I love music.  I truly believe the quality of my life would be diminished if I didn't have music as the background soundtrack to it every day.  Music sets the pace for my exercise.  It calms me when I'm anxious or stressed.  It adds depth of emotion to special times and romantic moments.  It gets the party going when friends arrive.  It readies my audience for my message.

Music can put you in a zone or mood you aren't currently experiencing.  And it's a resource we can use to our advantage.  Research shows us that music enhances our creativity and intellect.  A recent article by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, a conductor and leading educator in the music industry as well as a recipient of the Mr. Holland's Opus Award, said, "We are on the cutting edge of breakthrough mind-research concerning "how the brain works."  With the improvement of technology, we can now watch the mind creating an endless (and infinite) network of dendrites (maps-of-learning) as the neurons continuously fire, establishing an ever-growing structure supporting the learning process.  It is believed music activates various areas of the brain and synchronizes the mind for learning at a fast pace while stretching the memory to a higher level of retention.  Music enhances cognitive learning and facilitates growth in many areas of human development, i.e., motivation, social skills, time management, situational awareness, aesthetic appreciation, etc. As we learn more about the integration of emotional intelligence and cognitive learning patterns, it is ever apparent the study of music has a direct relationship to the measured success of the individual/student via reasoning, creative thinking, decision-making, and problem solving."

Music is good for the soul.  It can soothe, invigorate, create passion, inspire.  Every year over the holidays, I put together a new playlist of music I entitle, Katherine's 2010 Power Playlist.  They are songs that inspire and empower me, songs that elevate my mood and re-center me on what's important in my life.  If you'd like to create your own Power Playlist, you may want to start with music from Jana Stanfield (www.JanaStanfield.com).  Add to your list whatever resonates for you to get you moving, singing, and dancing your way to being a little smarter and a little happier.