The Power of Music
How about…..Quit Your Job. Buy a Cello. And Get Paid to Change the World through Music!
Turns Out We All Should Engage with Music. Now there’s a thought. But what does this really mean?
Music is powerful and can have a dramatic effect on us.
As, John Haltiwanger on Science says: “Music makes everything better.
It brings people together, and reminds them what a gift it is to be alive and breathing.
Good music is like good food, it’s just plain good. It doesn’t matter where it originated, it’s universally palatable. It transcends both space and time. It unifies people; breaching seemingly impenetrable cultural and generational divides.
Music inspires laughter, tears, song and dance. It’s simultaneously soothing and emotive. It works its way from the top of your head down to the tips of your toes; breathing new energy into every fibre of your body.
Music tells stories, captures complex emotions and breeds diversity. It expresses the inexpressible, making hard times easier, and good times even better.”
One of the Fascinating Features of Music is the Way it has Spectacular Power to Impact our Judgments.
For instance – Music can even influence our sensory perception – our perception of flavour.
The Australian Chamber Orchestra performed recently at a ‘Wine & Music Matching’ Masterclass in the Orchestra’s rehearsal room at Sydney’s Circular Quay, to explore how music can change our sense of taste.
As the Masterclass Testers were tasting the identical wine sipped from each glass, they were listening to different pieces of music played. Some Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven and a modern except from early 20th century Webern. The same wine in each glass with the only changes being the music.
But, as each different music piece played along with each same wine sample, the testers profoundly changed their assessment of the wine.
It happens! It’s sometimes called synaesthesia.
Music is one of the most Impressive and Beautiful Achievements of the human race and deserves a permanent place in Education.
And how can we not be excited by the prospect of Music Benefits with long-term Positive Effects?
Like I need an excuse to revisit the fascinating work of Anita Collins. Anita Collins shares how learning music influences our brain development, and what this means for musical education.
Anyway, the question being asked….. ‘IS PLAYING MUSIC AN OPTION?’
My friend Ginny wants To Play a Musical Instrument. But, It Won’t Be for a Career. And, it’s not going to Make Big Money. So, can this be a Process to Change her World?
Playing a musical instrument is a lifestyle choice that, if practiced correctly, is something that we all can find success in.
But, the pace of daily life in our scrolling, web-surfing culture that fragments concentration and swallows spare time, if we actually have any of that, is ill-suited to the mental absorption of learning music.
Learning a musical instrument is not fast. This is not in that part of life that shouts ‘overnight success!’
It’s not about instant results in an instant world where everything is at our finger tips to consume quickly. Our learning swiping motion is ineffective while learning instrument fingerings – especially if the instrument is an oboe! And there are no apps to take over the sheer persistence of practice.
Not to worry though. If you want to play music beautifully, you have to know how to play a musical instrument beautifully. It’s like nothing you’ve experienced before.
‘In the beginning – at first they say we sound awful. In fact you’re probably going to sound terrible.
And then one day after much practising, rearranging your life to fit in extra fun gigs, upgrading from that first instrument to a real one, and loving every moment of the process. You think, you know that your playing doesn’t sound too bad. By the end of the term it’s well wow! You rock the socks off.’
In a new series on Channel 4 world-renowned classical pianist James Rhodes says music education in the UK has been “decimated”, bemoaning the fact that learning a musical instrument is now seen as a luxury. And, a 2013 Ofsted report showed quality music education was reaching just a minority of pupils. And James asks families in Britain to donate old musical instruments left languishing in cupboards to those who need them.
Richard Gill has some very interesting insights into children’s music education and why it’s a must have for all children.
Because, as long as instrumental music instruction is offered as part of the school day, it remains one of the best ways for kids to learn to be great thinkers, citizens, innovators and human beings. That is the power in instrumental music education. The intellectual growth and happiness of our children depend on us keeping music alive and well in our communities.
The San Diego Youth Symphony’s Community Opus Project, is really interesting.
One of many music education programs sponsored by The NAMM Foundation, helps to introduce at-risk youth to the benefits of music making. Seventh grader Bruno Bello shares how this El Sistema-inspired program has changed his life, and the way he sees his future. Bruno has been a student since 2010.
There’s Only Two Kinds of Music! Good Music. And Bad Music!
So? What Really Is Music?
Chatting with retired musos around the dinner table, conversation inevitably turns to music loved or music unloved. Picking a favourite music genre is as impossible as deciding which musical instrument is best! Are we classical music lovers or loathers? Can we agree on something? Anything!
Here is the beautiful thing…It’s actually very hard to explain.
Something that can take your breath away. It just grabs your heart and away you go. A Language of exquisite melodies and astounding rhythms connected to the universe! Music captures something within our hearts, our souls, something that is huge. A Something we all can always connect with.
There are so many interesting conversations to have about Music and it is pointless to argue which Music is best.
And in all fairness we all play favourites! Music Favourites. Best genres. Best sounding instruments! So many choices!
My local newspaper last week covered stories about Musical Theatre; a Classical Gala Evening with an impressive array of sopranos and tenors and string quartets; a High Vibes Hip Hop Festival, and a gig for junior musos at the Brisbane Music Conference.….pitched to young people looking at a career in the music industry.
And you can find news about a concert with the Italian Chamber Orchestra; or the electronic duo Hermitude and music that people can dance to, and sing along to.
Or Bach, maybe Vivaldi. It’s all out there happening in the community.
But what about Fiona who loves Punk Music. It’s what started her love for music! Well, everyone’s favourite DJ Duo Peking Duk are heading for global superstardom and they’re bringing their friends along for the ride.
I’m into Music. It’s a life changing process. I really love it.
It always holds that special place in my heart. But then I love being a musician.
Cheers Chrissy
Chrissy Tetley
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