The Tao of Music: Sound Psychology [Paperback]

John M. Ortiz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1997

Like millions of other people, when you're feeling "blue", you might listen to music to reflect your feelings, or to cheer you up. Dr. Ortiz has focuses on this basic impulse and created an effective, systematic way to deal with life's vagaries. He offers "Musical Menus" of carefully selected songs and melodies, reflective of specific emotional states that you can use to progress from identifying your pain to healing it. He provides creative exercises, koans (mediative questions), anecdotes, and case histories that reveal the transformative power of music. Dr. Ortiz uses behavioral, cognitive, and affective psychological techniques incorporated with toning, chanting, affirmations, and visualization to help you deal with issues such as chronic pain, lack of self-esteem, depression, anger and more. You can use music to change your life, and Dr. Ortiz shows you how!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It is often said that music soothes the savage beast, but did you ever think that it could help with time management? What about improving communication? Although he makes no claims that The Tao of Music is a cure-all, John Oritz has tapped the power of music by combining it with established psychological techniques and Taoist ideas to create an innovative concept: your music collection can help you overcome the obstacles of everyday life, from pain to procrastination, relaxation to romance. The Tao of Music isn't just a catalog of New Age hits; Oritz knows his music and draws on genres as diverse as classical and country, giving you the latitude to design your own music therapy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 390 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578630088
• ISBN-13: 978-1578630080
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,496 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly crafted and diligently researched., June 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tao of Music: Sound Psychology (Paperback)

Having recently purchased and read several books within this popular genre (Mozart Effect, Tuning Your Brain) I was fortunate enough to have this book recommended by one of my colleagues. As a psychologist, parent and music therapist I have to say that this is--without doubt--the most practical, accessible, and straightforward book in the bunch. Writing from the heart, Dr. Ortiz has crafted a work of love that speaks of personal journeys and professional pursuits that have culminated into a book to assist people of all ages in dealing with common, everyday concerns. In essence, this book uses a well balanced combination of practical exercises, zen philosophy, psychological research, book and music research resources and case examples to illustrate how any of us can use many different types of music to help us get through life's nagging, disturbing and otherwise troubling events. This book is both a pleasure and a treasure, as both a parent and a professional I give it my highest recommendation.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Tao of Music is an absolute delight!, January 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tao of Music: Sound Psychology (Paperback)

This book is filled with wonderful, well researched, practical information. The case stories presented throughout the book are fascinating and inspirational. It is obvious this book came from the heart. The exercises are excellently described, simple to follow and best of all, they work! I had no idea that something as accessible as the music we so often take for granted can be consciously used to help us to literally transform our lives. In particular, I have found the chapters on using music and sound to help us get to sleep, to design a complete exercise program, and as an aid for meditation and creativity extremely helpful as well as fun. However, Dr. Ortiz's chapter on using music to add spice to "Romantic Intimacy" tops them all! This book has everything! I recommend it 100%!

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo! Encore!!!, July 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tao of Music: Sound Psychology (Paperback)

Having purchased this wonderful book a few months ago I have recently had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Ortiz lecture on his theories of Sound Psychology which are exquisitively detailed in his practical, delightfully written volume: The Tao of Music: Sound Psychology. As a clinician, I recommend this well-researched and scholarly, yet highly accessible volume, to colleagues in the mental health and social service fields wholeheartedly. As a firm believer in taking responsibility for "composing" my life's path, creating harmony and "raising my sound awareness" for the purpose of improving my quality of life, I recommend this book HIGHLY. In short, Dr. Ortiz--a licensed, psychologist with a wealth of clinical experience--has lovingly brought together years of research, consulting, clinical work and his own life experiences to provide us with a book that belongs in everyone's bookshelf. For each of us who has experienced feelings of sadness, anger, stress, despair, loneliness, exhaustion or isolation, Dr. Ortiz offers a number of musical options that will help to soothe the pains and savor the pleasures of life. Thank you Dr. O...I anxiously await your future publications!