Music in Shelters? Absolutely...

Music can have an incredibly calming and comforting effect, especially in stressful and frightening situations. When choosing music for shelters, I would recommend selecting pieces that have a gentle, soothing melody and create a positive, peaceful atmosphere. Because when people are housed in shelters and feeling scared and worried, the right music can play a very crucial role in calming the atmosphere and creating a sense of security. The selection of music pieces should aim to calm the mind, reduce stress, and promote a sense of connection and comfort.

1. Classical music like Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" or Chopin's "Nocturnes" are known for their calming and relaxing effects. The gentle melodies and harmonic structures can help soothe the mind and create a peaceful atmosphere. They help lower stress levels and promote a calm mood. The familiar and melodic sounds can help reduce heart rate and blood pressure, which can be particularly helpful during anxiety.

2. Soft instrumental music, such as the "Café del Mar" series or piano pieces by Ludovico Einaudi, creates a relaxing and peaceful environment without distracting lyrics. Instrumental music can have a soothing effect and enhance concentration. It helps create a positive and relaxed mood, which is particularly important in shelters.

3. Music that includes natural sounds like rain, birdsong, or waves is very calming and promotes a sense of connection with nature. Natural sounds can help significantly reduce feelings of anxiety and tension. Listening to nature sounds can have a grounding effect and strengthen the feeling of safety and security.

4. Meditative music can calm the mind and promote deep relaxation. It helps bring the body into a state of calm, which is especially useful and important during acute anxiety. Pieces like "Weightless" by Marconi Union have been scientifically proven to be extremely relaxing. These music pieces have slow rhythms and soothing melodies.

5. Spiritual music can help find inner peace and tranquility. It creates a sacred and calming atmosphere, which can be very helpful during anxiety. Gregorian chants or Indian ragas have a deep spiritual quality that can be soothing and uplifting.

6. Traditional folk music can foster a sense of community and belonging. It reminds people of their roots and can provide comfort. Soothing folk songs from the respective region can create a sense of familiarity and cultural connectedness. Traditional folk music brings people in touch with sounds and songs they know from their homeland. These familiar melodies can convey a strong sense of security and safety.
Folk songs are often deeply rooted in the culture and history of a people. Listening to this music can help strengthen a sense of identity and pride. Folk songs often have simple yet impressive melodies and lyrics that are easy to understand and sing. This can help create a relaxing and calming atmosphere. Many people associate folk songs with positive memories of festivals, family gatherings, and community celebrations. Listening to or singing folk songs together in a group can promote a strong sense of community and cohesion. It helps people feel less alone and supports mutual emotional support. The comforting sounds and familiar lyrics of folk songs can provide a sense of comfort and safety. They remind people of their roots and create a connection to a stable and secure past. That is, traditional folk music, through its familiarity, cultural depth, and emotional resonance, offers a powerful way to find comfort and solace in stressful situations. It promotes community, reduces stress, and creates a positive and safe environment.

International Playlists: Diversity and Inclusion Through Music

I'd like to share some examples of music pieces known for their calming effects and ability to create a peaceful and serene atmosphere. Especially in a multicultural environment where people have different cultural backgrounds and preferences, it's crucial to choose a diverse and inclusive selection of music that can soothe and comfort people from various cultures. This intentionally includes a wide range of calming and comforting sounds from different cultures. They can help create a peaceful and calming atmosphere in stressful situations and strengthen the sense of community.

You might choose folk songs from Europe, traditional Arabic oud music, Asian zither music, spiritual chants from various cultures, soothing modern instrumental pieces, or universally calming music that is generally perceived as relaxing regardless of cultural background—for example, classical music, instrumental music, nature sounds, and meditative music such as Mozart, Ludovico Einaudi, Enya, nature sounds like ocean waves or rain, and meditative music pieces like "Weightless" by Marconi Union. Please ensure that the selected music is not culturally or religiously offensive, and avoid pieces that might have strong religious or political connotations. Choose neutral, calming pieces that do not contain specific cultural symbols or messages.

If possible, let people choose the music they want to listen to themselves. This could be enabled through personal headphones or small groups with similar music preferences. By offering a diverse and inclusive selection of music, you can ensure that people from different cultures feel understood and comforted.

Music is a universal language that can connect people, even in challenging situations

• Ludwig van Beethoven: "Für Elise"
• Johann Sebastian Bach: "Air auf der G-Saite"
• Max Reger: "Variationen und Fuge über ein Thema von Mozart"
• Arthur Honegger: "Pacific 231"
• Alfred Schnittke: "Concerto Grosso No. 1"
• Heinrich Sutermeister: "Le roi David"
• Aaron Copland: "Appalachian Spring"
• George Gershwin: "Rhapsody in Blue"
• Leonard Bernstein: "West Side Story Suite"
• Ludovico Einaudi: "Nuvole Bianche"
• Giuseppe Verdi: "La donna è mobile" aus Rigoletto
• Andrea Bocelli: "Con te partirò"
• Paco de Lucía: "Entre Dos Aguas" (Flamenco-Gitarre)• Isaac Albéniz: "Asturias" (Klassische Gitarre)
• Enrique Granados: "Danzas Españolas"
• Claude Debussy: "Clair de Lune"
• Erik Satie: "Gymnopédie No. 1"
• Gabriel Fauré: "Pavane"
• Edward Elgar: "Nimrod" aus den Enigma-Variationen
• Ralph Vaughan Williams: "The Lark Ascending"
• Wilhelm Stenhammar: "Serenade"
• Hugo Alfvén: "Midsommarvaka" (Schwedische Rhapsodie)
• Traditionelle Schwedische Volksmusik: "Visa från Utanmyra"
• Thomas Tallis: "Spem in Alium" (Chormusik)
• Ali Farka Touré: "Samba Geladio" (Mali, Blues-Gitarre)
• Miriam Makeba: "Pata Pata" (Südafrika, traditionelle Musik)
• Youssou N'Dour: "Birima" (Senegal, moderne afrikanische Musik)
• André Rieu: "The Second Waltz" (moderne Interpretation klassischer Musik)
• Klapa: Traditionelle a cappella-Gesänge
• Edvard Grieg: "Morgenstimmung" aus der Peer-Gynt-Suite
• Ole Bull: "Sæterjentens Søndag" (Norwegische Volksweise)
• Béla Bartók: "Rumänische Volkstänze"
• Franz Liszt: "Liebestraum"
• Zoltán Kodály: "Háry János Suite"
• Oud-Musik: "Nayim Al-Maghribi" – "Al-Maghribi"
• Taqasim: "Taqasim" von Anouar Brahem
• Najwa Karam: "Law Fi Hayati"
• Fairuz: "Aatini Nayati"
• Mohannad Nasser: "Ya Mawal"
• Assala Nasri: "Law Fi Hayati"
• Mykola Lysenko: "Dumka"
• Viktor Kosenko: "Piano Sonata No. 2"
• Taras Bulba: "Taras Bulba" von Leoš Janáček
• Traditional Guzheng Music: "Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake"
• Traditional Erhu Music: "The Moon Mirrored in the Second Spring Pond"
• Traditional Pipa Music: "Ambush from All Sides"
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: "Swan Lake"
• Sergei Rachmaninoff: "Piano Concerto No. 2"
• Modest Mussorgsky: "Pictures at an Exhibition"
• Fairuz: "Aatini Nayati" beruhigende und melodische Lieder oft Trost spenden.
• Mohannad Nasser: "Ya Mawal" traditionelle Elemente, beruhigende Atmosphäre
• Nass El Ghiwane: "Allah Ya Moulana" traditionelle Musik beruhigend und inspirierend
• Samira Said: "Youm Wara Youm" marokkanische Klänge mit beruhigender Melodie
• Marokkanische Gnawa-Musik: spirituelle und heilende Eigenschaften z. B. FEHD BENCHEMSI - BABA MIMOUN
• Mohammad Reza Shajarian: "Rabbana" – Ein beruhigendes und spirituelles Lied.
• Alireza Ghorbani: "Arezou" – Traditionelle persische Musik, die tröstlich wirken kann.
• Kayhan Kalhor and Brooklyn Rider: Silent City – Klassische iranische Instrumentalmusik.
• Ahmad Zahir: "Laily Laily" – Ein bekanntes und beruhigendes Lied.
• Ustad Mohammad Hussain Sarahang: "Raga Yaman" – Traditionelle afghanische Musik.
• Farhad Darya: "Salaam Afghanistan" – Ein modernes Stück mit traditionellen Elementen.
• Helen Meles: "Ab N'Hafash" – Ein bekanntes und emotionales Lied aus Eritrea.
• Tesfaye Mehari (Fihira): "Nehna N'Gusha" – Traditionelle eritreische Musik.
• Abraham Afewerki: "Abey Hki Tigrigna" – Beruhigende Musik aus Eritrea.
• Hibo Nuura: "Kadeed Badanaa Naftaydaniyo" – Ein beliebtes traditionelles Lied.
• K'naan: "Wavin' Flag" – Ein modernes Lied, das auch traditionelle Einflüsse hat.
• Ahmed Naji Sa'ad: "Alla Amin" – Traditionelle somalische Musik.
• Kae Bahar: "Dilo Dilo" – Traditionelle kurdische Musik, die beruhigend wirken kann.
• Şivan Perwer: "Ey Reqîb" – Ein emotionales und bekanntes kurdisches Lied.
• Aram Tigran: "A Kurdî" – Ein beruhigendes kurdisches Lied.
• Freddie Aguilar: "Anak" – Ein emotionales und bekanntes Lied auf den Philippinen.
• Asin: "Himig ng Pag-ibig" – Ein beruhigendes und beliebtes Lied.
• Trịnh Công Sơn: "Diễm Xưa" – Ein bekanntes und beruhigendes Lied aus Vietnam.
• Khánh Ly: "Biển Nhớ" – Traditionelle vietnamesische Musik.
• Hà Trần: "Tình Ca" – Ein modernes, aber beruhigendes Lied.
• Ravi Shankar: "Raga Jog" – Klassische indische Sitar-Musik.
• Lata Mangeshkar: "Lag Jaa Gale" – Ein beruhigendes und emotionales Lied.
• A.R. Rahman: "Theme from Bombay" – Ein moderner Klassiker mit traditionellen Einflüssen.
• Oum Kalthoum: "Enta Omri" – Ein emotionales und tief berührendes Lied.
• Abdel Halim Hafez: "Ahwak" – Ein beruhigendes und bekanntes Lied.
• Amr Diab: "Tamally Maak" – Ein modernes, aber tröstendes Lied.
• Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: "Allah Hoo" – Ein spirituelles und beruhigendes Qawwali-Lied.
• Abida Parveen: "Tere Ishq Nachaya" – Ein emotionales und tröstendes Lied.
• Atif Aslam: "Tera Hone Laga Hoon" – Ein modernes, aber beruhigendes Lied.
• Ryuichi Sakamoto: "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence"
• Joe Hisaishi: "One Summer's Day" aus dem Soundtrack von "Spirited Away".
• Kitaro: "Silk Road" – Ein meditatives und entspannendes Stück.
• Yiruma: "River Flows in You" – Ein bekanntes und beruhigendes Klavierstück.
• Kim Yuna: "Spring Day" – Ein sanftes und tröstendes Lied.
• Haebaragi: "Gosugoe" – Traditionelle koreanische Volksmusik.
• Gamelan-Musik: "Puspawarna" – Traditionelle indonesische Gamelan-Musik, beruhigend
• Angklung-Musik: "Bubuy Bulan" – Beruhigende Musik mit Bambusinstrumenten.
• Balinese Kecak: Traditionelle Balinesische Musik.
• Fryderyk Chopin: "Nocturne in E-flat Major" sanftes und beruhigendes Klavierstück.
• Henryk Górecki: "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs" emotional und tief berührend
• Anna Maria Jopek: "Ale jestem" – Ein modernes und tröstendes Lied.
• George Enescu: "Romanian Rhapsody No. 1" bekanntes und beruhigendes Stück.
• Maria Tănase: "Ciuleandra" – Traditionelle rumänische Volksmusik.
• Gheorghe Zamfir: "The Lonely Shepherd" beruhigendes Stück für Panflöte.
• Totó la Momposina: "El Pescador" – Traditionelle kolumbianische Musik.
• Shakira: "Hay Amores" – Ein modernes, aber beruhigendes Lied.
• Carlos Vives: "La Tierra del Olvido" – Ein bekanntes und tröstendes Lied.
• Antonio Carlos Jobim: "The Girl from Ipanema" – Ein entspannendes Bossa-Nova-Stück.
• Caetano Veloso: "Cucurrucucú Paloma" – Ein berührendes und beruhigendes Lied.
• Gilberto Gil: "A Paz" – Ein friedvolles und beruhigendes Lied.
• Oum Kalthoum: "Enta Omri" – Ein emotionales und tief berührendes Lied.
• Abdel Halim Hafez: "Ahwak" – Ein beruhigendes und bekanntes Lied.
• Amr Diab: "Tamally Maak" – Ein modernes, aber tröstendes Lied.
• Vicente Fernández: "El Rey" – Ein bekanntes und beruhigendes Mariachi-Lied.
• Luis Miguel: "La Bikina" – Ein sanftes und tröstendes Lied.
• Bedřich Smetana: "Moldau" – Ein bekanntes und beruhigendes klassisches Stück.
• Antonín Dvořák: "Humoresque" – Ein sanftes und tröstendes Stück.
• Karel Gott: "Kdepak ty ptáčku hnízdo máš?" – Ein emotionales und beruhigendes Lied.
• Eugen Suchoň: "Rhapsodic Variations" – Ein bekanntes slowakisches klassisches Stück.
• Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra: Traditionelle Volksmusik.
• Maroš Kramár: "Nad Tatrou sa blýska" – Ein beruhigendes und emotionales Lied.
• Edvard Grieg: "Morgenstimmung" aus der Peer-Gynt-Suite
• Kari Bremnes: "E du nord" sanftes und tröstendes Lied.
• Ole Bull: "Sæterjentens Søndag" traditionelles und beruhigendes Stück.
• Čiurlionis Quartet: "De Profundis" bekanntes litauisches klassisches Stück.
• Skamp: "Leisk Man" modernes, aber beruhigendes Lied.

Or encourage those present to make music themselves.

Best wishes, your Comfort Keeper🧘And don't forget to also drop by the "Anxieties_Tactile Support" section.