Why is meditation music helpful and important?

How many times have you remembered a specific moment in time and almost instantaneously linked a song to it? As humans, we combine our memories with our senses. Often when I look at a photo, I find myself “mind traveling” back to that very moment in time. I remember the smells around me, the interactions, the sights that stood out, and especially music—perhaps a song that was playing at the time, or music that reminds me of the feelings I experienced. 

An interesting study by Schäfer et al. (2013) explored the psychological functions of listening to music. In this self-report study, participants discussed the importance of listening to music in offering valuable companionship and as a tool to help with a positive mood and comfort. For these reasons alone, music seems to be extremely helpful and important in regulating mood and well-being. 

Another study, by Boer and Abubakar (2014), investigated the psychological benefits of listening to music in family rituals instead of peer groups. The researchers found that listening to music as a family increased cohesion and emotional well-being in the family unit and showed long-term benefits for children. 

Music is a way to connect our bodies with our minds.

Have you ever heard of people who stutter but can sing fluently? Or you may have noticed your body tends to relax when you hear your favorite song. The long-term benefits of movement have been established, and we are well aware of the importance of exercise. But are we aware of the positive effects of music not only on our cognition but also on our mood, our social-emotional development, and other developmental areas? 

Moshi Music in action:

Many years ago, I worked with one of my first clients diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She was a beautiful three-year-old girl whose parents were told that, due to her being nonverbal at the time and “in her own world,” they should probably find an institution for her. It was through music that this little girl began to open up. We started with simple “fill in the blank” songs, where I would play a part of a song and then pause it and wait for her to look at the music player or me.

She slowly learned to trust that the music would continue playing if she showed interest, and then she opened up her heart and started singing. At first, it was only the last few words of the song, then a few of her favorite songs and later an entire album. She is now 20 years old and can hold conversations and capture you with her art and creativity, all while her favorite music is playing in the background. 

Although we all have different tastes in music, we can experience a similar range of emotions. Some melodies make us feel sad or nostalgic, and others make us feel serene or excited or joyful. Our children also experience different types of music in these ways—they might need soothing meditation music to become present in the moment, upbeat music after a tough day at school, or sleeping music to help them wander off to dreamland.

Moshi Music – What makes it special and unique?

Moshi is an excellent tool to support children’s social-emotional development. The app includes various music tracks that you can choose according to your child’s needs and preferences. It is clearly categorized into daytime and nighttime tracks, and subcategories include calming music, epic tunes, various types of mood music, tunes to “chill out,” and popular tracks. The nighttime variation includes songs for your child to fall asleep to and other tracks that are purely instrumental. 

This variation of types of music makes Moshi a favorite for parents all over the world. The app is built on evidence- and research-based principles, which makes it practical for children of almost all ages. 

Moshi Music for calming down:

We are all familiar with the resistance and frustration that can occur around the bedtime routine. With Moshi soundtracks, these difficulties can be eased, both for our children and for us. Our children might look forward to listening to their favorite tracks while getting ready for bed. This can be true for other transitions and times of day, as well.

For example, one of my favorite tracks to play as background music whenever the house needs a bit of calm is the Anxiety Shrinking Ambience track performed by Mellow Moshiphonic Orchestra. Predictability and routine are two concepts that our children crave, and anticipating hearing a favorite tune and then listening to it at a consistent time can help children calm down. When my partner’s children are with us we find ourselves listening to Moshi Music during certain transitions and times of day, and this ritual has become a healthy habit for our entire family unit.

Moshi Music for sleeping:

The entire bedtime process becomes easier if our children are calm before it starts. They might look forward to specific bedtime music, such as Symphony for SleepyPaws. My partner’s children enjoy the music without lyrics as it allows them to create their own stories and use their imagination while being lulled to sleep. Just like you and your partner’s or friends’ tastes in music might differ, so too will your children’s tastes differ. One might enjoy listening to orchestra sounds, and another might enjoy a gentle bedtime story, which Moshi also provides.

The other variable to keep in mind is that most children benefit from knowing that they are in control of at least parts of their day and nighttime routines. If your child gets to choose a specific music track or story, they might feel more comfortable following a routine. Moshi has the added benefit of a huge library of music tracks to explore, from more upbeat tunes to meditation music and calming music.

When your home feels a tad chaotic, remind yourself of the magic of music. We might not always feel like listening to our child’s favorite song for what feels like the 100th time, but perhaps that is exactly what they need at this very moment. And maybe that is what they will remember for the rest of their lives—sharing that special moment with you, listening to their favorite track. Pure magic. 

References: 

Boer, D., & Abubakar, A. (2014). Music listening in families and peer groups: Benefits for young people’s social cohesion and emotional well-being across four cultures. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 392. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00392Schäfer, T., Sedlmeier, P., Städtler, C., & Huron, D. (2013). The psychological functions of music listening. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 511. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00511

Karla Pretorius

A registered counselor with a MA in Psychology. Co-founder: AIMS Global & Leadership at: Augmental