magic spells

One good way to understand the function of music is to consider that particular instances of music (songs, symphonies, chants, jams, grooves...) are magic spells. The important point here is that a song, for example, is not like a magic spell, but is a magic spell. In fact music is probably the only real, or at least reliable, kind of magic spell. There's a reason why words like enchant and incantation have to do with singing. Certain tunes can just put a smile on your face, no matter your mood to begin with, and others can bring tears to your eyes. And beyond emotions music can really entrain^{FN 1} us: certain grooves can be extremely hypnotic, or seem to aim at 'opening up' our consciousness. We'll return to this theme time and again, but it's a good idea to consider that when you make music you're actually performing magic spells that have a real consequence. Not many magicians try to make spells that are boring.

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1. There is scientific study about sounds causing brainwave entrainment. For example: if one of your ears hears a steady pitch at 440 Hz and the other ear hears one at 400 Hz, a brainwave of the difference between the two frequencies is produced -- in our example a brainwave of 10 Hz, in the Alpha range. Alpha waves are associated, moreover, with the state of the mind as it is found in deep meditative states.