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Founded in 2011 by award-winning musician and music therapist, Dr. Sangeeta Swamy, Sound Mind harnesses the transformative powers of music to promote emotional resilience, mental well-being, cross-cultural intelligence, and spiritual growth for children and adults of all social and cultural backgrounds. Sound Mind offers weekly classes, workshops, community events, and individual music therapy sessions in North Carolina, as well as trainings, education, publication and research. Dr. Swamy is also the host of a podcast called THE SOUND EFFECT, formerly live on WCOM, 103.5 FM.

Click here for a list of services offered.

Success flyerExciting class for pre-teens coming up!

Dates: April 9-May 14, Tuesdays from 5-6pm

Location: Chapel Hill Community Center

This six-week class focuses on cultivating self-confidence and positive self-esteem in kids and pre-teens. Students will learn how to overcome obstacles to success through music imagery and cognitive behavioral techniques, including simple song and chant writing. Students will leave with a CD of chants recorded in the class. No musical or artistic experience is required. To register online, click here.

 

Clear Your Mind’s In-box Through the Power of Music

(This article was published on February 22, 2013 in Health and Healing. The online link is available here.)

Do you have persistent thoughts of other people and events that circle around and around your mind? Do you have backaches or other discomfort for no obvious reasons? Do you literally feel other people’s pain even after they have left? If so, you may have what I call a poor mental spam filter.

http://bernicewood.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/brain_full.gif?w=277&h=345Cognitive neuroscientists Ward and Blakemore describe how overactive mirror neurons in your brains can cause you to literally feel the pain or discomfort of others. Over time, your brain can become jammed with other people’s experiences, even if you have never experienced them yourself. I call this mental spam. Just like spam consists of unwanted messages and emails on the internet, mental spam is simply intrusive thoughts, emotions, and energy from other people. Continue reading

Music and the Imagination workshop March 16, 2013

music and imagination flyer Did you know that music can help kids find their power animal, explore fantasy lands and discover magic objects to help solve their problems? Join me for a workshop in Music and the Imagination next Saturday, March 16th, 2;30-4pm at the Chapel Hill Community Center. Kids ages 6-12 are welcome! We’ll tap into the mysterious powers of music, draw, and move. The only limit is your imagination…

Click here to register. The cost is $20 for Chapel Hill residents and $24 for non-residents. Hope to see you there!

FAQ

“The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul, create the symphony of life.” –B.K.S. Iyengar

What is music therapy?

Music therapy is defined by the American Music Therapy Association as the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. A marriage of both art and science, music therapy can address needs on multiple levels, including cognitive, emotional, physical, spiritual* or a combination of these. Music therapy has many branches and specialties, including practitioners in medical, psychological, wellness, neurological, educational, and holistic contexts.

*I define the term spiritual here as subtle and often invisible energy that exerts a powerful influence on our daily lives and experiences. However, some people may prefer to use other terms to describe a similar phenomenon, such as nature or nature intelligences, the universe, God, the quantum field, the collective unconscious, the ancestors, etc.

Do I need to be a musician to benefit?

No. My work is founded upon the principle that everyone has innate creative abilities. The only requirement to benefit is an appreciation and enjoyment of music, and a willingness to explore. In Western society, we have designated musical creativity or musical understanding to only a few people who seem to have natural ability or “talent.” But true musical engagement is like the proverb, “If you can talk, you can sing. If you can walk, you can dance.” Creativity is a human need. When we ignore it, we suffer.

Who do you serve?

I currently have openings for moderate to high functioning children and adults who are invested in improving their lives, motivated to change, who are open to new ideas, and love music in any form.

What conditions do you treat?

While I have experience successfully working with a variety of psychological diagnoses and conditions, rather than listing them separately here, I have found it more helpful to describe my focus on helping you overcome obstacles and assist you in achieving balance and fulfillment in your life. Please click here to see a more detailed list of the issues I have treated.

Do you play music?

Sometimes. Each session or workshop is designed to engage participants in the process of either listening or creating music in some form, including composing, recreating, receiving, or creating music with a specific intention in order to help you achieve your goals. See below for a more complete list of interventions. Each activity is designed in collaboration with each person and group based both on evidence based research on music therapy as well as aesthetics.

Continue reading

Music and Leadership class October 2012

Want to help your child or teen feel more confident? Develop creative and intuitive skills to succeed? Be a role model for others?

MUSIC AND LEADERSHIP

Chapel Hill Community Center

Tuesdays, October 9- November 20

Session I ages 6-12, 4:00-4:45             Session II ages 13-17: 5:00-6:00

Music and Leadership is designed for children and teens from all cultures, drawing upon music, the arts, imagination, movement and mindfulness to promote leadership skills in a fun, engaging, and creative way. Students will learn about healthy expressions of power as well as the importance of listening, teamwork, and being positive role models through drum circles, music improvisation, and music imagery. No musical or artistic experience is necessary.

Registration for Fall Programs: September 10th, 8:30 a.m. (Residents); September 24th, 8:30 a.m. (Non-Residents). To register online, visit www.townofchapelhill.org/register