Soundwork 2024 Momentum

Soundwork–defined as the therapeutic applications of music and sound–continues to manifest in new and exciting ways. Below is a snapshot of the continuing momentum of this field.

The following lists are but a taste with many more vibrations, methodologies, thoughts, attempts, and challenges. As you will see below, this is an exciting time to be working with sound and music. Neuroscience and AI certainly add new dimensions and possibilities. 

After a period of dormancy (approx. 2000-2015), current soundwork has had an infusion of media attention, celebrity, publishing, and peer-reviewed research that makes it a different ballgame than 20th century soundwork. 

Below are lists containing some of the new energetics informing soundwork in 2025. This is a US-based assessment, and for lack of space, this blog certainly leaves many worthy developments out. What is to be gleaned from the below lists, is that building on the shoulders of previous soundwork innovations and practices are new influences that will make vibration/sound/music practices even more effective and widespread.

Investment in Music Medicine and Sound Health

It appears that the support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has now surpassed $40m since 2017. However, with new presidential appointments, there is a good likelihood that funding for the NIH will be cut in 2025. How this affects research grants for Music Medicine and Sound Health is yet to be seen.

Music/Sound Books Published in 2024

• Heard There was a Secret Chord; Music as Medicine – Daniel Levitin

• Music and Medicine; Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness – Renée Fleming

• Sacred Vibrations; The Transformative Power of Crystalline Sound and Music – Jerilyn Glass(https://www.jeralynglass.com)

• Cymatics; A Study of Wave Phenomenon and Vibration (Newly Revised) – Hans Jenny. (Published by Jeff Volk, https://www.cymaticsource.com)

Evolving Education

Many ‘legacy’ sound teachers from the 1980’s and 90’s are coming back into mainstream access. Look at the exciting titles of these courses! 

• Frederick Johnson: Integrator, Sacred Sound Healer Training Program (Shift Network, Nov 2024)

• Joshua Leeds: Soundwork for Nervous System Regulation (Shift Network, April 2025)

• John Stuart Reid: Frequency Medicine, Sonic Science and Cymatics (Shift Network, October 2024)

• Jeffrey Thompson: Behavioral Psychoacoustics  (Shift Network, November 2024)

• Chloe Goodchild: Embody Self-Leadership with Sound Wisdom (www.chloegoodchild.com/events, March 2025)

Evolving Sound Therapies

• Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) (Based on Polyvagel Theory) https://integratedlistening.com/products/ssp-safe-sound-protocol

• Alpha Closed-Loop Auditory Stimulation https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11185466/#:~:text=We%20introduce%20Alpha%20Closed%2DLoop,selectivity%2C%20using%20targeted%20auditory%20stimulation

• Cognito Therapeutics https://www.cognitotx.com

• Neuromodulation therapies using Music and/or Sound: 

“In recent developments combining neuromodulation with sound/music therapy, several interesting approaches have emerged:

• Gamma Wave Entrainment: Research has explored using precisely tuned sound frequencies (around 40 Hz) to induce gamma brain wave patterns. This has shown particular promise in Alzheimer's research, where studies have investigated whether such acoustic stimulation can help reduce amyloid plaques and improve cognitive function.

• Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS): Advanced forms of RAS are being developed that adapt in real-time to a patient's movement and neural patterns. This has shown promise particularly in gait rehabilitation for Parkinson's disease and stroke recovery.

• Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation: Though not strictly "music," this involves using precisely targeted sound waves at ultrasonic frequencies to modulate specific brain regions. It's being investigated for:

  • Treatment-resistant depression

  • Essential tremor

  • Chronic pain

  • OCD symptoms

• Music-Based Cognitive Enhancement: Researchers are developing personalized music interventions that combine specific musical elements with cognitive tasks, aiming to enhance neuroplasticity and cognitive function.” 

Resources of Note

• International Association for Music and Medicine (IAMM): https://iammonline.com

• National Institutes of Health https://search.nih.gov/search?utf8=✓&affiliate=nih&query=sound+health&commit=Search

• Sound Health Network https://soundhealth.ucsf.edu/clearinghouse

• Your Brain on Art https://www.yourbrainonart.com

Increasing Need

In October ’24, The Culture Becomes the Patient was published.  In this essay, I acknowledge the global increase of mental health challenges and propose music and sound as community-based mediations based on social cohesion.

“Cohesion arises when bonds link members of a social group to one another and to the group as a whole.”  

Music is a bonding experience. Social cohesion inspires hope, the antidote to confusion, doubt, or uncertainty.

Summary–Riding the Momentum of 2024 Soundwork 

One can say that in the beginning of 2025, soundwork is in the media, financed, science-influenced, adopted by academics, offering increasingly sophisticated instruction, and is much needed by society. The change and the need… Now’s the opportunity to increase practitioner competence, and have varied forms soundwork show up in the world as a recognized health and wellness force. 

Author’s recommendation: Add 21st century sound discoveries (including AI and Neuroscience) to previous and new practices. You can have more than one!