was both exciting and terrifying. The class provided a chal- lenge to my sensory integrative abilities that I had not ex- pected. New playing skills were taught primarily by learning a tune by ear, and then developing the ability to hear specific chords, embellishments, or rhythmic styles. I was expected to play what I had heard. Learning by ear has never been a strength, and situations that depended on it have usually led to frustration, and a reduction in my ability to play. In addition, we were encouraged to practice what we were learning during class. At intervals, sixteen hammered dulcimers would begin to practice a tune or technique. These were not times of playing together, and the resulting cacophony was over- whelming. I found it impossible to hear my own instrument and get any feedback in the din that resulted. I wondered if Hemi-Sync would help and decided to experiment. The next day I wore my headphones and listened to the Concentration tape softly throughout the day. I listened to the new patterns with greater ease. I was aware that even though I could not play the pattern smoothly, or even remember the --- PAGE 6 (OCR) --- HEMI-SYNC JOURNAL. tune with ease, there was not the emotional overlay I had experienced before. Rather than feeling that I would never be able to do this, I simply knew that I was learning and would be able to produce what I had learned at a later time. I don’t know whether the Hemi-Sync increased my ability to learn, but I
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Hemi-Sync® Journal 1991-1 (Winter) · 1 Hemi-Sync® Journal 1991-1 Winter.pdf
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know that it prevented me from unconsciously interfering with my own learning by eliminating negative messages and scenarios. The most noticeable difference was my ability to hear my own instrument and to concentrate during the group practice times. Even when I did not wear the headphones, there was a carryover, and the sound of my own dulcimer came to the foreground of my awareness. I was interested in exploring differences between open focus and narrow focus of attention during the dulcimer class. The Concentration tape provided excellent support for the narrow focus of attention. In the past, I have achieved the wider, open focus by listening to a METAMUSIC tape. This, however, was not an alternative when the desired open focus was on a broader awareness of another piece of music or playing style. One day I listened to the Free Flow 12 tape during class. I found my consciousness flowing with the music, but flowing right out of the room—with a clear feeling of having missed most of what was being taught! I listened to the Surf tape and felt an intense desire to close my eyes and nap! I ended up moving toa relaxed, open Focus 10 or Focus 12 state without the tape and my awareness of the total feel of a piece of music increased. I now often listen to Hemi-Sync tapes or meditate just before practicing my dulcimer. When I do this, there is an automaticity and flow to my playing. It almost feels as though there is a road map on the dulcimer and my hammers know
just where to go. I have experimented with different types of earphones during the past year. Ideally, I would like for my Hemi-Sync backup to be unobtrusive. I do not wish to give the impression that [ am not paying attention or am listening to something unrelated. As an alternative to headphones, I have tried the small, in-the-ear buttons. These have not worked well for me because in order to stay easily in the ear, they must fit tightly. This puts the Hemi-Sync into the foreground rather than the background, and detracts from listening to a speaker. Al- though headphones are larger and are obvious to others, they allow sound to come in around them, enabling an easier mix of the Hemi-Sync and room sounds. CONCLUSIONS Hemi-Sync enhances the sensory integrative abilities of the brain. The responses to Hemi-Sync signals are most dramatic in children and adults with severe sensory integra- tive dysfunction. However, a similar improvement in process- ing and focusing abilities is seen in individuals with normal sensory integrative abilities. Each of us varies in the ability to organize and integrate internal and external sensory informa- tion for learning. We are aware of situations in which our abilities emerge with ease, and other situations in which a sense of overload and disorganization predominates. Hemi- Sync can help each of us learn and function in the easy and effortless way that is associated with high levels of sensory organization and integration. @