He Found Mindfulness Through Music—Here's How It Changed Everything

Emily Johnson · 2026-10-16

When Thaddaeus Washington first sat down to write music, he wasn't thinking about mindfulness. He was just a musician from Toledo, Ohio, trying to make sense of his thoughts. But somewhere between the notes, something shifted. Now, as the founder of MIND Music, Thadd sees music as medicine—and he's sharing his original compositions as meditative practices. His journey is a reminder that mindfulness doesn't always look like a cushion and a quiet room. Sometimes, it sounds like a melody. ### From Melody to Meditation Thadd's path to mindfulness wasn't a straight line. Like many of us, he struggled with a restless mind. "I used to think meditation meant silencing my thoughts," he says. "But music taught me that mindfulness is about listening—not just to the notes, but to the spaces between them." That realization led him to create MIND Music, a project that blends ambient compositions with guided meditations. Each piece is designed to help listeners anchor themselves in the present moment, using sound as a gateway to awareness. ### Why Music Works as Medicine Science backs up what Thadd has experienced firsthand. Research shows that music can lower cortisol levels, reduce anxiety, and even improve focus. But for Thadd, the real magic is in the personal connection. "When you listen to a piece of music with intention, you're not just hearing it—you're feeling it," he explains. "That's where the healing happens." His compositions often incorporate natural sounds, like rain or birdsong, to create a sense of spaciousness. The goal isn't to escape reality but to engage with it more fully. ### A Practice You Can Try You don't need to be a musician to use sound as a mindfulness tool. Thadd suggests starting with just five minutes a day. Here's a simple practice he recommends: - Find a comfortable spot and close your eyes. - Take three deep breaths, letting each exhale be longer than the inhale. - Turn on a piece of instrumental music—something without lyrics. - Focus on one instrument at a time. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the sound. - After the song ends, sit in silence for a minute and notice how you feel. "The point isn't to empty your mind," Thadd says. "It's to notice what's there without judgment. Music just makes that easier." ### The Ripple Effect of Mindful Listening Thadd's work has resonated far beyond Toledo. His meditative tracks have been streamed thousands of times, and he's led workshops for everyone from busy professionals to school children. "People are hungry for ways to slow down," he observes. "And music meets them where they are." He's quick to add that mindfulness isn't about adding another task to your to-do list. "It's about changing how you do what you're already doing," he says. "Even washing dishes can be a meditation if you're fully present." > "Music is the space between the notes." — Claude Debussy That quote hangs on Thadd's studio wall. It's a reminder that mindfulness isn't about filling every silence—it's about noticing the silence itself. And sometimes, the most profound meditation is simply listening. So the next time you feel scattered, try putting on a piece of music and really listening. Not as background noise, but as a practice. You might be surprised at what you hear.