Over the past sixty years, a growing body of research has confirmed that many different styles of music are useful and effective in healthcare and therapeutic settings. In 1988, as part of my own recovery from panic and anxiety disorder, a counselor suggested I write the kind of music that reflected the way I'd like to feel.
Though I wanted to feel calm and relaxed, I couldn't imagine writing slow, peaceful music at that point in time. However, sitting by the ocean in Laguna Beach one afternoon, I realized the sound of the ocean had suddenly made me feel deeply relaxed for the first time in many months. Since the sound of the "liquid" (ocean) had slowed my "mind", I resolved that day to create "Liquid Mind" music to help myself and others.
Longer pieces of slow, relaxing music are generally more effective for helping people fall asleep than several shorter pieces. Here's why:
- Consistency: Longer tracks maintain a consistent tempo, rhythm, and mood, which can help the mind and body gradually relax into sleep. Shorter tracks might introduce changes in tempo or mood that could be subtly disruptive.
- Reduced Interruptions: With longer pieces, there's no need to transition from one track to another, which can sometimes create brief moments of alertness or distraction, especially if the next track is slightly different in tone.
- Steady Relaxation: Extended pieces allow for a more gradual descent into relaxation, mirroring the natural process of falling asleep. The music can serve as a gentle, continuous background, helping to ease the mind into a restful state.
- Less Engagement: When listening to shorter tracks, there's a subtle mental engagement in the transition between pieces. This can be counterproductive when trying to fall asleep, as it might keep the brain more active.
It is my sincere hope that you will find some benefit from listening to my music and that Liquid MindŽ will be part of your Musical HealthcareŽ. As my music appears to deeply relax some folks, please do not listen while driving or operating machinery of any kind. Drive safely at all times!
In gratitude for your support of my music,
— Chuck Wild, Los Angeles, California