neuroskill-com/neuroskill-protocols-music

Music Protocols

(This is a domain sub-skill of the neuroskill-protocols repertoire. For the personalisation engine, API integration guide, modality router, and matching guidance, see the parent neuroskill-protocols skill. For evidence collection rules, see neuroskill-evidence.)

MUSIC PROTOCOLS

(The LLM cannot play music, but gives precise, actionable cues — genre, BPM range, specific artists/playlists, and how to listen. Always offer a specific recommendation.)

Mood-Match & Lift (ISO Principle) → low mood, emotional inertia Start with music matching current mood (slow, minor, honest). After 5–7 min, shift toward slightly more uplifting tempo/key. Let the music pull, not contradict. Suggest by taste: Western folk: Nick Drake → Norah Jones → Ben Howard. R&B/Soul: Frank Ocean → Erykah Badu → Anderson .Paak. Latin: Silvio Rodríguez → Natalia Lafourcade → Bomba Estéreo. K-pop/J-pop: IU ballads → Kenshi Yonezu → upbeat picks. Arabic: Fairuz → Mashrou' Leila. Indian: Prateek Kuhad → AR Rahman uplifting. Classical: Barber Adagio → Debussy → Beethoven 7th, II. Always ask what they listen to. ~20 min.

Focus Music Protocol → high cognitive_load, low focus, distraction-prone session Instrumental only, no lyrics. 60–80 BPM (mimics alpha rhythm). Suggest by taste: Ambient: Brian Eno, Moby (Long Ambients). Lo-fi hip-hop: ChilledCow / Lofi Girl. Jazz: Bill Evans Trio, Nujabes. Electronic: Tycho, Bonobo. Classical: Bach Cello Suites, Satie. World: Anoushka Shankar (sitar), Rodrigo y Gabriela (guitar). Game soundtracks: Minecraft, Stardew Valley, Zelda BOTW. ~25–50 min.

Energising Activation Playlist → low wakefulness, post-lunch dip, low engagement BPM 120–140. Suggest by taste: Pop/dance: Daft Punk, Dua Lipa. Indie: Vampire Weekend, Khruangbin. Afrobeats: Burna Boy, Wizkid. Latin: Bad Bunny, Rosalía. Hip-hop: Kendrick Lamar, MF DOOM. Bollywood: energetic item songs. K-pop: BTS, BLACKPINK. Rock: Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys. Always match the user's taste. 10-min burst minimum.

Stress Discharge Playlist → high stress_index + emotional charge needing outlet Permission to listen to cathartic, intense music. Not for relaxation — for discharge. Follow with a wind-down track. Suggest by taste: Metal/rock: RATM, Tool, Slipknot. Classical: Shostakovich, Stravinsky Rite of Spring. Hip-hop: Run the Jewels, Denzel Curry. Electronic: The Prodigy, SOPHIE. Punk: Bad Brains, IDLES. K-rock/J-rock: BABYMETAL, Dir En Grey. Flamenco: Paco de Lucía (intense). Drumming: Taiko ensembles. ~15 min.

Sleep Music Wind-Down → pre-sleep, high beta at bedtime, high bar at rest Delta binaural beats (0.5–4 Hz) or very slow ambient. Suggest: Max Richter (Sleep), Marconi Union (Weightless — clinically validated), Gregorian chant. Speaker at low volume across the room, not earbuds. ~30 min.

Binaural Beat Entrainment → target a specific frequency state before cognitive work Alpha (8–12 Hz): relaxed focus / creative work. Theta (4–8 Hz): deep meditation, integration, hypnagogic. Gamma (30–50 Hz): analytical intensity, integration. Requires stereo headphones. ~20–30 min eyes closed or soft-gaze.

Music-Breath Synchronisation → cardiac coherence variant using BPM as pacer Choose a track ~60 BPM. Inhale one bar, exhale the next. Easier than counted breathing. Good for users who find silent breath-counting frustrating. ~5–10 min.

Active Listening (Deep Listening) → low lzc, mental fog, creative block, low integration Full attention on a single piece — eyes closed, headphones, no other task. Follow one instrument at a time, then the whole. Restores depth of processing. ~10–15 min.

Rhythm Grounding → acute distress, dissociation, freeze Find a steady beat (metronome or drum track). Tap along slowly. Gradually slow the tapping. Rhythmic regularity down-regulates via predictive entrainment. ~5 min.

Singing / Vocal Toning → low rmssd, high stress, vagal activation + joy Encourage actually singing along — loudly, imperfectly. Recruits diaphragm, vagus, and reward circuits simultaneously. Shower songs count. ~5–10 min.

Emotional Release with Music → grief, anger, or unprocessed emotion needing discharge

1. Choose track matching the exact emotion. 2. Allow it to amplify the feeling.
2. When peak passes, switch to a quieter, resolving piece. 4. Sit in silence 2 min. ~20 min.