Chris Boardman Media Group

06/05/2025

What musicians know about healing that doctors don't:

Timing matters more than content.

In film scoring, I learned that the same note played at different moments creates completely different emotional responses.

✅️ Play it during a love scene: romantic.

✅️ Play it during a chase scene: tension.

✅️ Play it after the villain appears: dread.

Same note.
Different context.
Different nervous system response.

Healthcare treats timing like it doesn't matter.

➡️ "Take this medication twice daily."

➡️ "Do breathing exercises when you remember."

➡️ "Practice mindfulness regularly."

But your nervous system isn't a clock. It's a rhythm.

Musicians know: you don't just play the right notes. You play them at the right moment.

When your heart rate spikes at 2 AM, you need different music than when you're stressed before a meeting.

The breakthrough isn't in the technique. It's in the timing.

06/02/2025

The Moment Everything Changed
I was lying in a hospital bed in Terre Haute, Indiana at 4 AM, getting a blood transfusion to replace the blood I had lost after my ulcer hemorrhaged.
I was 23, touring with Tom Jones, and I had just learned a hard lesson: your body will force you to deal with stress whether you want to or not.
That night, as I watched the blood drip into my arm, I realized I'd been ignoring something crucial. The music industry had taught me to push through everything, but my body was telling a different story.
Years later, when I experienced PTSD, I remembered that lesson. Sometimes the things that seem unrelated—like music and mental health—are more connected than we realize.
That's what led me to research how sound affects our nervous system.
Turns out, there's real science behind why certain rhythms calm us and others energize us.
If you're curious about the intersection of music and mental wellness, I wrote about it in our white paper: "Holistic Anxiety and Depression Relief through Music, Breath, and Movement"
👇
https://www.soundbridgehealth.com/questions-1-1-1
"Pre order "Walking with Giants - my life in music: https://www.chrisboardmancourses.com/book-pre-order

09/06/2024

Yesterday I began submitting my new marimba concerto, “Episodes for Marimba and Orchestra” for publication.

Surprisingly I got this response today:

“Hi Chris,

Thank you so much for submitting your Episodes for Marimba and Orchestra for our consideration. It’s truly a stunning work—both cinematic and virtuosic. The marimba part blends well with the orchestra which is always very tricky to orchestrate, a combination of technical brilliance and emotional depth that I haven’t encountered in any other marimba concerto repertoire to date. The way you blend these elements is masterful—bravo!

This bodes well for the future.

“Episodes will premiere Nov 10th in Raleigh, NC featuring Dr. Ksenija Komljenović

Stay tuned. More announcements coming.

08/21/2024

Sometimes inspiration and support comes when you least expect it.

I’ll be honest: my faith in what I’ve dedicated myself to has been wavering. I try to keep my head down and just plow ahead. But I was awash in questions and indecision that tested my commitment.

Monday I had to go downtown to renew my driver’s license. To be honest, I wasn’t too thrilled about it. But, I got up early to be first in line, thinking I’d be in and out in a few minutes. After struggling to find a place to park and taking a few wrong turns I finally arrived.

The office had only been open a few minutes but there was already a line forming. After about 20 minutes without moving it became apparent that there was a problem. I looked behind me and the line had swelled to maybe 40 people. By the look on their faces I could tell they were all wondering the same thing as me: “what the heck was going on?” It turns out new kiosks had been installed the previous Friday and they weren’t working. We were dead in the water with no clue what to do next.

Finally, a kind woman in the office came to the front of the line and started giving out numbers and motioned us to come into the reception area to wait for our turn.

As I sat down I couldn’t help but notice two gentlemen who obviously weren’t employed by the office. For what seemed like an eternity they sat motionless, staring intently at laptops without saying a word. Then someone from management started talking to them. They said they had no idea what was wrong. I turned to the young man sitting next to me and said we were in for a long stay.

He was a boy. Just 17 years old.

We started talking about our situation and he asked me: “do you write code?” “No. But I’ve been involved with computer generated music for more than 40 years”. Then he asked me: “what are you working on now?” “Well, tbh, I’ve created an intervention that uses music, breath and movement to alleviate anxiety and depression”. He was a bit startled. As I continued to explain how it worked he went to www.moremusicfeelbetter.com and was very interested. He asked if he could email me…to stay in touch. I said: of course. He said he was starting college soon and was nervous about it. The more we talked the more I could tell I had made a difference. My mood was changing. I became more animated as he became more engaged in what I was saying.

My parking meter was going to expire and seeing that there would not be a resolution any time soon I got up to leave and introduced myself. He shook my hand and said his name was Samuel.

When I got to the street I realized something exceeding normal but nonetheless extraordinary had happened. By taking the initiative to speak to a complete stranger and offering to help I made a connection and, more importantly, my faith in The Missing Link had been renewed. By simply having a conversation and trying to be helpful my entire being had been transformed.

I spoke with respect to someone young enough to be my grandson. He was bright. He was unsure of himself. He welcomed the conversation and I hope I gave him some good advice that will help him on his way.

Thank you Samuel. You’ve helped me more than you could possibly imagine.

Little did I expect that going to the DMV would yield such a moving experience. One I will not soon forget.

Inspiration and support comes when we least expect it. The challenge is to recognize it when it appears.

08/17/2024

Are you flying without a net?

I don’t know about you but for years and years, probably my entire life, I’ve created a bubble of identity and beliefs to make myself comfortable.

There is nothing new about this. Humans have used stories for millennia to help them understand what was incomprehensible. Tbh, I find comfort in that.

Today though, I sensed cracks in that facade.

Not a break or breakthrough… just an awareness of the costs associated with my commitment to my adopted purpose: using my unique skills and experience to teach everyone and anyone how to use music, breath and movement to combat the hopelessness that accompanies trauma induced PTSD, anxiety and depression. In my burst of clarity the costs and challenges became evident and real. It’s something I rarely dwell on… I’m usually too busy trying to get something done. Tasks have been my salvation. My escape. My ticket to mental wellness.

This morning was different.

Today a different question was posed: “is turning my pain into purpose (to help others like myself) the best way to spend my time?”

Usually these types of questions enter into my consciousness and leave at the speed of thought. I just put my head down and keep going.

This morning was different.

I thought of the countless hours spent alone in my studio either writing music, building a business, teaching myself how to build financial forecasts, becoming a subject matter expert on how the brain processes sound, music, or how human survival is dependent upon connection.

What have I missed?

Time with family? Relationships?

There are no guarantees in life so we are constantly faced with choices. What do we eat for breakfast? What will I wear today? Who will I see? What responsibilities must I honor?

There are no right or wrong answers.

When we are forced to make a choice, no matter how simple or complex, we look to the bubble we have created: “does this choice match my beliefs? Or not?

What do we do when the choice we want to make is no longer an option?

This is when dread and uncertainty take center stage.

Some lash out in anger and frustration.

Others recoil and want to disappear - to postpone acceptance of the truth they wish to avoid.

In these moments my response can be all of the above.

However, I snap back to what I know about myself.

I’m a creative problem solver. So I look at the situation as a problem to solve knowing that there has to be a solution. My challenge becomes finding the answer

When I am in a creative problem solving mode I look at all of the pieces of the puzzle and imagine new ways of putting them together… to find a solution from what has been presented to me. I don’t dwell on what I don’t have. I focus my attention on what I do have, what I need and how I will find a solution to my problem.

I think of my dear mother who constantly reminded me: “There is no failure. Only the opportunity to learn.”

Flying without a net… isn’t that what we do everyday?

Don’t we make choices based on the probability our desired outcome will be achieved?

And if we don’t succeed (meaning our efforts don’t match our expectation) what do we do? What do you do?

If you’re anything like me, I, again, revert to what I know.

In my case I’ve spent my life finding creative solutions to problems big and small. There is comfort in knowing this has worked for me in the past. So I forge ahead.

What is the fuel that keeps me going?

The connection music and self-expression create.

Music is amazing. We respond instinctively (due to the nature of the auditory cortex and the autonomic nervous system). For me, the look in someone’s eyes that tells me they have received my intended message is my reward. It is payment in full. I am reminded that my efforts have value, that my time was well spent.

No matter how small or seemingly inconsequential, this acknowledgement is the fuel that keeps me going. To persevere. To continue my work (not that I really have a choice hehe).

All of this to say: if you are feeling uncertain it’s probably human connection that you are seeking.

If you too feel like you are flying without a net, reach out to someone you know who may need a kind word, a smile, or a hug. The truth is we all need support… even strangers we may disagree with.

Sometimes we are confronted with complex problems that defy understanding and we fail to see that the answer is actually very simple.

Find a way to connect with someone else.

You’ll feel better. They will feel better and the weight of the world for both of you will be lessened. If only for a moment.

There is nobility in helping others. Real and tangible value.

Truth be told: we are all flying without a net.

The irony is that the net is always there and available to us… if we only stop to see.

I find comfort in that thought, the thought that even though I may feel different than you, in reality we are more the same than not.

I’ve patched up the cracks in my facade of beliefs this morning and will get back to work now… with the knowledge that you have taken the time to read this. In doing so you’ve silently acknowledged me. You’ve invested your time that you will never get back.

Thank you.

In the meantime: more music. Feel better.

www.moremusicfeelbetter.com

08/09/2024

“Character is destiny” - Heraclitus (500BC) and “character is complicated” - John Mecham.

Interesting thought to start the day.

“- who we are and what we do shapes our future more than divine intervention or some magical, ill-defined mythology.”

“Be the change you wish to see and the future will take care of itself”

Interesting thoughts to be sure.

07/16/2024

Why bring a knife to a gunfight?

Most of us boomers (and younger people too) don’t bother with keeping up with tech. Worse yet, with think we do.

After using ChatGTP4.o to help me do research for The Missing Link project it is clear the world we live today will continue to change at an exponential rate. We, as a culture, have to accept that this change cannot be stopped. AI is, and will continue to turn our world upside down. Jobs will be lost. Industries will disappear. It may be bleak. But, sticking your head in the sand isn’t the answer. In fact, willful ignorance will be our downfall.

Why?

Because there are bad actors who thrive on fear and chaos.

The dismal state of politics in America is a result of us being manipulated by fear. This is nothing new. It’s been this way for all of human history.

What single factor has ensured human survival?

Belonging to a community.

There are those who find hope in Trump while there are those that don’t.

AI is coming and can’t be stopped. Our politics will have to adapt. They will have no choice BUT to accept radical change.

So when you think about the upcoming election ask yourself these questions:
Which person/party believes in community?Which person/party has the ability and desire to change?
Which party wants to revert to the past?
Which party wants to lead into the future?

This election is about survival in an AI driven world.

There will always be hope.

Choose wisely.

06/17/2024

Driving to the airport this morning in my Lyft made me reminisce about my father. He's been gone a long time so yesterday wasn't necessarily a day to celebrate.

Pop was all about engines. He created rocket engines, jet engines and had a life long fascination with cars. After he retired he worked for Dan Gurney's All American Racers as an engine/business consultant - helping them to become dominant in the GTO and GTP in the IMSA League.

I remember him telling me in the mid-80's that he suggested that they should take off the mirrors on the front fenders to reduce drag. Instead, he suggested mounting video cameras in the back of the car and put a monitor in the dashboard. Like a smooth airplane wing this would make the car faster. The drivers couldn't make the transition away from mirrors so the idea was rejected.

Well, some 40 years later this is a standard feature in every new car. Much like his design for the pulse rocket, which was adopted for fuel injection (in every auto engine on the planet), Pop was a head of his time.

A conundrum to live with at times (his head was in the clouds most days), I have a lot to be grateful for.

Thanks Pop.

06/06/2024

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06/04/2024

I can be curmudgeonly at times after all these years but this took my breath away:

For the first time ever, John and Tori joined Jacob on stage to perform a live rendition of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ at The Greek Theatre on May 20th, 20...

06/02/2024

The basic principle of The Missing Link project.

Learn why you should stop looking for singular tools for healing.

05/21/2024

Tonight!

"• 66 Million Americans suffer from mental illness

• Every 5 minutes a teenager commits su***de

• Su***de is the 2nd leading cause of teen death..."

A Story of Hope, Tonight on The Life Changes Show with Special Guest, Multi-Award Winning, (6 International Emmy Awards, 13 Emmy Nominations, Academy Awards Nomination, American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) and BMI Film Awards, Multiple Platinum Records, etc.), Film Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator, Producer, Educator, Entrepreneur, Mental Wellness Advocate, Recording Artist, Songwriter, Chris Boardman.

Could music be, "The Missing Link," Listen to Chris on the show, Episode 790 "How to Take Charge of Your Mental Health," broadcastlng live from 7 to 8 PM PT on iHeartRadio via BBSRadiotv at www.lifechangesshow.com.

With host Filippo Voltaggio, co-host Mark Laisure, and segment host Dorothy Lee Donahue, with thanks to Contributing Producer, Alison Goldwyn of Synchronistory®.