Coping Strategies
Part 11 - Close-up on 7 ways of coping

The definition of resonance is when the vibrations of one external force cause another to move in a rhythmic way. This is more likely to happen if the two forces share a similar, natural frequency.


Finding types of music and sound that match our own vibrations – that can resonate with us at an atomic level – is of real importance to our well-being. Similarly, cutting out music and sounds that are unpleasant, upsetting, clashing and disharmonious (otherwise known as dissonance) can also be of great benefit to us.

Listening to music has all sorts of therapeutic benefits. It reduces stress and anxiety levels. It can improve your mood, your heart rate and your blood pressure. Music helps to develop cognitive skills such as attention and memory. It can also give you a sense of control, by providing you with a sense of the familiar and a grounding in reality when you feel disconnected. It also influences your metabolism, sleep, respiration and helps reduces fatigue.

It may be worth splitting music into sub-sections.

If we are interested in being able to study and concentrate or to use music to help us sleep, monophonic music works wonders. Monophonic music contains one melodic line without the harmony, for example Gregorian chanting. This type of music helps to preoccupy our subconscious mind, so that we can focus our attention elsewhere.

Polyphonic music contains multiple instruments, or voices and harmonies, that are played at the same time, such as Johann Pachelbel's Canon. Polyphonic music is complex and demands concentration; it can completely absorb us, challenge us, and plant all sorts of imagery into our subconscious that in turn can stimulate creativity.

Homophonic is where vocals and instruments complement a dominant rhythm or repetitive beat, and which constitutes most pop music. For many Western people this music is very straightforward and easy to grasp as it played everywhere. It is the music that is most likely to make you dance.

Heterophonies can be heard in bluegrass and Cajun and in many non-Western types of music. Here there is one melody played out by two instruments (say fiddle and banjo) at the same time, without necessarily being perfectly synchronised, which creates a natural texture to the sound.

Polyrhythms. This is where two or more separate rhythms combine and conflict with one another. The origins of this music are African. If played over a long period of time, the effects of this music can be hypnotic and transcendental.

Would it be useful to you to listen to music that you have never heard before, to find out if it has an impact on your well-being?

What types of music do you enjoy?

What sounds do you enjoy?

Is there a common theme to your choice of music and sound? E.g. the pitch, the frequency, the rhythm?

Is there a musical instrument that you particularly like?