Barbara Bullard, MA

Barbara Bullard has been professor of speech at Orange Coast College for 35 years and is currently chairman of department. She was thrice nominated as Teacher of the Year at the college and received the NISOD Teaching Excellence award from the University of Texas in 1994, 1999 and 2000. She has been a professional member of The Monroe Institute since 1989.

Ever since the dawn of civilization, man has recognized the profound effect of music on human behavior and learning. The ancient Greeks believed that music was divinely created. Both Plato and Aristotle placed music at the core of their educational curricula, acknowledging music's power to stimulate human thought and understanding.

Modern research has given us scientific explanations for the 'magic' of music that the ancients recognized by instinct and observation, as can be seen, for example, in the research described in the splendid books by musicologist Don Campbell: Physician for Times to Come, Music and Miracles, and The Mozart Effect. This research reveals that music has a powerful impact on almost every aspect of the body and mind of the listener.

Over the past thirty years, as a teacher and a parent, I have been interested in discovering methods by which my students might use music as an aid to learning faster and more efficiently. I was very impressed with the techniques of 'suggestopaedia' and super-learning in the work of Dr George Lozanov and in the studies by Ostrander and Schroeder. For more than two decades I have been recommending background music as a key element in the application of super-learning and my students can attest to the significant impact of certain music in facilitating super-learning states. My research led to the co-authoring of a book, Communicating from the Inside Out, (B. Bullard & K. Carroll, 1995).

The specific topic of this article, the use of Metamusic compositions that combine the synergy of super-learning musical formats with Hemi-Sync, is a more recent adventure of my research, brought about by the personal challenges of raising two children with impulsivity and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). My two younger children were challenging all my parenting skills and the patience of their teachers. They were the type that walked on the classroom tables, talked incessantly and flitted from project to project. The teachers encouraged me to try ritalin with them. I figured there must be a less invasive alternative - and yes, there was! It was to be found in the Hemi-Sync technology, to which I was introduced when I attended the Professional Seminar in 1989.

The insights that I learned in that week propelled my own research in a quantum leap. I was deeply impressed by the work of Dr Micah Sadigh as slide after slide demonstrated the widespread neuronal effects of Hemi-Sync on eliciting desired brainwave patterns in a synchronized manner across the cortex. This was followed by a remarkable presentation by Dr Suzanne Morris, an internationally known speech-language therapist who works with children with developmental disabilities. Dr Morris's research involved using Metamusic with alpha-theta brainwaves on children with autism and severe brain damage. I was awed as I watched her video of an autistic child who could not even bear to be touched yet within less than ten minutes of listening to Metamusic moved towards its source, wrapped her arms around the tape player and allowed herself to be gently massaged by Dr Morris while the music played on. To ordinary relaxation music the child made no response. For me this was the most dramatic image of the 'magical' effects of Metamusic. Thereafter I began using Metamusic to enhance the sleep and relaxation states that would ease the stressful effects in the lives of my family. Compositions such as Cloudscapes, Sleeping Through the Rain and Inner Journey helped a lot throughout the following years.

Two years later at another Professional Seminar I was intrigued by a discussion of recent research, led by Robert Sornson, that demonstrated an insufficiency of coordinated hemispheric brainwave pattern, especially with beta brainwaves in the left hemisphere, for those with ADD. Sornson, a Director of Special Education Services, pointed out that research indicated that those with attention deficit had difficulty in maintaining the high levels of brain arousal associated with sustained alertness and focused attention. He added that he had been working with Hemi-Sync using beta-harmonic sound patterns specifically designed to increase the level of awareness.

Listening to this discussion, I awoke to the idea of combining super-learning music with the beta patterns discovered by Sornson, to see if this would help my two teenagers with their issues stemming from ADD. During the following two years, Sornson and I collaborated on incorporating his researched beta-harmonics with Hemi-Sync with a super-learning musical format that I designed myself. The music appropriate for super-learning and peak performance states had to meet many technological standards. An enchanting composition was created by J.S. Epperson, a graduate of the USC School of Electronic Music, to comply with the theoretical specifications I formatted. This 'designer Metamusic' was titled Remembrance and was launched by The Monroe Institute in 1994.

The success of Remembrance, as indicated by the amount of positive feedback we received, led to the creation of a second composition in 1996. This carried similar beta-harmonics. The music itself was a modification of Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major. We chose the title Einstein's Dream, as this was a favorite composition of Alfred Einstein, the great Mozart expert. I'd like to quote two interesting comments on the effects of Mozart's music. In a Newsweek article on his music, Joshua Cooper Ramo remarked: "Mozart's musical architecture evokes a sympathetic response from the brain, the way one vibrating piano string can set another humming." And physics professor Dr Gordon Shaw, a researcher on the effects of music on the cortex and on learning, says, "It is not that Mozart will make you permanently smarter, but it may be a warm-up exercise for parts of the brain."

Two more recordings were issued in 2002: The Seasons at Roberts Mountain, incorporating extracts from Vivaldi's Four Seasons (much super-learning music research has focused on Baroque selections) and arranged by Scott Bucklin, and Indigo - for Quantum Focus, by J.S. Epperson.

Reports received since 1994 indicate that Metamusic embedded with beta Hemi-Sync patterns may also help with other learning disabilities, specifically dyslexia and slow reading development, both of which have as an underlying cause a disparity of errors in timing between the two hemispheres. As one researcher reported in The Brain-Mind Bulletin:

"While reading, most good readers have left-hemisphere activity in the beta range (around 13 Hz) and mid-range amplitude. Dyslexics, on the other hand, tend to have left hemisphere measurements in alpha (roughly 10 Hz) and higher than average amplitudes, although some have unusually low amplitude…the cerebellum of dyslexics has not yet learned the coordinatioin and timing involved in internal balance of the body."

It seems that the synergistic combination of designer music with the beta-harmonic Hemi-Sync embedded frequencies helps to facilitate the necessary brain synchrony for focused attention. The musical environment helps one to study smarter rather than harder.

These effects of music make sense. All of us have had experience of the effect of music on learning. We learned our ABCs in elementary school by singing them, and we can remember the tunes throughout our lifetime. Also when the first three beats of an 'oldies' song play on the radio, you begin to remember the lyrics even if you haven't heard the song in decades. Then you may recall the image of your sweetheart at that time and the emotions you experienced when you were together. It is a truism: what goes in repeatedly with music, comes out with music even decades later.

Another reason for the effect of music on learning can be gathered from the split-brain research which has found that music is the one stimulus that inherently synchronizes both hemispheres of the brain. It has been theorized that the linear-sequential aspects of music, such as the lyrics, beat, rhythm, notation and specific details are being processed by the left hemisphere, while the right hemisphere is processing the holistic aspects, such as harmony, intonation, creativity and the overall flow of the musical piece. But current research has found that the impact of music on the brain is much more widespread than just the effect on the cerebral hemispheres. Brain imaging research has spotlighted the impact of music on the 'convergent zones' that function in the prefrontal lobes. It is here that the inter-connectivity of the two hemispheres takes place, arousing coordinated thinking patterns.

Following hundreds of studies on children and adults with ADD, Dr Daniel Amen discovered that the frontal lobe tends to 'turn off' rather than on. In Windows into the ADD Mind he writes; "When people with ADD try to concentrate, the frontal lobes of their brain (which control attention span, judgement, impulse control and motivation) decreased in activity. When normal control groups do concentration tasks, there is increased activity in this part of the brain. So the harder these people try, the worse it gets for them."

Perhaps this is why the 'designer Metamusic' which combines the best of music with the widespread impact on the brain of beta Hemi-Sync binaural beat technology, can be so helpful to those with ADD and dyslexia. The synergistic impact creates a side-to-side and front-to-back stimulation, a top-down process beginning from the cortex to the limbic brain where our emotions are triggered. This positive cascade of brainwaves then affects the hormonal and immune systems.

There is another point to bear in mind. Earlier research indicated that the ability to switch rapidly between hemispheres might be hallmarks of higher intelligence. One characteristic of gifted children is that they have a profound 'switching' ability between hemispheres. Remembrance and its companion pieces have all been specifically designed to enhance this rapid processing partnership so desirable for learning, for the gifted among us as well as for those with learning challenges. Moreover these compositions facilitate the anchoring of studied information into a wider neuronal pathway. Wider anchoring should result in greater retention and recall, perhaps as much as five to ten times greater recall.

Here are just a few of the comments we have received from students, parents and teachers on the effects of these compositions on learning problems.

"I was diagnosed with ADD years ago. When I first heard of the benefits that came from listening to Metamusic, I must say I was skeptical. But as I began listening to Remembrance I immediately noticed the difference. My breathing slowed to a steady rhythm. I relaxed naturally while staying completely alert. I was shocked to realize I'd been studying for an hour without stopping. Listening to Remembrance enables me to pay complete attention to my studies now." R.M (age 19)

"Hemi-Sync dramatically improved my hyperactive son's life. Right away I noticed the calming effect while the tape was playing. Even better, my son can now usually recreate that calm state whenever he chooses to do so. It's as if his brain learned how to experience calmness and now he can move into that mental state by himself." M.C.

"Thank you for turning me on to Metamusic tapes. These tapes have a major impact on my life and education. I listen to Einstein's Dream every day, especially when I need to concentrate and energize. The other night I was studying so intensely that when the tape clicked off I jumped because it seemed like the loudest thing I'd ever heard. I turned the tape and continued. I was amazed that the difficult concepts came so easily to me while I was using it. The next day I got a perfect score on my test!" R.M.

A teacher reported: "The classroom was always chaotic and I was totally frustrated/ I now play Remembrance as background for various activities and find a completely different level of comfort in the room. Obviously it's good for the children and I know it's great for me." J.A. (3rd grade teacher)

Counselor R.S. reported on a 12 year-old client: "After five months of frustrating, largely unproductive sessions, I put on Remembrance while T. was sullenly fiddling with a toy. His eyes got wide, he smiled and turned up the volume. Hesitantly at first, then with increasing tempo, he began to pour out years of confusion, anger and hurt, and asked for a copy of the tape."

The following comments relate to the experiences of some who do not face learning challenges but have found this 'designer Metamusic' helpful in their work.

"With only one day to study for the state insurance licensing exam I thought it was hopeless. I'd never be able to remember a manual of 190 pages. Anyway, I decided to give it a shot. I began studying at 9 am and by 1 pm was losing my ability to concentrate. I put Einstein's Dream into my continuous tape player and finished the book at 3.05 next morning. I passed with 86 percent, thanks to Einstein's Dream, which enabled me to maintain concentration for 18 hours."

"When needing to read some highly technical papers I experimented with and without Remembrance. The difference really impressed me. Listening to the tape I was much more able to attend to the content, stay focused and not having to re-read sentences for comprehension. Eventually I didn't even notice it was playing. That's when the benefits started showing. I was studying for a major test requiring lots of formulas and memorization. I got a perfect score, and I know Remembrance helped me study more efficiently." E.A.

A 60 year-old man was studying to become a minister at the Dallas Theology Seminary. He became stymied by the challenge of learning Greek and Hebrew. His mind could not wrap itself around these languages and he was about to have to give up his dream. A friend gave him Remembrance to see if it would help. Within two months he mastered both languages, passed with an A, and is now Pastor at Baylor Hospital. W.J.Q.

Conclusion

When using Metamusic for study or attaining peak performance, it is best to treat it as a sonic background. If it is used consistently while studying, you need only to allow your favorite portions of the refrain to flow through your awareness and the information you studied will be more readily accessed. The music is especially effective when used in tandem with some other Hemi-Sync exercises. My students find Attention, Think Fast and Retain-Recall-Release especially helpful. Also very helpful are the 'Lifelong Learning Program', produced by Robert Sornson, and the 'Student PAL' set. Other exercises that I've found particularly helpful in helping adults move out of the more challenging aspects of ADD are Human Plus Brain:Repair and Maintenance and Off-Loading. These played at night for about six weeks have been most helpful when combined with the use of Remembrance or Einstein's Dream during the day.

Although many parents and teachers have found these beta-harmonic compositions to be highly effective tools for learning, they should not be regarded as 'magic bullets'. Rather they should be treated as helpful aids to lead the brain gently into an alert and attentive state of consciousness. A sixty-year-old engineer, who had suffered for many years with a medical diagnosis of 'cognitive brain collapse' reported quite poetically after using Remembrance for two months:

"Remembrance is like breathing clean air; it's even better than a box of chocolates! It offers a gentle, three-dimensional support. It calms the scattering, allows the centering, like a pleasant non-noticeable incense. I find myself now able to lead the project rather than push the project. I don't have to push logs upstream any more. With Remembrance I don't have to conquer tasks but can guide them simply and effectively. Remembrance is the difference between harmony and heartburn; as a helper, it allows me to allow." G.M.

For further information, please e-mail: RemembranceMusic@aol.com

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