition when they hear familiar music. “Scientists” discovered how music can “wake up” brains that are almost completely gone. And they said the results they saw were “sometimes truly magical and inexplicable.” (side note: their use of inexplicable is why I put quotation marks around “scientists”)

Anyway…

Those “scientists” said those dementia sufferers seem to “come back” for a bit as they listen to familiar songs they love. And they call music a “proto-language.” Think of it as how parents talk to a baby.

I believe I’ve mentioned that a lot more than once here on my website. And I’ve talked about how that’s just one of many indicators that music is real and evolution is a stupid theory. Even those “scientists” theorized that “music appreciation appears to be embedded or wired into nearly all regions of the brain.”

“Wired into.” Uh, that would imply somebody did some wiring. Because something that complicated would not have created itself out of primordial soup. Wonder who could’ve “wired” music to brains?

Those same “scientists” also said that “music seems to be tied in closely with love and relationships.” What possible evolutionary purpose would that serve? (that was a rhetorical question)

Finally, the research shows that music has a “clear, powerful physiological effect” on social bonding. And, because of that, the conclusion appears to be self evident. It’s so important to your brain’s design that music is really an “indispensable part of what makes us human.”

Give me songs to wake the brain waves

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Love, peace, and music. I wish those for you. And now, let’s get down to business. No, I’m not smokin’ any halo tobacco. It doesn’t take a dope-smokin’, long-haired, hippy freak to talk about the finer parts of life. And, while we’re on the subject, that leads me into some of the benefits of Christian music.

First, there’s no cursing.

Second, there’s no sex.

Third, there’s no cursing.

And did I mention there’s no sex?

But then, another HUGE benefit of Christian music is that it’s an indicator of your NEW character. What’s that you say? You’re curious about the NEW character stuff? Good. Because I was just getting to that.

Paul (that guy who claimed his own Gospel) wrote a letter to the Colossians. And he described what you can see when a man (or woman) has a new character. No, not a part in a movie. An actual compilation of who they/you/he/she are/is. (Sorry, I got too inclusive for a second there.)

Anyway…

Paul said the “new man” should and would follow this outline:

“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

See? Love and peace. Yes, thankfulness is in there, too. But then Paul went and spinned the tables when it came to music. Because he had the audacity to say you should use music to instruct others and even get on to them. What? With music? Uh-huh.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

That’s not exactly what you’ll find in churches these days. So, I don’t think churches truly receive the true benefits of true Christian music. And, yes, that’s a lotta true-based stuff. But for a reason. Because what’s trying to pass for praise and worship music these days are actually repetitious, cotton candy choruses.

But when you try to give churches, and the “pewple” inside, more meaty music, they turn a deaf ear. Mostly.

I speak from experience.

I’m not bitter about it. I AM sad about it. But I also won’t be spinning any cotton candy. So, I pray the music I’ve composed and compiled over the years will be an indication of the treasures I’ve stored up in Heaven. And if that IS how it turns out, then I’ll rejoice at the eternal benefits of my Christian music. And I’ll do my best not to admonish anyone who turned a deaf ear.

And then I can behold the inner man

(from my song Consequential Servitude)

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95 years ago, today, October 6, a quirky little guy said, “”Wait a minute, wait a minute, you ain’t heard nothing yet.” And the crowd went wild.

You probably already know I’m talking about Al Jolson. And you probably already know he was the guy who made movie history when “The Jazz Singer” premiered as the first “talkie.”

Yeah, after all those silent movies, with their subtitles to explain the dialogue, people were ecstatic to be able to hear movie stars talk. Because there’s just something about sound. And, in quite a few of my articles, I’ve shared some of the wonderful benefits of sound.

I think it’s important to go over a few of them again. Because it seems like there’s still a lot of stress out there.

So, first, there’s the whole relaxation aspect of sound therapy. The right kinds of sounds can sort of soak into your system and help to restore your equilibrium. Physical and emotional. Some of the more metaphysical types would say that “sound healing helps you find your harmony.” A little dippy skippy. But I won’t dis it completely.

I’ve seen multiple sources say that sound healing can help improve your sleep, ease chronic pain, and lower blood pressure. Wait a minute! I thought only doctors and meds could do such amazing things. OK, what about cholesterol and heart disease, smarty pants? Well, yeah. Sound healing supposedly can help lower those, too.

Yeah, but those are physical ailments. What’s sound gonna do for stuff like anxiety, depression, and the ever-present, soul-destroying stress? Three words for you. Re duce ’em. Not only those mental health benefits, but also balance, clarity, and a new and improved sense of purpose.

I had an opportunity to scan through local FM radio stations as I drove. Most times I drive without music so I can concentrate on the words and music that always swirl around in my brain. But today I decided to check out the local radio. And it was a huge disappointment. Station after station of template tunes. And tons of commercials.

Until…

I finally landed on a classical music station. Aahh. A big portion of the drive was one orchestral composition. But I didn’t get to finish it. Because it was Franz Schubert’s famous “Unfinished Symphony.” (side note: it’s basically a guarantee that Franz didn’t name it that)

But here’s the thing. Classical music (not all of it) is your best shot at the health benefits or so-called “sound healing.” Because only classical music contains enough movement and differentiation to occupy enough of your mind for your body to benefit. Wow, that’s a mouthful when you say it out loud.

If you’re looking for an alternative to pharmacopeia, supplementia (I made that up) and doctoroddicies (I made that up, too), look no further than classical music.

Oh yeah, there’s one more benefit of sound that trumps them all. Faith. And I mean actual trusting faith in the one, true, living, loving God who created you. There’s even a famous quote that says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Just some sound food for thought.

(don’t wait a minute more if you haven’t already checked out that quote)

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Music is an aural expression of life. From babies in the womb to the silver-haired citizens, music is an amazingly comforting language. I’ve shared a lot of information about the health benefits of music and sound. But it doesn’t benefit only the listener.

Whatever musical gifts and talents I have are gifts from God. And I’ve been blessed to be able to share my own aural expressions (aka: songs) with hundreds of thousands of people over the years. And it occurred to me that a singer songwriter is a little bit like a heart surgeon.

Over fifty years ago, the Bee Gees sang, “How can you mend a broken heart?” And, ironically, they answered their own question with a song. I don’t know if they wrote that song after a personal breakup. But I’d say it’s pretty likely. Because that’s how some of the best music is created.

And just think about that for a second. Something you can’t even see or touch can “mend” hearts. And people of all ages experience heartbreak. It’s not just for teenage girls regardless of their ability to shed more tears than anyone else on the planet.

Aural expressions benefit more than listeners. Composers and songwriters experience amazing blessings during the process of creation.

I love this quote from the father of the symphony and string quartet, Josef Haydn:

“Never was I so devout as when I composed The Creation. I knelt down each day to pray to God to give me strength for my work.When I was working on The Creation I felt so impregnated with Divine certainty, that before sitting down to the piano, I would quietly and confidently pray to God to grant me the talent that was needed to praise Him worthily.”

I’m listening to some of Mr. Haydn’s music as I write this. But don’t click that link if you think classical music is boring. Because you might end up feeling too relaxed to come back and read the rest of what I’m going to say.

If music doesn’t prove to you there’s a God who loves you, then your future could be in dark jeopardy. And I hope I don’t have to clarify this for you. But I mean REAL music. Not that barely approximate rhyme, gibberish, attitude talk junk trying to pass itself off as a musical art form. Not that growl, grunt, and groan rock trying to pass itself off as a musical art form. And not that bump and grind, hyper-sexualized pop trash trying to pass itself off as a musical art form.

REAL music is written and performed by real musicians who understand and convey aural expressions on real instruments.

But it’s incredible what classical music can do for your brain. And your heart. So, don’t let your heart be hardened by the lies of this world. If you even begin to feel that happening, listen to Haydn, or Beethoven, or Bach. They all credited their Creator for the gift of music.

I do, too. And if you’ve ever listened to or bought any of my music, I’m truly grateful and honored. I hope it helped you understand why you’re here, or helped you mend a broken heart, or just relax. And I want you to know how much it helped my heart to write it for you.

Stay tuned,

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When I was somewhere around 5 years old, I went on a long walk with my Grandmother. And we left her house totally out of sight as we journeyed to the grocery store. In my mind it was easily a walk between countries. Or at least to another state. But, as it turned out, the little mom and pop grocery store was only about 4 blocks away. And I remember my Grandmother telling me to stand up straight or I’d grow up to be a hunchback.

She came from a family of straight standers. And tall, too. My oldest uncle (her oldest son) was around 6’4″. So, obviously he must’ve listened to his mom when they went walking.

What made me remember all this was a bit of information I read about singing and posture. It mentioned how, when you sing, you “naturally” sit up or stand up straighter. Of course, you’ll see exceptions to that rule. But the best singers know you have to keep your diaphragm open. And good posture is the best way to do that.

And singing with good posture helps you take better care of your lungs. So, there’s that added benefit, too. Plus, there are groups of muscles called the intercostal muscles that run in between your ribs to help your chest move when you breathe. And when you sing, you give those muscles a nice little workout.

Another side benefit of singing is how it exercises your facial muscles. So, you’ll be able to smile bigger or frown with more intensity. (choose smiling, you’ll look much better)

Wow. I never realized how much Grandmother was preparing me for a career in music. Yeah, there’s a lot of sneaky wisdom in old people…if you care to listen.

Now, stand up straight and sing a song.

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Comic books were a really big deal to a lot of other guys I knew when I was a kid. And I remember going to a couple of my friends’ houses and being amazed at how many boxes of comic books they had. Every once in a great while, I’d get one. Or I’d spend some time reading theirs. But not for long. And not very often. Because something else sparked my passion much more. Maybe even infinitely more.  

You know how it is when you latch on to something you really love? And how you can’t seem to get enough? And how you’ll look for any excuse and any opportunity to connect with it? Well, I’m no different.

I just read a dictionary definition for the word “obsession.” It said, “an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person’s mind.” And it gave an example of how the word can be used: “He was in the grip of an obsession he was powerless to resist.”

OK, so maybe obsession isn’t quite the word. Because I definitely wasn’t powerless to resist. But I sure didn’t want to. Because the object of my obsession gave me a certain kind of pleasure like nothing else in my life.

I can see how the other guys could get caught up with the ongoing stories in their comic books. And I remember being impressed with a couple of the characters, Spiderman and Silver Surfer. I even bought some of those. They were mostly well written. And the art was impressive. Especially the bold colors. So, there was a lot for eager young eyes to consume.

And I took multiple classes to help me master my new love.

But that wasn’t enough.

I found mentors who’d help me go even further by working with me after school. And even after that I’d find private places where no one could interrupt me as I worked on it all alone. Then, when I got old enough to drive, I’d use driving time for even more attention to my obsession. Or I’d find some secluded place to park.

Yeah, I was obsessed with it. And I wanted to get really good at it. And I did.

Good enough to make a living with those skills I developed.

If you know me, you know I’m talking, of course, about music.

While the other guys spent hours devouring the Marvel and DC stories, I spent those same hours practicing my vocal scales. My thirds and fifths. And how to reach the highest, and lowest, notes possible.

And how to maintain my voice for the long haul. Endurance. Vocal stamina. It worked out well, too. Because I used to get bookings where I sang 9 hours a day.

The only reason I bring it up today is because I’m still dealing with lung issues. And I miss being able to sing every day. But I’m also still working hard each day to clear up my lungs. That includes the latest appointments with a pulmonologist. I’ll find out more about what he suggests in the next few weeks.

So, to those of you who have been sending those “warm wishes”and praying for me, thank you. It means more than you know. And I hope to be singing for you again before long.

Stay tuned,

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I remember, from back in 1983, a catchy song by a new wave band, The Fixx. And it popped into my head as I started putting my thoughts together for this article. “One Thing Leads To Another.” If you’re old enough to remember that song, I’ll bet it’s in your head now. Right? But I bring it up because of some things I read about music and heart rate.  

My nearly 3 year long ordeal with sinus and lung problems has left me breathless a lot of times. And I don’t mean that in the charming, romantic way. No, I mean literally breathless. Or at least the feeling that I’d lose my breath. And, of course, there’s a lot of stress involved when you feel like you can’t get enough air.

So, to offset that breathing issue, my doctor prescribed a rescue inhaler and Advair. Those are steroids. Corticosteroids, to be more exact, and they’re supposed to help reduce inflammation in your lungs. But the trouble is, they can also increase your heart rate. And that happened to me.

When your heart races at about 140 beats per minute, it can be pretty stressful.

First thing I did was wean myself off the Advair, which is the stronger of the two inhalers. Then, I added a magnesium taurate supplement to my daily regimen.  And I felt considerable improvement in the steadiness of my heart rate.

But I kept using the rescue inhaler. Because there are times when the airways into my lungs feel like they’re gonna close down completely. It’s probably more of a feeling than a reality. But the feeling is strong. So, I hit the inhaler.

And sure enough, during this past week, I found I was using the rescue inhaler more often. Because those breathing shutdown feelings were happening more often. And let me tell you…it’s no fun waking up in the middle of the night with a feeling that you can’t catch your breath.

When you can’t breathe right, your heart rate increases. And then you gotta do or take something to help that. And like the song says, One Thing Leads To Another…and back again.

I brewed myself some coffee, a natural bronchodilator. Then, I opened my bottle of peppermint essential oil, got a little on my index finger, and tapped it onto my mustache. And between the coffee and peppermint, I’m able to open my airways at least enough to hold off on the rescue inhaler.

So, I’m able to breathe well enough and relax enough to look up more ways to keep my heart rate in control.

And wouldn’t you know it…and it makes total sense to me…music can be good heartbeat medicine.

I found one article that even laid out a BPM (beats per minute) regimen for the day. It said to start your day with music around the 120 BPM mark. And that should be easy. Because many pop songs are in that rhythmic range.

Then, let’s say you walk to work. 120 BPM is good for that, too. And if you have to deal with a steep hill or strong headwind, you might kick it up to 160 BPM.

And if you work inside, maybe a little more mental than physical, instrumental music in the 50-80 BPM range should keep you focused and productive.

Then, if you’re one of those motivated people who fits in a workout during the day, the recommendation is more upbeat music. So, look for songs in the 120-160 BPM range. You can think of it this way. More beats means more times you move your arms and legs.

And the article I read even recommended music in the 120 BPM range for when you eat. Apparently faster music tends to make you eat too fast. Go figure. And it’s a good idea to find music that matches the meal. (Way back in 2015, I talked about how businesses mess this up.)

When you want to (or need to) slow things down and reduce stress, find music in the 50-80 BPM range. And make it instrumental music so your brain can focus on your body’s needs instead of lyrics.

Finally, they say you can actually get stress-free sleep by listening to instrumental music around 60 BPM. And that’s like listening to the tic-toc on a watch. One beat per second.

Now, you might think, since I’m a lifelong musician, I’d already be following this regimen. But you’d be wrong. I don’t follow it. And I never have. But not for any particular reason other than…I just never have.

Too be upfront about it…I probably still won’t follow this regimen. Not because I disagree with it. But because my musical self would tend to focus on the music more than whatever I’m working on. And that’s why, unlike many other writers, I don’t tend to listen to music when I write.

So…there you go. A great little music and heart rate regimen for your health. And an upfront admission that it falls into the category of “do as I say, not as I do.”

Every beat of my heart is important.

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The post Music and heart rate – I’m talkin’ to you mate appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

When you wanna make your workout even better, skip the performance enhancing drugs. Because they can wreak havoc with your body. And why deal with all those negative side effects when you enjoy the positive side effects of amygdala hugs? That even sounds more funner. Right?  

But maybe that’s just me. Because there are tons of people who still insist on taking them when they work out. And I hope, for their sakes, they don’t have to deal with life-threatening side effects later on.

“Ok, sure, Tony. But where do I find these so-called amygdala hugs you mentioned?”

Well, I don’t wanna brag (well, maybe I’ll brag a little), but one source is right here on my website.

“Oh man! I knew it! You’re trying to sell me something.”

Oh…now don’t be like that. I have lots and lots of free amygdala hugs. Yeah, I have some you can buy, too. But you don’t have to. So, look around. And if you don’t see what you want, just ask. We’ll be glad to help you find some.

“Ok, now you’re just being elusive, Tony. You haven’t even explained what amygdala hugs are.”

And I’ll tell you right now, it’s something I made up. But it’s still sort of a real thing. Because the amygdala is the area of your brain that processes emotion. And guess what can surround that area like nothing else. Ok, I won’t make you guess. It’s music. Yeah!. Who knew? (Well, I did, and that’s why I’m sharing it with you.)

Anyway…

Studies that go back as far as 1911 show how music can soak through the amygdala and cerebellum areas of your brain. And, as a result, you can boost your workout, not to mention your mood…although I just did. Then, you might see as much as a 15% increase in endurance and performance. With no negative side effects.

Wow! Is evolution great or what?!

Hardly.

You and I were designed to be able to respond positively to music. And music was invented by someone who loves us way more than we love ourselves. So, amygdala hugs are just another one of the zillions of ways God expresses His love to us. And I hope you listen to some of your favorite music today, enhance your performance, and enjoy some closer connection time with your Creator.

Living a life that is empty of joy

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Well, I’ve mentioned this on the FunderCast. And I’ve talked about it a little, here on the website. And this is the day it happens. When I have steel instruments and a balloon shoved into my face. What?!  

And I’m hopeful and confident this will help me get over this head problem I’ve dealt with for two and half years. Because my ENT doctor told me he believes he can help me get better. And I like the sound of that.

My health has been compromised for so long I might not know what to do with myself if and when I can actually get well. And I have high hopes I can get my singing voice back. Because that’s probably been the most disheartening part of it. My voice has always been something I could rely on. But the past two and a half years it has been way off.

Turns out, my body has been fighting a severe sinus infection. And the cause has been a couple of block sinus pathways. So, what they do is insert a tiny balloon into those areas, inflate it, and “remodel” them. And then they use some other ominous tools to open things up further.

But I AM looking forward to opening those pathways up and breathing well again.

And I don’t recommend ever getting a sinus infection. Especially if your sinuses aren’t open enough to drain properly. But if you don’t know if yours are or not, I recommend avoiding situations like what I got myself into.

If you have to be around dust, mold, or other airborne toxins, be sure to wear a mask. And I’m not talking about one of those silly cloth masks everybody’s wearing right now. I mean the proper, industrial strength mask for the job. Because I believe I wore something good, but not appropriate for the work. And the drywall dust, I worked around, settled into my sinuses. And the trouble started.

So, please…avoid what I’m about to go through today. Take care of your sinuses and lungs. Because they’re an awesome part of your human design. But they can be mighty hard to heal.

But this is the day

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No, it’s not the same thing as the rainbow connection, Kermit. Imagine your brain seeing music and color. Sounds a little odd, but very interesting to me. For the longest time I’ve connected music and other sounds to colors. And I always thought it was just my imagination. But, as it turns out, I might have my wires crossed.  

Not really. But it apparently IS a brain condition. And, of course, researchers have come up with a name for it. Synesthesia. And they say there’s a part of your brain that recognizes letters and words. Then, there’s another part of your brain that perceives colors. And those two parts are right next to each other.

So, some of those researchers believe those two areas can activate each other. Or at least they do in about 4% of the population.

What that means is someone with synesthesia can see a letter or a number, and other neurons in their brain activate color cells. And so it’s almost as if they can’t help but see the letters and numbers as colors.

Some people who are affected by synesthesia believe it helps them remember numbers and math. Others say it’s not so simple. Because certain colors that represent numbers don’t add up. (pun slightly intended)

But I don’t take the whole scientific approach to it. And I don’t worry about whether or not it’s genetic. Or learned. Or both. Because I don’t think much of that matters to me. And I don’t suffer in any way as I connect colors to music. Far from it. In fact, it adds to the beauty I’m able to see and hear in songs.

And I can’t prove this, but I wouldn’t be completely surprised if maybe the whole music and color connection is gloriously reconnected when we get to Heaven. Of course, that would be just a minor added bonus to being with the Creator of the universe forever.

I hear the color blue in my head,

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