I heard a high-pitched “beep beep beep” sound one day while I read the newspaper. I could tell the sound did not emanate from the smoke detector, the timer on our oven or the alarm on our refrigerator door. What was beeping?
I didn’t smell smoke, so I didn’t rise from my chair. As I turned the page of the newspaper, I heard the beeps again. The tone of the beeps sounded like the warning signal of a garbage truck backing toward a dumpster.
I was in my living room, so I was reasonably certain I was not in danger of being run over by a garbage truck. Our housekeeping hasn’t fallen to that level yet, anyway.
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I needed to investigate. Just as I walked into our music room, I saw my 12-year-old daughter holding her clarinet while seated on the floor near her computer tablet.
I learned that she was setting the timer on her tablet, which signalled her when to play. After two seconds of beeps, she began recording her clarinet music assignment on her computer. Then she emailed the digital music file to her teacher.
Times have changed since the days I was a budding flutist and pianist. Back in the days of the dinosaurs when I was her age, we did not have this type of technology.
I could not be more pleased that she, as well as our other two kids, shares our family’s longtime interest in music. Many of my relatives were music teachers. If I weren’t involved in teaching people about nutrition, food safety and health, I might have become a music teacher.
For those of you who ever sang in the choir or lugged a trombone, saxophone, violin or any musical instrument home to practice, be aware that your experience probably had far-reaching effects on your brain and school success.
In the “Music Makes Us” study, researchers studied the effects of participation in music on a variety of academic success factors among children in the Nashville, Tenn., metropolitan area. The researchers found that participating in music improved school performance, as shown by higher grades and scores on the ACT standardized college entrance exam. The music students had better school attendance records, fewer disciplinary issues and higher graduation rates.
The Nashville students involved in music reported better ability to stay focused and remain calm in stressful situations. After music class, the students felt happier and more relaxed.
Maybe you retired your singing voice or never sang at all. Perhaps your musical instrument was sold at a garage sale long ago. Be aware that listening to music can have positive effects on your mental as well as physical health.
Many studies have shown that music can help reduce stress. For example, Swedish researchers found that listening to 30 minutes of music helped reduce the level of cortisol (a stress hormone) among patients who had undergone open-heart surgery.
Other studies have shown that music can help decrease the fear people may have prior to having surgery. Researchers have reported that listening to music can help prevent a rise in blood pressure due to stress prior to surgery. Listening to relaxing music may help with pain management post-surgery, too.
Music also has been used therapeutically for people dealing with the memory issues associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. According to practitioners, music may have positive effects on people experiencing memory decline and confusion.
Do you ever listen to or play music? Maybe you enjoy resting with some soft music playing in the background. Perhaps you turn on your favourite music when you need an energy boost prior to dusting and vacuuming your home. Maybe you put on a headset with your favourite tunes before you go for a walk or run.
Music is good for your body, mind and soul. Dust off that old clarinet and wake up your neighbours with a concert. Or learn how to play a clarinet.
What recipe goes with a column about music? How about a recipe featuring beans, the “musical fruit?” Dry edible beans of all kinds are excellent sources of fibre and nutrients that can help prevent heart disease and cancer.
Actually, dry edible beans do not necessarily live up to their reputation for producing gas. Just as learning music takes practice, your body needs time to adjust to increasing your fibre intake. Boost your fibre intake slowly and drink plenty of water.
For now, turn on some music, relax and enjoy a delicious black bean brownie.
Black Bean Brownies
- 1 (15- to 16-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 eggs
- 3 tbsp. canola oil or other salad oil
- 1/4 c. cocoa powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 3/4 c. white sugar
- 1 tsp. instant coffee (optional)
- 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish. Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips in a blender or mixer. Mix until smooth.
Grease or spray pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour mixture into pan, then sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake in a preheated oven until top is dry and sides start to pull from the baking pan, about 30 minutes.
Pumpkin Waffles with Cinnamon Yogurt Sauce
Pumpkin is a popular flavour for everything from coffee to soup in October. These tasty waffles will make a great start to a fall day. Adding cornstarch and beating the egg whites to stiff peaks helps make these barley flour waffles crisp. Instead of eating them immediately, let them rest briefly after cooking. The heat inside the waffles will finish cooking them, and you will taste the pumpkin and spice flavours at their best if the waffles aren’t piping hot.
Sauce:
- 3/4 c. plain low-fat yogurt
- 1 tbsp. maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Waffles:
- 1-1/4 c. whole barley flour3 tbsp. packed brown sugar3 tbsp.cornstarch1-1/2 tsp. baking powder1/4 tsp. salt2 tsp. ground cinnamon1 tsp. ground ginger1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg2 eggs, separated1 c. canned or fresh pumpkin purée1 c. milk (1%)3 tbsp. canola oil
To make sauce:
In a small bowl, stir together yogurt, maple syrup and cinnamon. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
To make waffles:
Preheat waffle maker. In a medium bowl, combine barley flour, brown sugar, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. In another bowl, whisk egg yolks, pumpkin, milk and oil. Beat egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Stir pumpkin mixture into flour mixture just until blended. Gently fold in egg whites just until combined. Spoon some of the batter onto the hot waffle maker. (The amount of batter used will depend on the size and shape of waffles your waffle maker makes.) Use a heatproof spatula to spread batter over the waffle maker. Close lid and cook according to manufacturer’s instructions. Remove waffles and let rest for a couple of minutes before eating. Or, place them directly on a rack in a preheated 200 F oven until all waffles are cooked. Serve waffles with sauce.
Makes 12 waffles. Recipe courtesy of gobarley.com
