Music and training/competing
Well, I use to try and listen to meditative/new age music in the past, but found that my energy level/drive was too low and as a result, I could not get motivated to train. Since then, I have been listening to some really upbeat alternative rock music for my weight training sessions. I find that I have no problem relaxing for any type of apnea, even after listening to this kind of music.
I have found from personal experience that internally reciting certain verses of my belief system calms me more than meditative music did as well.
That isn't to say that this will work for everyone, or that it is even for everyone, but it has been a great influence on how I train.
Some choose to practice eastern philosophy, others on western beliefs of faith, some others choose to meditate on nothing, and then others don't even meditate at all.
Music is a universal medium by which different feelings can be invoked depending upon the person hearing them. I hope this answers your question...
Well, that's my $0.02 worth.