While glancing through the Fortnightly Column on Voices, I was immediately compelled to read Leslie Bunt's article, "Making Space for Silence." As I was reading, I began thinking about the constant sounds I was being bombarded with. The radio was on, the air conditioner was rattling, and the rushing of interstate drivers filled the space. When was it ever silent? As the saying goes, silence is sacred. Silence is often associated with sacred places. As Leslie Bunt beautifully described Assisi, in Italy, silence is regarded with respect. Silence creates this sense of deep community. It is a time to connect to others and lay aside any oppositions, and "face the silence together."
Have you ever told a joke and, after telling the punch line, receive blank stares and...SILENCE? It is awkward, and a position many do not want to wind up in. Why? Because it puts us in a place a vulnerability. As a society we often shy away from being vulnerable. Generally, it is not an accepted place. It allows our flaws to stand out.
During my undergraduate studies, my focus was on flute performance. I became interested in new music. In much of the contemporary flute repertoire lies this sense of free time, often un-metered, where the flutist must be able to suspend the melody in time. In other words, the music must breathe; therefore the silence acts as these breaths, preparing for the next conversation. The art and mastery is in knowing where and how long these breaths occur. One must be sensitive to the music.
In the field of music therapy, silence works in the same manner. Some places within the session need silence, other times it may be needed less. Silence allows the person to absorb and process the music and what is going on in the session. As a music therapy student, I have constantly been challenged with allowing silence to be a part of the session. Early in my studies I was always thinking about what was going to happen next, that I did not allow time for silence. With practice and experience the waiting, the listening, and the silence became more natural and I have found that leaving this space for silence is at times more valuable than the music itself. It is in the listening and the silence that the special moments can occur. The silence can have a huge impact on the session.