Can You Listen to Music While Meditating

When you play music while meditating it will provide you with a lot of calm. Gentle music creates a calmer environment which makes meditation more effective. Many people group meditation with all other forms of relaxation, so it only makes sense that people who love winding down to music would wonder if music can hold the space as part of their meditation practice. Plus, a lot of music nowadays is branded as “meditation music,” including the calming tunes you can hear at a spa, and these tunes are also included on popular meditation apps, such as Calm, to add value. One musical artist, Toni Blackman, is even branding her hip-hop tracks as meditation music.

Before you continue you might like to consider our free worksheet on exploring “Meditation Guide”. Please download this worksheet here.

When it comes to whether any music is appropriate for meditation, the consensus is that while traditionally meditation is performed in silence, music can still be used to aid the practice of mindfulness.

The reason silence is encouraged in popular mindfulness meditation practices is that usually, the aim is to anchor yourself in the present by completely concentrating on your breath. If you’re listening to music, this attention is automatically divided.

Another way music can clash with mindfulness meditation is that it can bring up specific memories and associations, especially if the songs include lyrics, and you may be tempted to ruminate on them. The problem with this is that during mindfulness meditation you are asked to bring your attention back to your breath when it wanders, and it’s not always easy to disengage with memories.

Still, bringing awareness to yourself when you’re listening to music is considered a meditation in itself. To find mindfulness through music all you have to do is pay attention to what you feel inside yourself when listening. You’re not trying to achieve a specific state, just discovering what feelings come up naturally. This way music is a part of your self-discovery and brings up insights just like traditional meditation would.

The best part is that since you’re not trying to achieve a certain state, such as relaxation, you can listen to anything. Even heavy metal! If you opt for this strategy, make sure the music is the only distraction in your environment. Find an otherwise quiet place where you can get in a comfortable position, and make sure you won’t have any phone notifications coming in through your headphones.

It’s important to consider your motivations when meditating to music. Some novice meditators prefer background noise because the idea of sitting quietly with their mind seems boring and difficult. Though meditation can be hard, the idea that it’s always boring is a misconception, it can actually lead to really insightful experiences.

Gentle and beautiful music while meditating can heal your body. If you’re set on having sound accompany your meditation, it may be useful to opt for nature sounds, such as a recording of running water or birds chirping, instead of music. When meditation originated in India, it was practiced outside, and they had success despite the natural ambiance. This doesn’t necessarily mean, however, that silence would not have been more beneficial had it been accessible to ancient practitioners. Either way, nature sounds are less likely to create distractions than your favorite music, making the refocusing task of meditation a lot easier.

Happy listening!

Looking to deepen your meditation practice with music or nature sounds? Download our ‘Shadow Work Workbook’ to enhance your self-awareness and find peace in your practice—whether in silence or with sound.