Frequently Asked Questions

There is no convenient answer to most of these questions. I write them down anyway as I see them.

Is this humbug?

No. The methods used in Mind Music have long been described and examined. What I do not claim is that every single effect has been proven. How robust the research on the individual frequency systems is is explained in detail in Frequency Systems in Sound Work, and it also says where it is thin.

Do I need this music?

No. Meditation, autogenic training and other exercises do not need this music. It can serve as a framework for what you intend to do. Some people find it easier to calm down with music, others without it.

Does it work immediately?

Not reliably. Some people notice a change quickly, others later or not at all. Relaxation often takes some time, but there is no proven minimum duration after which frequencies begin to “take effect”. Allow yourself some calm and observe without the pressure of expectation how you are while listening.

Does it work for everyone?

No. Experience and possible reactions depend on the person, expectation, situation, musical taste and further influences. A willingness to listen attentively does not guarantee an effect. Brainwave Entrainment is also not the same as hypnosis: hypnosis works with focused attention and suggestion, while steady sound pulses initially only work with an acoustic stimulus.

Some people find the sound of the sea calming, others monotonous or disturbing. In the same way, steady pulses and other means of design can be experienced differently.

What I cannot do

A finished, produced piece of music does not measure your EEG and does not adapt its pulses to you in real time. This does not prove that an individual EEG adjustment would be more effective. My pieces use stimuli that are planned in advance; how your auditory system and your experience react to them is individual.

How do I know whether it has an effect on me?

Pay attention to how you actually are while listening. If certain sounds or pieces are unpleasant for you, do not continue listening to them; you do not have to endure a supposed initial aggravation or a hidden effect.

If you like a piece, it may be easier to listen attentively or in a relaxed way. That does not yet mean that the brain aligns itself to a target frequency or that a certain effect occurs.

Experience can differ from person to person and from session to session. It may also be that you notice no particular change. Possible reasons for this are given under Why the Experience Can Be Different Each Time.

Can I also use a song differently?

Yes. The pieces are composed and technically oriented for certain purposes, but the stated uses are only suggestions. If you can fall asleep better with a meditation piece, then use it for that.

Do I have to read all of this?

No. You can also simply listen to a song without engaging with the background. The application notes offer possible ways of listening; the rest explains the intentions and methods with which the pieces are designed.

Why do the pieces cost more than other music?

Most of my pieces are longer than usual, up to an hour. This increases the working time considerably because I have to listen to a song very often from beginning to end in order to check whether it holds up as a whole.

Added to this is testing for effect. Various test listeners try out a piece completely again and again in their exercises and give feedback. Again and again, the composition has to be adjusted so that a song is not only pleasant to listen to, but maintains the balance between a pleasant listening experience and effect.

Many pieces are intended for repeated listening. Familiarity can change attention and experience; however, this results in neither conditioning to a particular effect nor a steady increase in effect.