The Secret Science of Sleep

To address the widespread problem of common sleep disorders, Smash Arts, in a joint venture with Rhino Entertainment, will release the 2-CD set, Bedtime Beats: The Secret to Sleep -- the first-ever all classical music package created in response to an investigational study supporting classical music as a sleep remedy -- on September 12, 2006. The results of a National Institute of Health study were published as "Music Improves Sleep Quality in Older Adults" (Journal of Advanced Nursing, 49 (3), February 2005, p.234-244). The study found that soothing music -- specifically music with a tempo of 60-80 beats per minute (BPM) -- resulted in significantly better sleep quality, better perceived sleep quality, longer sleep duration, greater sleep efficiency, and more.

In creating Bedtime Beats, Cindy Bressler and Lisa Mercurio of Smash Arts selected music of the same tempo of 60-80 BPM. This first installment of Bedtime Beats series comprises over 120 minutes of classical music that meets this criterion and includes works by Bach, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Puccini, and others. To make the CDs as soothing as possible, the music was meticulously mastered to reduce variations in tempo and volume. People of all ages can benefit from the package, provided they listen daily for at least two weeks at the outset and begin listening to the CDs at least 15 minutes before bedtime.