How a Musician Turned His Compositions Into a Mindfulness Practice

Evelyn Reed · 2026-10-16

What if the path to mindfulness wasn't through silence, but through sound? That's the question Thaddaeus Washington seems to answer with his life. He's a musician from Toledo, Ohio, and the founder of MIND Music. For him, music isn't just entertainment—it's medicine. Washington is Mindful's Teacher of the Month for October, and his approach is a fresh take on an ancient practice. Instead of guided meditations or breathing exercises, he offers original compositions as meditative tools. It's a reminder that mindfulness can meet us right where we are, often through the senses we already love. ### Music as Medicine: A Different Path to Presence Washington's story begins like many artists'—with a deep connection to sound. But over time, he began to see music differently. Not just as a way to express emotion, but as a way to cultivate awareness. "Music has a way of quieting the noise in your head," he says. "It pulls you into the present moment without you even trying." That insight led him to create MIND Music, a project that blends his musical talent with his passion for well-being. His compositions are designed to be more than background noise. They're invitations to slow down, breathe, and notice. ### The Science Behind the Sound It's not just anecdotal. Research has shown that music can lower cortisol levels, reduce anxiety, and even improve focus. Certain rhythms and frequencies can guide brainwaves into states associated with relaxation and mindfulness. But Washington doesn't get bogged down in the science. For him, it's simple: "When you listen deeply, you can't help but be present." That philosophy aligns with a broader trend in mindfulness—one that moves away from strict, formulaic practices and toward personalized, everyday rituals. Whether it's a walk in the park, a cup of tea, or a piece of music, the goal is the same: to wake up to the moment. ### How to Bring Music Into Your Mindfulness Practice You don't need to be a musician to benefit from this approach. Here are a few simple ways to use music as a mindfulness tool: - **Listen with intention.** Choose a piece of music—instrumental works well—and give it your full attention. Close your eyes if you like. Notice the layers, the pauses, the emotions that arise. - **Pair it with breath.** Inhale as a phrase builds, exhale as it resolves. Let the music guide your breath, not the other way around. - **Create a ritual.** Play the same song every morning or evening as a way to bookend your day with presence. - **Move mindfully.** Put on a track and let your body move however it wants—no choreography, just sensation. > "Music is the space between the notes as much as the notes themselves. That space is where mindfulness lives." — Thaddaeus Washington ### A New Voice in Mindfulness Washington's work is a welcome addition to the mindfulness conversation. It's a reminder that the practice isn't confined to meditation cushions or yoga mats. It's available in the everyday—in the hum of a guitar string, the swell of a chorus, the silence after a final chord. As the leaves turn and we settle into fall, maybe it's time to press play on a new way of being present. After all, mindfulness isn't about emptying your mind. It's about filling it with what's here, right now—including the music. So next time you're feeling scattered, try putting on a song. Not as a distraction, but as a doorway. You might just find yourself exactly where you need to be.