Singing bowls possess a mystical quality as mysterious as their ancient origins and varied uses through the centuries in both the eastern and western worlds.

In an upstairs yoga studio in downtown Culpeper, the musical objectsa type of bellare used to facilitate wellness, the objects haunting, relaxing reverberations rising and falling until reaching a crescendo so intense one might discern all the mysteries held within.

Or, as research has suggested, there is miraculous healing power in vibration.

Thats why when longtime wellness guru Margaret Leary, of Culpeper, wanted to convey her collection of seven crystal singing bowls to another keeper, yoga instructor and Pranapiloga studio owner Rebecca Elsen seized the opportunity.

I think it benefits the studio and our community, said Elsen, the Culpeper Chamber of Commerces Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016.

Leary began teaching yoga in 2000 as she approached 50, starting out in the same downstairs studio space on East Davis Street where Elsen launched Pranapiloga in 2015 before recently moving a few storefronts away. Leary acquired her set of singing bowls from California soon after, and has used them through the years to conduct workshops with students.

They are not bowls, they are beings, she said. They are absolutely tuned to healing.

Leary, who ran her studio for several years, is now a sometimes substitute instructor at Pranapiloga as she focuses more on a personal study of Jin Shin Jyustu.

I am more into the hands-on type of healing and these singing bowls need to be shared with more people, she said.

Sound is vibration and thats how the unique bells heal, Leary said. Each bowl is a different size corresponding with musical notes in line with a human beings major chakrasplaces on the body, from feet to head, that are considered sources of energy for spiritual power.

As you play it, your body seeks that sound in that particular spot in your body, Leary said. Your vibrations slow down when you are sick, bogged down, something is pulling at them. Energy can be blocked for all kinds of reasons.

The singing bowls enhances awareness of blocked energy, she said.

It makes them more aware. To me, the bowl tells you where to go, Leary said. Its a communication going on there.

For the past two years since opening Pranapiloga, Elsen has used just a single metal singing bowl in class in tune with the heart chakra. Getting the entire set opens new channels of possibilities for her clients.

I play the heart bowl and people come up to me after and say I had this most beautiful green color in my head. People report feeling champagne bubbles in their body, a lot of people cry, its a releasean energy release for them where theyve been stuck or built a barrier around their heart, she said.

On Saturday afternoon, Pranapiloga will host a Healing Sound Immersion Class led by musical alchemist Mark Torgeson who will play crystal and Tibetan singing bowls as well gong, meditative flutes & drums, tuning forks, bells and Didgeridoo. The goal of the class will be to update the vibrational frequencies in your energy system, release dated behavior patterns and clear the way for increased balance and flow, according to Torgesons website.

The most important use of music today, as I see it, is as a tool for healing and transformation, he said.

According to a 2013 article in Science Watch, Music as Medicine, about using music therapy to treat Parkinsons patients, it should not only be viewed as a cultural phenomenon but as a vibratory stimulus that has cognitive and memory dimensions.

Elsen and Leary are believers.

You dont have to believe any of these things and it still works, Leary said.

She hopes that passing on her collection to Elsen will help more people understand the importance of sound.

Not just loud blaring stuff, but the beauty, the richness of sound and how we need to cherish it more, Leary said.

Demonstrating how the singing bowls work, Elsen tapped the inside rim of a bowl three times with a mallet before moving it to the outside rim and sliding it around and around in a circular motion, keeping the striker upright and close to top as the musical tones built until the vibrations filled the room, spilling outside and through the chakras of everyone present.

Sound like that is needed to counterbalance the car alarms, the shouting, the sirens, the constant noise of modern life, she said.

Having beautiful sounds of music takes you back to that rest, Elsen said.

See the rest here:

Sounds of music: singing bowls heal - The Daily Progress

Megan Squire, Elon University/The Conversation , KSDK 1:54 PM. EST March 10, 2017

File photo. (Photo: Joe Raedle, Getty Images)

Since 2009, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have been allowed to search electronic devices carried by citizens or noncitizens as they cross the border into the United States from other countries. More recently, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly suggested this digital vetting should also include harvesting social media passwords. Kellys proposal prompted legal and technology experts to respond with an open letter expressing deep concern about any policy that demands that individuals violate the first rule of online security: Do not share your passwords.

Travelers themselves responded, too, looking for ways to avoid surrendering their device passwords to federal agents. One approach what we might call the Nothing To See Here method tries to make a device unsearchable by erasing the hard drive before travel, uninstalling social media apps, letting the devices battery charge run out or even wiping the device if an emergency or duress password was entered.

The Id Love To Comply, But I Cant approach involves exotic solutions like installing two-factor authentication on the device or social media account, and then making the second factor (such as a passcode or digital key) available only in a remote location. Retrieving the second factor would require a warrant and travel outside the border crossing.

These methods are dangerous because they put an already stressed traveler in the position of defying law enforcement at the border, a legal environment that is designed to support the government and not the traveler. Following this advice properly also requires careful execution of technical skills that most travelers dont have. And the degree of advance planning and preparation required might itself be considered a sign of suspicious activity requiring deeper scrutiny by border officials.

But its tempting to wonder: Could computer scientists and software designers like me create a better password system? Can we make Id Love To Comply, But I Cant the only possible answer for every traveler? In short, can we create passwords even their owners dont know?

Developing unknowable passwords is an active area of security research. In 2012, a team from Stanford University, Northwestern University and the SRI research center developed a scheme for using a computer game similar to Guitar Hero to train the subconscious brain to learn a series of keystrokes. When a musician memorizes how to play a piece of music, she doesnt need to think about each note or sequence. It becomes an ingrained, trained reaction usable as a password but nearly impossible even for the musician to spell out note by note, or for the user to disclose letter by letter.

In addition, the system is designed so that even if the password is discovered, the attacker is unable to enter the keystrokes with the same fluidity as the trained user. The combination of keystrokes and ease of performance uniquely ties the password to the user, while freeing the user from having to remember anything consciously.

Unfortunately, in our border travel scenario, the agent could demand that the traveler unlock the device or application using the subconscious password.

Could this be the new way to log in online? Listening to headphones via shutterstock.com

A team at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, proposed a different solution in 2016. Their solution, called Chill-Pass, measures an individuals unique brain chemistry response while listening to her choice of relaxing music. This biometric reaction becomes part of the users log-in process. If a user is under duress, she will be unable to relax enough to match her previously measured chill state, and the log-in will fail.

It is unclear whether CBP agents would be able to defeat a system like Chill-Pass by providing travelers with, say, massage chairs and spa treatments. Even so, the stresses of daily life would make it impractical to use this kind of password regularly. A relaxation-based system would be most useful for people undertaking high-stakes missions where they fear coercion.

And just like with other plans to make CBP scrutiny impossible, this might end up attracting more attention to a traveler, rather than encouraging officers to give up and move on to the next person.

In 2015, Google announced Project Abacus, another solution to the Id Love To Comply, But I Cant problem. It replaces the traditional password with a Trust Score, a proprietary cocktail of characteristics that Google has determined can identify you. The score includes biometric factors like your typing patterns, walking speed, voice patterns and facial expressions. And it can include your location and other unspecified elements.

The Trust Score calculator constantly runs in the background of a smartphone or other device, updating itself with new information and recalculating the score throughout the day. If the Trust Score falls below a certain threshold, say by observing a strange typing pattern or an unfamiliar location, the system will require the user to enter additional authentication credentials.

Its unclear how a Trust Score authentication might affect a border search. A CBP agent could still demand that a traveler unlock the device and its apps. But if the agency couldnt disable the Trust Score system, the phones owner would have to be allowed to hold the device and use it throughout the agents inspection. If someone else tried to use it, the constantly recalculated Trust Score could fall, locking out an investigator.

That process would at least ensure a phones owner knew what information federal agents were collecting from the phone. That hasnt been possible for some arriving travelers, including U.S. citizens and even government employees.

But the Trust Score system puts a lot of control in the hands of Google, a for-profit corporation that could decide or could be compelled to provide government with a way around it.

None of these technological solutions to the password problem is perfect, and none of them is commercially available today. Until research, industry and innovation come up with better ones, whats a digital age traveler to do?

First, do not lie to a federal agent. Thats a felony and will definitely attract more unwanted attention from investigators.

Next, determine how much inconvenience you are willing to tolerate in order to remain silent or to refuse to comply. Noncompliance will have a cost: Your devices could be seized and your travel could be seriously disrupted.

Either way, if and when you are asked for your social media handles or passwords, or to unlock your devices, pay attention and remember as many details as you can. Then, if you wish, alert a digital civil liberties group that this happened. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has a web page with instructions for how to report a device search at the border.

If you think that sensitive materials might have been compromised in the search, notify family, friends and colleagues who might be affected. And until we figure out a better way change your passwords.

Megan Squire, Professor of Computing Sciences, Elon University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Creative Commons License/BY-ND

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Why we should not know our own passwords - 11alive.com

Popular Newcastle cafe Super Natural has pulled off a first by introducing vegan beer on draft.

The vegetarian favourite is leading the way in serving up the hard-to-get beer and not just any old beer: top brands Stella Artois and Boddingtons will be on sale to customers from Friday.

Already the pumps are installed and, following a brief closure on Thursday, the Grainger Street eatery will re-open this Friday with a new-look bar area set to be the first vegan bar in the country.

Fresh branding will be seen soon too on the exterior of the cafe which has become a favourite with customers since its move to a more central location around eight months ago from its previous home in upper Princess Square.

The vegetarian and vegan food it serves - such as spicy Mexican Burrito; chicken and mushroom-style pie and sandwiches with inspired salads - is a far cry from the old days of nut roast and is clearly winning over non-veggie customers too.

Many would be hard-pressed to taste any difference in, for instance, its dairy-free cakes or meat-free curries. And co-owner Andrew Bloomfield, who runs the business with Mark Rogers and cooks a lot of its dishes himself, reckons its the same with the beer.

If you dont know its vegan, you wont know the difference, he said.

Which are the best vegetarian restaurants in Newcastle?

The vegan Stella Artois and Boddingtons taste like the real deal and if, as expected, they prove popular then more additions could be on the cards.

Already, Super Natural offers a range of vegan wines, ciders and bottled beers - as well as soft drinks - but it took Andrew quite some time to source a draft beer that met the exacting standards.

Alcoholic drinks dont, obviously, contain animal products but what many people dont realise is that the same cant be said for its filtering or clarification processes which tend to make use of a substance obtained from fish bladders.

Andrew said: There are vegan beers out there; you just have to source them carefully.

These beers weve found are popular and very big brands: its just so happens they dont use the that manufacturing process.

Andrew has been in catering for years, running his first cafe in the city when he was 27.

Now the joint business reflects both his and Marks lifestyle choice, born from a concern for animal welfare.

Its our passion, he pointed out.

He himself followed what he says is a common process - being vegetarian before turning vegan - and Super Natural caters for people at each stage.

But its also proving a hit with non-veggies and enjoys plenty trade from passers-by who are keen to enjoy a meal or a snack in comfy surroundings, with relaxing music and art as a backdrop.

An exception is made for them with the option of cows milk for their coffee - as not having it might prove a step too far! for those willing to try something completely new.

Andrew said: Our concept is to try to take vegetarian food and vegan food to a wider audience.

Were trying to make it more mainstream and to get people just to come in and try it.

Super Naturals new-look bar will coincide with the introduction of late opening on Friday and Saturday nights which will also see a range of bar snacks, such as loaded nachos, on the menu.

We believe there isnt another vegan bar in the whole country, added Andrew.

Its unique and, hopefully, it will be good for the city.

Excerpt from:

Vegan beer in Newcastle: Three cheers for Super Natural as the city's eatery serves up a first - ChronicleLive

Unlike its predecessors, the new Nintendo Switch has a boring operating system. Not only does it lack Nintendo's characteristic oddball playfulness, it's also nearly silent. There's no music. It's a shame.

The 3DS and the Wii U, Nintendo's two most recent gaming systems, both had incredible menu music. If you've been using a Switch for the past few days, you may have already started to forget just how good those devices sounded. Here's a refresher.

Wii U owners, give this a listen:

Aaaaah. It's so relaxing! You can almost hear the pitter-pat of little Mii feet as they crowd into the plaza. It's so much more musically interesting than your average "welcome to the spa" music like you get on the PS4 and the notably dull PS Vita.

The 3DS did something similar with its main menu music, and I actually wrote an entire article dedicated to the handheld's many melodies. There was separate music for the home screen, the eshop, the system settings menu, the Mii plaza, and even the health and safety information page.

And they were all good! Seriously, here's the 3DS health and safety music:

Not only is that music just generally nice to listen to, it also makes me feel healthy and safe? It's on-brand and everything.

For comparison's sake, here's what the Switch sounds like:

Yes, that is a still image of the Switch home screen. You can just look at it and not hear music, and you'll have the same experience as actually using a Switch. In fairness, the Switch does have some nice built-in sound effects, a collection of snaps and chimes that make using the console a little bit more sensorially satisfying than your average Android touchscreen device. But it's still a big step down.

It can't be easy to compose system music for a video game console. It's music that millions of people will listen to every day, but if they notice it, the composer's usually done something wrong. Nintendo has never taken this challenge lightly, and I'm surprised to see them skip it with the Switch.

Given Nintendo's history and musical pedigree, I'm still hopeful that the Switch will get an update that adds a melody or two. And I can understand why they might want to launch with a stripped down, functional operating system before they began adding things. In a year, my Switch might serenade me as I browse my friends list and look for things to buy. Give us the tunes, Nintendo.

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We often talk about the games we love and the games that get better over time here on the Kotaku Video Game Website. But what we don't mention as often are the ones that are really, really bad.

I pray none of these nightmares happen to my Switch, or yours for that matter.

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The Nintendo Switch Really Needs More Music - Kotaku Australia

Stress and other reasons why you cant sleep

Insomnia is due to a variety of reasons. Here are some of them, according to MediCard President Dr. Nicky Montoya.

Stress

Stress as well as overthinking can keep you from getting a good nights sleep. To ease anxiety during bedtime, try to meditate and exercise during the day. If you wake up in the middle of the night and cant fall back to sleep, get out of bed and do something that relaxes you like reading a book or listening to music until you feel sleepy again.

Nighttime distractions

Noise, complete silence, temperature and mobile devices can also be reasons why you cant sleep. Make sure the temperature in your room is conducive to sleeping and opt for a night light instead of bright bulb. Avoid using your gadgets before bedtime as they emit a type of blue light, which can make you more alert. For those who have trouble sleeping in total silence, try listening to relaxing music of leave the electric fan on.

Irregular sleep schedule

Sleeping and waking up at different times, or sleeping in on weekends to make up for lost sleep on weekdays may be confusing your body clock thus you have trouble falling asleep on a regular schedule. To combat insomnia, make sure to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.

Lack of exercise

Engaging in physical activities are beneficial to the body as they help fight off stress. Be wary though, and do not exercise prior to bed, as this wont give your body enough time to cool down, making it difficult to sleep. Work out three to six hours before bedtime to get the maximum sleep benefits.

Midnight snack

Late night snacking or eating a heavy meal before you sleep can cause insomnia, as metabolism is slower at night. Its best not to eat within two to three hours before sleeping as well as drinking less water at night to avoid getting up to go to the bathroom.

Things you need to know about heart attack

Heart attack remains one of the main causes of death every year. It happens when theres a lack of oxygenated blood flow to the coronary arteries due to plaque of buildup, causing permanent damage to the heart. It can strike anytime, reason why its crucial to know the important things about it.

The warning signs

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense while others start slowly. Thats why you need to spot its early warning signs and symptoms: chest discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea or lightheadedness, cold sweat, and pain in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach. Even if youre not sure that youre experiencing symptoms of heart attack, it is better to consult your doctor about it because patients usually make the mistake of ignoring these signs or waiting too long before they ask for help.

Silent heart attack

It can be as dangerous as a recognized one because the attack often leaves scarring and serious damage to the heart. Signs of a heart attack can easily be shrugged off because they are common aches, like experiencing extreme fatigue, indigestion, flu-like symptoms and jaw, shoulder or neck pain. People who experienced silent heart attacks realize it only after going through tests like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or electrocardiogram (EKG). Further, those who suffered silent heart attacks are at risk of having potentially greater and fatal heart attacks.

First aid

Acting quickly and getting help immediately can help lessen heart damage and heighten the chances of survival. First, dial the emergency hotline immediately. If the person is unconscious, administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If you are the one suffering a heart attack, do not attempt to drive on your own. Keep calm and chew an aspirinwhich can prevent blood clottingif you are not allergic to it.

Heart attack prevention

Maintaining a healthy blood pressure, monitoring your cholesterol, quitting smoking, exercising, eating a balanced dietwhich contains fruits, vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains and fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acidsand most importantly, having regular check-ups are some of the several ways to prevent heart attack.

COMMENT DISCLAIMER: Reader comments posted on this Web site are not in any way endorsed by The Standard. Comments are views by thestandard.ph readers who exercise their right to free expression and they do not necessarily represent or reflect the position or viewpoint of thestandard.ph. While reserving this publications right to delete comments that are deemed offensive, indecent or inconsistent with The Standard editorial standards, The Standard may not be held liable for any false information posted by readers in this comments section.

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Stress and other reasons why you can't sleep - The Standard

Colin Hay has spent half a lifetime establishing hard-won success under his own name. He left Men at Work behind with his 1987 solo debut, Looking for Jack. Stadium-sized crowds dwindled to scattered souls in small clubs during lean times. Thirtyyears later, however, Hay packs theaters like Park West or the Vic; hellperform March 10 at Thalia Hall. Audiences are now populated with devotees pining for solo gems like Waiting For My Real Life to Begin and I Just Dont Think Ill Ever Get Over You, possibly outnumbering those craving definitive 80s classics like Overkill or Who Can it Be Now?

Theres no question that thats gratifying, says Hay. For a lot of people who have been coming to see me for a long time, though, its always been somewhat conspiratorial. When it was fewer people, they werent necessarily coming to hear Down Under. They wanted to know what I was doing now. I think they even liked the fact that it was really a secret. The old songs travel with you, though, and you embrace them.

Fierce Mercy is Hays lucky 13th solo album, and finds him in top form. At 63, his voice remains impossibly youthful, easily hitting the high notes of captivating roots-pop melodies for songs like Come Tumbling Down. As an expert storyteller with a knack for bringing characters to life, Hay has infused his new material with warmth and wry humor.

Some of his subjects are close to home. Like Did You Just Take the Long Way Home from 2015s Next Year People, She Was the Love of Mine is a tender devotional to Hays late mother Isabel. She loved to live so much, he says. She was a very colorful person; very willful. In the last year of her life, when she knew she was dying, it really annoyed her. Her attitude was, I dont have time for this death nonsense. I got to spend a lot of time with her at a flat in Melbourne that I have, overlooking the bay. We would go out onto the little balcony and watch the Spirit of Tasmania go out of the port as the sun went down.

The recent documentary film Waiting For My Real Life describes Hays rocket ship to stardom and ensuing crash, and years lost to alcohol. It also illustrates his steady, incremental return, with a portrait of creativity as his salvation. One Fierce Mercy song called Im Going to Get You Stoned reveals Hays perspective on the value of time. These days, hes determined to squeeze the essence from each moment: Sure beats lying in the sun, he sings.

I always fantasize about relaxing, says Hay. Im actually not that bad at it. Its just that I like to relax in the studio. Youre surrounded by sexy red blinking lights and guitars and drums and a piano. Its a great place to be. I like diving in the ocean, but the idea of just lying around is not for me.

* Colin Hay, 8 p.m. Mar. 10, Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport, $29-$65; thaliahallchicago.com.

Jeff Elbel is a local freelance writer.

Read more here:

In the music spotlight: Colin Hay - Chicago Sun-Times

FX

Composer Jeff Russos psychedelic work complements the FX seriess themes

Though the shows are drastically different in most ways, FX's Fargo and the network's new Marvel series Legion have remarkably similar approaches to music. In Fargo, which began airing in 2014, composer Jeff Russo who also helms Legion's soundtrack uses a wondrous orchestra to depict the show's mountainous, wintry geography with swooping, scenic string arrangements that suggest a feeling of awe and smallness. In Legion, the daunting peaks are within the psyche of the show's lead character, David Haller (played by Dan Stevens). Since he was a toddler, David has been convinced by doctors and relatives that the hallucinations and projections caused by his latent telepathic and telekinetic powers are symptoms of schizophrenia, and thus unreal, rather than genuine abilities produced by his mutant gene. After being defined by mental illness for most of his life, only to have the bubble suddenly burst, David questions his observable reality, just as we in the audience wonder how much we can trust the events we're watching.

If Legion sounds convoluted, well, duh. It's an X-Men spin-off, so multiple, interlacing timelines, parallel universes, and pointed sociopolitical messaging are all fair game. But the show uniquely reiterates these longtime themes by positioning the audience inside the troubled perspective of its lead character. Russo's sublime compositions which have been available to stream as a 20-song soundtrack since late last month, and will be available in stores on March 24 are a major part of this, daring the listener to engage with the flimsiness of our own senses. Even without visual imagery or dialogue, Russo's high-flying string quartets and psychedelic synth arrangements push us to hear an altered reality.

Russo's work for the Legion soundtrack invites us to consider the evolution of a single psyche, from twinkling beginnings to mind-shattering nadirs to moments of revelation. Things begin innocuously enough with "Young David," which plays out the hope of a new life, with atonal ambience lightly kissed by xylophone flourishes and twinkling pianos. A distant, muted bugle signals David's arrival in the world around the four-minute mark, and strings rise upward with the wide-eyed curiosity of a toddler reaching for the stars. The mood shifts on "David in Clockworks," as wordless, reverbed vocalizations introduce an element of menace. The album's third track, "174 Hours," ups the ante further: It opens with soft synths, setting a tone of quiet melancholy, before pivoting midway into loud, wordless vocals and maximalist orchestral runs that ratchet the anxiety to claustrophobic levels.

The soundtrack isn't necessarily an easy listen. This isn't an introspective or meditative instrumental album, or relaxing background music it's a piece of art that demands attention. With some judicious trimming, it could work as its own entity apart from Legion. The metronomic drum ticks on "The Caper 2" generate a thick, broadening tension that's worth listening to even if you know nothing about the show. "Choir and Crickets" uses programmed cricket chirps to suggest a similar tension, then loops in sleepy choral harmonies to soften the track. There are superhero jingles here as well this is still a Marvel franchise, after all. "Run" is formidable chase music that could be packaged with nearly any film or series involving a dramatically important footrace. The mid-album track "Clockworks" (not to be confused with the earlier "David in Clockworks") is a run-of-the-mill screech-and-squelch with little in the way of a distinct sonic character. Thankfully, these strictly functional tracks are among the soundtrack's shortest.

Russo is at his best when he's at his most playful which often happens when the music is at its most fraught. "Seeing Things Hearing Things" sounds like it was written during a tense lie-detector test, with an undercurrent of mistrust running through the sterile electric pings. It's impressive to hear how Russo evokes unease with such simplicity. While listening to the nearly five-minute track, you start to imagine being interrogated by an unknowable stranger, as the vague silences, the scratch of the pen against the graph paper, and the discreet yet audible hurr of a machine begins to plunge the mind into madness.

Part of what makes the Legion soundtrack thrilling is that it doesnt require telepathy or even guesswork, really to become enveloped in its world. In a sense, the soundtrack is a throwback, owing much of its genetic makeup to Pink Floyds 1973 masterpiece Dark Side of the Moon. (Russo has even discussed purchasing the same synthesizer, the EMS VCS3, to get closer to the albums warbly, analog psychedelic sound.) Much like that record, the Legion soundtrack succeeds by fucking with the listener. It answers questions with more questions, and presses the idea that our perceptions of time and material reality are sketchy and manipulable. Its jarring, sometimes scary stuff, but the empathy that ultimately runs through the soundtrack makes this journey to the dark side of the mind worth the fright.

2017 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. MTV and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

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The Legion Soundtrack Is A Trip Worth Taking - MTV.com

Margaret Browning, Staff Writer March 6, 2017 Filed under A&E

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Do you ever have trouble studying or falling asleep? Do you want to listen to music while you study, but can never stay focused because of lyrics? Then I have the perfect solution!

Margauxs Top 5 List of Relaxing Music:

1.) C418- The artist behind Minecraft music. The music is very soft and calming, and great to listen to when youre studying or relaxing. (Available on iTunes, Googleplay, and Spotify.)

2.) Viridi OST (Ice Water Games/ Michael Bell)- A wonderful collection of calming music tracks from the game Viridi, a succulent simulator. (The album is 7$ to purchase, but free to listen to)

3.) myNoise- Not so much of a musical artist, but a great background noise generator. It has a wonderful selection of sounds you could listen to, such as a Cats Purr or Distant Thunder.

4.) The American Dollar- An indie band once again on Bandcamp. They made the music for the game Harmony (a really nice ios and android game!!) Its very peaceful, and has no lyrics. Its great background noise!

5.) Spotifys Rest And Relaxation Playlist- Just about the best thing you can get on Spotify for relaxing music. A bit of everything.

More here:

Margaux's Top 5 List of Relaxing Music - Hawk Eye

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Mar. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- After listening to advice from his fans, Grammy Award winning musician Michael S. Tyrrell created a new album dedicated to helping listeners sleep and relax. His fans rewarded him by supporting the new effort, driving his new album "Wholetones: Life, Love & Lullabies," to debut at Number 3 on Billboard's New Age Chart.

"Life, Love & Lullabies" is composed with soft instruments, soothing melodies and lulling frequencies. Tyrrell wrote the music without any drums or invigorating crescendos featured on previous albums, hoping to help customers fall asleep even easier. The songs are based on the science behind musical frequencies and their impact on the mind, body and spirit.

"As an artist, it is gratifying for me to hear the stories of success from my listeners who suffer from insomnia or have children who have trouble falling asleep," said Tyrrell. "Life, Love & Lullabies is almost three full hours of frequency-infused music that works to get you a good night's sleep."

The music ranges from original songs to interpretations of famous lullabies, like "Brahms' Lullaby" which is well-known for its lyrics starting with "Lullaby and goodnight."

"I can honestly say it's some of the most beautiful music I've ever had the privilege of playing. And it was an honor to do it with the world-class musicians from the original Healing Frequency Music Project," Tyrrell said. "But more than that, it's truly an honor to finally be able to give you this precious gift of not only music, but tranquil, dreamy, restorative sleep."

The best-selling album is the latest recording for Wholetones, a healing frequency music project designed to help aid health, creativity, productivity and well-being. For more information on Wholetones, click here.

"Life, Love & Lullabies" is available for purchase on the official Wholetones website and Amazon. The music was published by Barton Publishing, a widely recognized digital publisher of natural health solutions.

"At Barton Publishing, our mission is to help people lead happier, healthier lives," said Marty M. Fahncke, Chief Marketing Officer of Barton Publishing. "Life, Love & Lullabies is proving to accomplish just that. I'm so excited for the overwhelming positive response we've had from customers who have brought Life, Love & Lullabies into their homes."

For information go to: Wholetones website - http://www.LifeLoveandLullabies.com Amazon - http://amzn.to/2lTGJA4

Praise from the initial customers of "Wholetones: Life, Love & Lullabies"

"I have had a problem sleeping through the night as far back as I can remember. After playing these lullabies for a few evenings in a row, I finally had my first night's sleep without waking up. My two kitties enjoy the music as well and are much calmer and have less anxiety about the dog in the house that they don't want there," said Kathleen O'Herron.

"I have had trouble sleeping for many years, and I can honestly say that this is the most relaxing and peace-inducing music that I have ever had the pleasure of listening to," said Bob Hughes.

"My special needs son who is nonverbal autistic sleeps all through the night ever since we have the original Wholetones and the Christmas album," said Susan Bradbury.

"Each time I played a song during my rest time, I fell peacefully into a deep sleep. These songs are very soothing to the spirit and body, easing away any worries and blocking out distractions," said Lisa Cash. "In addition, when I sensed that my very active five- year old son needed a rest but was reluctant to admit it, I would play a song and he would peacefully drift off and wake up refreshed and happier."

"The kids love it, and it really promotes relaxation, and peaceful sleep," said Dolly Cason.

"I always go to sleep listening to my Wholetones. But the lullaby was really special. Like being back in your mothers arms," said Teresa Elliott.

"My daughter and I were so excited as we listen to Wholetones almost every night as she falls asleep. She usually stirs when I leave the room but she was OUT!! This continued as we listened to a song each night," she said Pam Kinzinger.

About Michael S. TyrrellMichael S. Tyrrell is the founder and president of Wholetones, Inc. Passionate about inspiring others, Michael travels nationally and internationally as a keynote and motivational speaker on the power of music.

After 30 years in the music industry as an author, speaker, musician, composer, inventor and producer, Michael uses his past experiences to inspire and connect with various groups of people. With the unique ability to connect with people's stories, Michael interacts and confides in his listeners in a way that promotes positivity and growth.

Contact Marty M. Fahncke 1-855-500-3422 149080@email4pr.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wholetones-life-love--lullabies-debuts-at-3-on-billboard-music-charts-music-helps-people-relax-and-sleep-300419114.html

SOURCE Barton Publishing

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"Wholetones: Life, Love & Lullabies" Debuts at #3 on Billboard Music Charts Music Helps People Relax and Sleep - PR Newswire (press...

HANNIBAL It all started with whistling. Thad Fiscella, a 2005 graduate from Hannibal LaGrange University here, cant remember a time when he couldnt whistle. His parents say its something he picked up at the age of two or three.

Through my early childhood, I can remember whistling tunes in my head all the time, and when people would ask me to whistle, I would just make something up, or improvise a song for them, I didnt realize at the time I was in a way composing music, remembers Thad

Today, Thad is a professional musician and composer whose peaceful, relaxing music is directly influenced by his relationship with the Lord, his family, and his life experiences. He has released seven albums on piano and will be releasing another album early this year.

As a child, Thad often listened to classical music, which peaked his interest in music and composition even more. In the fourth grade, he began to play in the school band, choosing percussion as his main instrument. Not the best choice for composers, he admits.

Thads teacher asked him to take a year of piano so he could learn to read music for the bells, marimba, and other melodic percussion instruments, and so, at the age of 11, Thad began to play piano. Not long after, he fell even more in love with piano and composing music.

The more I developed my skills as a pianist, reading music and learning songs, the more my skills at composing increased and it became more and more apparent to me that God had given me the desire and talent to compose music, and there was no turning back.

When Thad began attending HLGU, he continued piano lessons and further developed his skills in music theory, voice, and learning other various instruments. Though he started by majoring in music education, he later changed his major to psychology in hope of one day going into the field of music therapy.

I learned a lot of valuable lessons and material from my teachers during that time, Thad said. Being at HLGU helped me become more passionate about my pursuit of music and fostered an even stronger desire to further develop my skills as a composer, musician, and potentially a music therapist. I began to understand that God had plans for me to use music not only as a career but also for ministry. Now looking back, I am amazed at where God has taken me, and how all the parts from my life, high school, college, life experiences, family, and jobs, have come together to prepare me for my ministry in music now.

After many years of composing music and practicing piano, Thad heeded the advice of his piano teacher and began to record his ideas. Then in 2005, he felt the Lord calling him to take his musical ideas, complete them, and turn them into an album. After a year of work, his first album, Grand Design, was released on CD in 2006. The theme behind this album is the beauty of Gods creation and the grand plans He has for His children.

After my first CD, I wanted to create something that was even more defined, music that was consistent throughout, so people would know what to expect when they bought it, said Thad. I settled on emotionally driven music that is simple and relaxing, but most of all I wanted to create music that would provide peace and comfort, that would minister to people, especially those going through difficult times.

Thad continued, My main focus of my music career right now is the ministry aspect, allowing God to use me to share His gospel through music, and He continues to grow my audience daily.

As a self-employed musician, Thads work days often vary depending on his current projects, but generally he will practice piano in his home studio for anywhere from two to four or more hours. During this time, he will compose music, work on new songs for a current or future album project, or prepare for an upcoming event or concert. Hell practice for a few hours and then rest a little while to give his ears and hands a break, and then work some more.

In addition to practicing music, Thad will also work on promotion by maintaining and developing his website, using social media, and generally expanding his internet presence. His music can currently be found on Amazon and iTunes, and internet radio sites such as Pandora and Spotify.

Currently, Thad is spending most of his time preparing for a new album release. Hell go through music ideas hes already written, decide which songs will be on the next CD, and record music in his home studio. He does all of the mixing and mastering for his music which requires many hours of work for each song.

Along with his career as a musician, Thad has also been involved with church ministry for over 15 years, serving in various roles such as youth pastor, teacher, Bible study leader, worship leader, and worship team member.

Thad and his wife, Laura 99, have been married for 17 years and have three children, 13-year-old Reed, who is learning guitar, 11-year-old Emma, who is learning piano, and 10-year-old Ross, who is learning percussion. The Fiscellas attend Calvary Baptist Church in Hannibal. For more information on Thad, or to order or listen to his music, visit thadfiscella.com.

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HLGU graduate composes praise - The Pathway