News

Music & Stress

March 03, 2025 - 08:38 PM Listening to your favorite music may have more health benefits than you realize. Here’s how songs can reduce stress and help you heal. It’s not until we forget our headphones that we realize just how much we rely on music to help us through the day. Our favorite music seems capable of pumping us up before an important moment, calming us down when we’re upset, and just about anything in between. But is there actually a scientific explanation for this? As it turns out, yes! Music has been widely studied and revered throughout human history for its ability to both entertain and heal. Countless experts have investigated how listening to music can......

Keep Your Brain Young with Music

February 26, 2025 - 04:59 PM If you want to firm up your body, head to the gym. If you want to exercise your brain, listen to music. There are few things that stimulate the brain the way music does. If you want to keep your brain engaged throughout the aging process, listening to or playing music is a great tool. It provides a total brain workout. Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory. The Brain-Music Connection Experts are trying to understand how our brains can hear and play music. A stereo system puts out vibrations that travel through the air and somehow get inside the ear canal. These......

9 Health Benefits of Music

February 16, 2025 - 03:02 PM Music can improve mood, decrease pain and anxiety, and facilitate opportunities for emotional expression. Research suggests that music can benefit our physical and mental health in numerous ways. Music therapy is used by our hospice and palliative care board-certified music therapist to enhance conventional treatment for a variety of illnesses and disease processes – from anxiety, depression and stress, to the management of pain and enhancement of functioning after degenerative neurologic disorders. It’s heart healthy. Research has shown that blood flows more easily when music is played. It can also reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, decrease cortisol (stress hormone)......

How to Start Living a Peaceful Life

February 13, 2025 - 02:52 PM Are you living in a constant state of stress? Living a more peaceful life can begin with just a few, small changes we can incorporate into our daily lives. How to Start Living a Peaceful Life Are you living in a constant state of stress? If so, there’s a lot of reasons why that may be the case. We live in a hustle and bustle society that values productivity and consumerism. Living in this fast paced, non-stop way can catch up to us if we’re not taking the time we need to slow down and relax. Consequently, living in a constant state of stress over time takes a toll on our nervous systems and can negatively impact our physical and mental health. This can lead to a sense of doom......

The Effects of Sound on the Learning Process

February 07, 2025 - 05:41 PM By: IvyPanda In modern society, people live, interact, and study amid a cacophony of background noises. From the neighbor’s TV to the relentless roar of street traffic, concentrating on tasks can be challenging with such auditory distractions. Consider a different scenario: You sit down to write an essay, distracted by thoughts and external stimuli, and then you play a Mozart symphony and complete the dreaded task in an hour. As you can see, sound permeates our lives. It’s one of our five senses through which we continuously perceive the world and its dynamics. It can either be a source of distraction or, if properly used, a catalyst for improved performance. How We......

The Transformative Power of Music

January 11, 2025 - 05:35 PM The Transformative Power of Music in Mental Well-Being Music has always held a special place in our lives, forming an integral part of human culture for centuries. Whether we passively listen to our favorite songs or actively engage in music-making by singing or playing instruments, music can have a profound influence on our socio-emotional development and overall well-being. Recent research suggests that music engagement not only shapes our personal and cultural identities but also plays a role in mood regulation.1 A 2022 review and meta-analysis of music therapy found an overall beneficial effect on stress-related outcomes. Moreover, music can be used to help in addressing serious......

10 Tips To Reduce Stress During The Holidays

December 05, 2024 - 02:57 PM If you find that you are feeling a little more stressed than usual right now, you’re definitely not alone. The American Psychological Association reports that nearly nine in 10 (89%) Americans are experiencing stress or feeling overwhelmed this holiday season. When we are stressed, we need to be sure we are coping with it in the best ways possible. When stress gets the best of us, we may turn to less healthy means of coping. Here are some ways to make the season less stressful and more fun. 1. Don’t over schedule yourself The holiday season is a time of parties and other social gatherings. Remember that you don't have to do it all. Figure out what you really enjoy......

The Holidays Are Stressful- Restore Your Calm

November 27, 2024 - 05:51 PM The holidays are stressful. Restore your calm with these 5 quick tricks Going home for the holidays can be anxiety-inducing. Airports are packed, roads are full of traffic and being with family can be drama. Dan Harris, host of the mindfulness and meditation podcast 10% Happier, is here to help. He shares five quick, science-backed techniques to help you stay cool in the moment, no matter the situation. 5 holiday stress scenarios — and how to cope 1. You're hitting major traffic on the road to your in-laws' house. Now you might miss Thanksgiving dinner! The fix: Wear a half smile. Ever so slightly raise the upper corners of your lips. This will automatically reduce all that......

Discover Uncommon Methods to Improve Your Psychological Well-Being

October 18, 2024 - 12:38 PM By: Savannah Taylor Mental health is fundamental to our well-being and life's ups and downs. Exploring and implementing diverse strategies tailored to our individual needs is essential to maintain and improve our mental state. These methods range from physical activities that calm the mind to psychological techniques that fortify emotional resilience. By incorporating a variety of unique approaches, we can effectively enhance our mental wellness and improve our quality of life.Gentle Physical Activities as a Gateway to PeaceYoga, a practice rooted in ancient traditions, has evolved into a gentle but powerful tool for mental upkeep. This low-intensity activity can......

Unravel The Roots Of Your Stress With These Simple Ways To Feel Better

July 12, 2024 - 02:50 PM By: Savannah Taylor Stress is a ubiquitous part of life, often creeping in from various sources and affecting your well-being. Identifying the causes and finding effective ways to manage stress are crucial for maintaining a balanced life. This guide, presented by The River Of Calm, will help you uncover the roots of your stress and offer practical strategies to handle them effectively. Uncovering the Roots of Your Stress Understanding what triggers your stress is the first step in managing it. Take time to reflect on your daily activities and pinpoint specific events, environments, or individuals that elevate your stress levels. These can range from work deadlines and financial pressures......

News

Music & Stress

Keep Your Brain Young with Music

9 Health Benefits of Music

How to Start Living a Peaceful Life

The Effects of Sound on the Learning Process

The Transformative Power of Music

10 Tips To Reduce Stress During The Holidays

The Holidays Are Stressful- Restore Your Calm

Discover Uncommon Methods to Improve Your Psychological Well-Being

Unravel The Roots Of Your Stress With These Simple Ways To Feel Better

On Air

Find Us

The Team

Lora Cain

Ed Bazel

Terry Anderson

Julie Gates

Catherine Carter

Last photos

The River of Calm Livestream Holiday Concert 2020

The River of Calm Live Stream Concert March 2022 - Flutist Sherry Finzer

The River of Calm Holiday Live Stream Concert 2021

The River of Calm Live Stream Concert Series July 2021 - 10X1

The River of Calm Live Stream Concert Series March 2020 - David Nevue

Our Podcasts

The River of Calm Beyond The Music Podcast - Ed Bazel

The River of Calm - Beyond The Music Podcast - featuring Danielle Archer of The Artist Minds - Fear

The River of Calm - Beyond The Music Podcast - featuring Danielle Archer of The Artist Minds - Imposter Syndrome

The River of Calm Playlist - Study & Chill

The River of Calm Playlist - Chill Music To Study To

Contact us