A friend sent me a fascinating link to a captivating TED talk given by Julian Treasure, chair of the Sound Agency, a firm that advises businesses on how to use sound. Just seven minutes long, the talk is sure to revitalize the way you relate to sound. Here it is:
My sons never cease to amaze me (as do children in general), particularly when it comes to seeing how quickly their ability to interact with the world around them expands from day to day. Long gone are the days when children were to be “seen but not heard,” and I think that we’re better for it.
One of the primary tools children use in their quest to understand and have dominion in the world is sound. Children mature at a remarkable pace through an exploration of language, song or just making noise.
I recently introduced my youngest son to the greats of scat singing, including Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. He was fascinated by it (who wouldn’t be?) and has taken to scatting all the time. He also loves to improvise on songs he knows, using new experiences and new words. Each day his scats and songs become more complex, meaningful and delightful. It is fascinating to hear!
Sound, used correctly, improves health, orders consciousness and enriches experiences. However, when sound is misused it leads to disease, frenzy and unrelieved tension. Sound health depends on a sound relationship between you and your world.
Take care when it comes to the sound in your world. Remember this: you are a chord and harmony, not dissonance, is your birthright.
Gregory Hake 
I loved Julian Treasures’ description of every part of the body vibrating to a different frequencies. You can see some of the frequent analogies we use; “tuning each other out” or “feeling in tune with each other”. We know we’re supposed “make beautiful music together” but our own chord has to be in harmony with the “music of the spheres”.
Thanks for indulging me. I love your blog.
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This post was music to my ears!! I can still remember my mother singing all day long as she cooked and cleaned. The clip of Ella scatting is worth an additional 6 minutes. A good way to tune the chord!! Thanks.
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Great talk and speaking of sound – have you ever driven in a hybrid – you begin to hear all kinds of new sounds that had otherwise been drowned out by the engine – amazing experience to drive with little or no sound, kinda like floating in a glider or diving in the sea – in silence there is a peacefulness i think we forget about because we’ve become so used to the white noise in life…wonder what impact cars with this “chord” will have in the world??
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That was really fascinating. Your posts are a wonderful reminder of the simplicity and beauty of life that often gets forgotten as we get older.
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That was an interesting talk. It is easy to forget how important sound is, and how central to life. I thought his description of each person as a chord was fascinating. The question is, if your chord changes depending on how you live your life, what kind of chord would you like to be? I would like to be a harmonic chord, and I’ll remember that as I move through my day.
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That was a wonderful presentation. I’m sure many will be more conscious of their ‘sound health’ – both incoming and outgoing. Have a great day!
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