"Crafted" Music for Relaxation

One of the countless ways that music therapists can help clients is by offering music for relaxation. In music therapy, live music has several advantages over recordings in that the tempo, rhythm, and character of the music can be tailored to clients’ needs moment to moment. However, sometimes live music is not available. Maybe the music therapist went home, or maybe you are the music therapist! What then? Generally speaking, deeply relaxing music should be steady, lengthy, and vaguely pleasant (boring or just not that stimulating is fine), so recorded music can serve this purpose well.  

There are many readily accessible options for recorded music that fits these qualities of relaxing music, and for most people, a google search for “relaxing music” will yield something that works well enough. There are also countless specific options available by searching whatever you think you might like (native American flute music to thunderstorms is pretty nice). 

Importantly, the answer to what is relaxing for any particular person is that it depends. I know music therapists who find “relaxing music” to be agitating. Maybe this is because they feel the music is inane or patronizing, or it seems like they are at work. Here I will offer a few suggestions for folks who do not connect with generic “relaxing music”. Keep in mind that streaming sometimes comes with commercial interruptions which are not relaxing :( 

For a relaxed but alert/active state: Getz and Gilberto (Brazilian Bossa Nova) or Ahmad Jamal- The Legendary Okeh and Epic Recordings (cocktail style Jazz)

For a relaxed calm with guided breathing or movement: music from Time Shift by Alex Baker or Phantom Brickworks IV by Bibio. 

For deeply relaxing ambient music: Sunset by Christopher Willits (though Transpire is a bit moody) or the hour long version of Treefingers by Radiohead. 

Moodier ambient music: Loyal by Heathered Pearls

Extremely moody: certain recordings from the metal duo, Sunn O))) (XXANN). Generally speaking, augmented 4ths, dissonance, and guitar feedback would not be recommended for relaxation, but XXANN has those essential qualities for relaxing music that I mentioned above (steady, lengthy, and not that stimulating) and might be a good fit for someone who finds pleasant sounding ambient music distasteful. There is no one size fits all! These are just a few ideas for folks who like more “crafted” relaxing music.