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the film
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HEART BEAT

MUSIC SAVED MY LIFE​

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A Groundbreaking Documentary

where

Music Meets Medicine

I'm Michael Boidy, helicopter crash survivor, director, filmmaker and TEDx speaker.

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On April 15, 2012, I nearly died in a helicopter crash while filming in Guatemala. I suffered from a broken back, injuries that affected my daily life and well-being. Surgery and physical therapy helped, however I was still living with pain and depression. Until a year and half later, I discovered something miraculous: A trifecta of healing from a weeklong adventure in nature, surrounded by community, art & music.

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For the past decade, I've been crafting 'Heart Beat,' a documentary that reveals music's extraordinary power as medicine for the body and mind. What began as an exploration of electronic music, and the healing that occurs at transformational music festivals, has evolved into something far more profound: a global investigation documenting the scientifically-validated ways music & sound therapy is revolutionizing healthcare and transforming lives across cultures and continents. This journey has taken me from festival grounds to research laboratories, revealing how vibration and frequency are being harnessed as powerful healing modalities in ways both ancient and cutting-edge.

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Why This Documentary Matters

Music has the ability to transform lives, and nowhere is this more evident than in the field of music therapy. From reducing pain and stress to improving recovery rates in critically ill patients, Heart Beat Documentary will reveal the profound connection between sound and healing. Our film spotlights stories of doctors, patients, and musicians currently leading the charge in this revolutionary field.

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The facts
Music Equalizer
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THE FACTS

MUSIC THERAPY & CONNECTION

Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.

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Music connects with the autonomic nervous system

(brain function, blood pressure and heartbeat) and the limbic system (feelings and emotions).

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Music therapy can be designed to:

  • Promote Wellness

  • Manage Stress

  • Alleviate Pain

  • Express Feelings

  • Enhance Memory

  • Improve Communication

  • Promote Physical Rehabilitation​

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Music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients' abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives.

Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people's motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings.​​

A Recent Peer Reviewed Study

Provided by Georgetown University

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Thanks to surviving from a coma with music by Bach Andrew Schulman, (to be interviewed for Heart Beat) is now a medical musician who recently worked with a team of scientists and doctors to study the effects of music on patients in the ICU and CCU; The results are incredible! 

Visit the Medical Musicians Initiative​​​​​

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The Science Behind Sound Healing

Sound therapy's influence on brain waves is a pivotal aspect of its therapeutic prowess. By aligning with the body's natural frequencies, it promotes relaxation, diminishes stress, and mitigates anxiety. This synchronization is crucial for fostering a state of calm and well-being. Specific frequencies, such as the Solfeggio tones and binaural beats, offer unique healing properties, each resonating with particular therapeutic effects that cater to diverse healing needs.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) recognizes sound healing as a promising complementary therapy, underscoring its potential for stress reduction and enhancing overall well-being.

Brainwave Entrainment:

  • The process of brain entrainment involves aligning the brain's frequencies with the rhythm of sound waves, which can lead to profound states of relaxation and heightened mental clarity. Techniques like Tibetan singing bowl sound healing have demonstrated the capacity to alter brain waves, inducing a meditative state conducive to healing and well-being.

  • Studies have shown that interventions such as singing bowl meditation can significantly reduce tension, anxiety, and depressed mood, while also decreasing physical pain scores, highlighting the tangible benefits of sound therapy on mental and physical health.

Biochemical Response:

  • Sound healing's ability to induce relaxation and alleviate stress has been linked to the reduction of cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that music-based mindfulness interventions, which include sound healing, were correlated with lowered cortisol levels, blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety.

  • The therapeutic effects of sound are partly attributed to the production of "feel good" chemicals in the brain's reward centers, suggesting a biochemical underpinning to the healing experience.

Clinical Applications:

  • Sound healing clinical applications are diverse and impactful. It has been used to alleviate pain in conditions such as arthritis, menstrual discomfort, and postoperative recovery. Furthermore, frequency healing can enhance mood by promoting neurogenesis in the hippocampus, a vital area for learning and memory.

  • Vagus nerve stimulation through sound therapy has been shown to significantly reduce stress-induced blood pressure changes, indicating its potential for managing cardiovascular health.

By integrating therapeutic frequencies into sound healing sessions, practitioners can target specific health concerns. Modern techniques have evolved to include a variety of instruments, such as tuning forks and chanting bowls, and advanced technologies that direct sound waves to specific body parts or facilitate left and right brain harmony. These methods are thought to aid conditions like stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, depression, and autism.

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In conclusion, sound healing represents a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science, offering a holistic approach to health that resonates with the very fabric of our being. Through the deliberate use of sound frequencies, individuals can embark on a journey of self-healing and discovery, tapping into the innate power of vibration to restore balance and harmony within.

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The mission
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OUR MISSION

What if the most powerful medicine isn't found in a pill, but in the vibrations that surround us every day?

Our mission is to reveal music as humanity's most ancient and powerful medicine—a healing modality encoded in our DNA yet only now being validated through neurological research.

Heart Beat documents the revolutionary intersection where vibration meets healthcare, capturing profound stories of recovery and transformation through sound when conventional treatments reached their limits.

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We aim to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern science, making visible the physiological impact of frequencies on cellular health, brain function, and emotional wellbeing. Through compelling patient journeys, groundbreaking research, and the insights of innovative sound practitioners, we demonstrate that music transcends entertainment to become a vital healing force.

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Heart Beat aims to spark a revolutionary shift in our understanding of wellness by bridging scientific discovery with ancient knowledge—revealing vibration as the universal language through which our bodies communicate, heal, and thrive. By sharing these personal stories, we hope to inspire healthcare evolution and offer evidence-based hope to millions seeking healing beyond conventional boundaries."

Image by petr sidorov
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