Sounds That Make Me Smile – Music To Support Our Wellbeing, Improve Focus and Promote Calm

It’s not just songs and sonatas that affect our emotions. There’s an entire world — an entire industry — of easily accessible sound designed to support our wellbeing, improve focus, and promote calm.

As a music educator, are you aware of what’s out there? Do you know how people are using sound and music to help us feel better?

In this episode of The Music Education Podcast, I chat with musician Nick Able. We explore how sound can enhance wellbeing and dive into fascinating topics such as drones, binaural beats, and autonomous sensory meridian response – or ASMR for short.

Nick is an expert in the world of sonic drones. Having accompanied Ravi Shankar and Anoushka Shankar for many years on the tanpura, he has taken his deep understanding of Indian classical music and channelled it into work focused on wellbeing.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation here.

Here are a few key takeaways from our conversation, along with some reflections.

What is a drone?

A drone, in musical terms, is a sustained or repeated tone — often just one or two notes — that changes only subtly in resonance or timbre. The tanpura drone, used in Indian classical music, is a perfect example and can be heard in this episode.

Drones appear in traditional music across the world and have also found a home in modern electronic and wellbeing music. Many people find that listening to a drone creates a sense of grounding and focus. As Nick put it, “It’s a bit like home.”

To experience this for yourself, you’ll find a range of calming drones within Charanga’s Musical School program. Freestyle → Wellbeing → Mindful Tune-Ups → Listen and Breathe.

What are binaural beats?

Binaural beats (or binaural beating) are sounds created for wellbeing and relaxation. You’ll hear an example in the podcast. The concept is simple: two tones, close in pitch, are played — one in each ear. The interaction between these tones produces a pulsing or “beating” effect, similar to what happens when two notes gradually come into tune.

Like drones, binaural beats promote calm, but they go a step further by directly influencing brainwave activity. They are less a musical tool that has found its way into wellbeing and more a wellbeing tool. While the exact science is still developing, there’s little doubt that these sounds have an effect — even if we don’t yet fully understand why.

What is frequency music, and what’s so interesting about 432Hz?

440Hz is a standardised pitch for what we generally call ‘concert pitch A’. However, there is a growing amount of music being created for wellbeing that instead focuses on simplistic tones that are tuned to a variety of different pitches, which are not 440Hz. 432Hz is one of those.

The idea is that many of these non-440Hz frequencies have physical benefits, often around calming the mind or nervous system. Many musicians choose to tune to a frequency other than 440Hz for this very reason. The explanations behind this are fascinating and fiercely debated.

What is ASMR?

ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response — the tingling sensation you may feel around your head or neck when exposed to certain sounds. ASMR has become a genre in its own right, featuring recordings designed to make listeners feel calm, sleepy, or comforted. Think of the gentle crackle of a fire, the rhythmic sound of rain, or the soft whistle of a kettle — sounds that can make us feel safe, warm, and at ease.

Does listening to drones have a positive effect on musicianship?

Nick certainly believes so. He describes how listening to drones has improved his wellbeing and deepened his connection with sound and music. I completely agree. Listening to drones — or any simple, natural sound – can strengthen musicianship in profound ways. It trains us to slow down, to focus, and to connect with sound.

In the simplicity of a drone or field recording, there are no complex melodies to analyse, no harmonies to critique — just pure sound. This mindful listening cultivates patience, presence, and sensitivity, all of which are essential skills for any musician.