My earliest recollection in life was in 1956 when my uncle was playing piano and organ in his living room. I was 3 ½ years old. A sparkling golden energy emanated from over the instruments, swept across the room and came into me. I shivered and shook and knew in that moment that music was to be my life path. I began formal piano study at age 5 when I was big enough to press the keys and somewhat reach the pedals.
It is a passion that has not diminished in more than 60 years. In fact, it intensifies daily.
My formal music study began with 10 years of private piano lessons, followed by popular organ study at the Hartford Conservatory of Music at age 14. Next was music theory, classical organ and classical piano lessons at Julius Hartt School of Music when I was 17. This was in preparation to be a classical organ major at Hartt College of Music in 1971. Lots and lots of Bach and pipe organs. I also conducted and played with a guitar based folk mass group with 40+ teenagers for several years.
Many tens of thousands of hours of practice and performance playing in countless venues including churches, night clubs and show rooms across the US and Canada. The bulk of the 70s found me on the road with a variety of bands including 3 years with a Vegas-show road band. A total of 7+ years living in hotels – 52 weeks a year, playing 6 nights a week and travelling on most “days off”. Through it all, I observed the profound response people have with music of varying types. Ultimately, I wanted to offer music that was the “main event” rather than background or accompaniment. In the late 1970s that began to take form. I would invite a variety of friends and acquaintances with a wide variety of “lifestyles” over to my house and have them hum into a harmonica making up lyrics in their head as I “jammed” on the keyboards. Some pretty rugged characters became docile and content and after playing music together for a while and would quickly fall asleep on the couch as I played softer music for them.
In early 1982 during the course of my early explorations into the field of sound, music and its benefits for wellness, I heard of two ladies that were using water filled balloons placed on specific parts of their client’s body and they hummed and sang into the water balloons. The water provided a more direct connection with the body. Brilliant!
I soon began working with a Kineseologist, Oriental Medical Doctor, Naturopath and Acupuncturist. We explored people’s response to sound by using specific frequencies and waveforms for specific ailments. We sought to find ways to present the sound in the most effective manner. If we were playing a sound for the lungs or liver or an acupuncture meridian, I would place the headphones on the client’s ankles with an extremely low volume level so they could not hear the sound with their ears. The muscle testing showed the benefit whether they could hear the sound with their ears or have the correct sound presented to their body/being via headphones. We would also infuse a quartz crystal with the sounds and the weaknesses tested just as strong when the appropriate frequencies and waveforms were infused in the quartz crystal. Water can also be infused with healing sounds and music.
I developed this procedure into a process I called Synphonics which evolved from utilizing specific frequencies and waveforms and custom created a 45-minute long piece of music based on that information. Frequencies guide the key – major or minor, waveforms guide the orchestrations. Other elements guide tempo, rhythm, modulation and the intricacies of music composition. Emotions are the heart and soul of music. The healing is in the feeling.
Being a multi-keyboardist and having quite a few analog synthesizers is a great plus. With analog synths I can dial in specific frequencies and specific waveforms to observe what has the most beneficial effect and receptivity. In my observations, the waveform has as much to do with the response as the frequency. Based on orchestral instruments, sine waves are more flute instrument sounding. Square waves are more woodwind instrument sounding such as clarinet and oboe. Sawtooth waves are more brass instrument sounding such as trumpet, trombone, sousaphone and tuba. Sawtooth and square composite waveforms are more like strings such as violins, cellos and bass. Each waveform or combination of waveforms resonates with the body, mind, spirit and emotional bodies differently as well as chakras and etheric energy fields. Different waveforms have different harmonic overtones which contribute to the receptivity and resonance of the tones and music. I mention emotions because I feel that emotions are what are “in the driver’s seat”. Tones resonate with certain aspects of the physical being and emotions engage what is affecting people’s moods which then relate to physical manifestation of health and well-being. It is a complete, cohesive experience rather than a conglomeration of isolated elements. The music is a reflection of your true self, your true nature, your true multi-dimensional magnificence.
A technique in classical organ called “pedal tone” has served me well. I play a low bass note on the bass pedals and then improvise and embellish with my hands on the manuals (keyboards). With the help of an oscilloscope I observed that low bass notes are carrier waves for the higher frequencies. I use plenty of bass in the music. It provides grounding and deep resonance and welcomes engagement. For me, a sound healing session – personal music piece offers a complete evolution consisting of a beginning, exploration and development and completion including suspension, resolution, inquiry, stillness, coherence and integration.
Cymatics visually shows us how sound can re-organize a random pile of sand into coherent mandala-like patterns. My musical goal is to incorporate that potential and possibility into the music I offer. Specific frequencies such as Rife and solfeggio can be implemented as well for specific needs and goals.
There are ways to correlate sound and color with planetary movement which is known as The Music of the Spheres. For greater depth, you can read about the ancient arts of science, math, geometry and music especially Pythagoras.
In recent years my passion for music and its correlation to color frequencies has developed into what I call Harmonies of Light. I created a one-of-a kind lighting and music keyboard system that shines the mathematically/harmonically related colors of the musical notes as I play music live. We offer livestreaming events online that have globally reached thousands of people. Livestreaming offers a spontaneous and simultaneous group synergy and momentum to unlimited numbers of people globally (and I don’t have to schlep tons of gear).
You can learn more about this and the music that I offer on my website www.JimOliverMusic.com
Harmonies of Light is at: www.JimOliverMusic.com/HarmoniesofLight
Blessings and Deep Gratitude,
Jim Oliver
© 2018 James Oliver
If you enjoyed this article, you may also be interested in: https://www.youwealthrevolution.com/blog/enlightenment-fast-easy-sound/