Music is an art form and a vehicle of expression. Most people can’t play soccer or football at 70 or 80 years of age, but they can sing and play piano or some other instrument. Music is a gift you can give your child that will last their entire life.
Art and music are basic human functions and can’t function without one another. We have the burning desire to create, whatever it may be and however tiny or grand. The interaction with sound is unavoidable, either to make it or take pleasure in it. People have always found music significant in their lives, whether for enjoyment in listening, the emotional response, performing, or creating. As a musician and artist it is my responsibility that others can learn to enjoy the art for which I have utter passion.
The most common way one becomes involved with music is through listening or attending a musical event. Listening at home on a CD player, or in the car, on the computer, or on an Ipod can be a very personal and fulfilling experience. Music, as we know, sets the mood and vibe as we hear in the lounges, bars, parties, or other social events. Also attending a concert is unique as it offers the excitement of hearing live musicians while providing the sound as it is meant to be heard (if it is acoustic music that is). Where else can one sit with other people, listen, and enjoy music in (relative) silence so that there are no distractions besides the music itself?
Music can also stimulate the mind. There are many things in music, to which one can listen and bring attention. One can be mindful of the melodies or themes, the harmony, the driving or relaxed rhythms, the color of the sounds, the activity of a piece, how the sounds are produced, or how they all relate to one another, all while, possibly figuring out how the composer conceived the piece. Focused and attentive listening is an incredible experience that allows one to be lost in a foreign sound world.
Concert music is the music that is not only pleasing to the ears and mind but also nurtures the soul. It has been long said that music gives one an emotional response. Characters of varying degree that are found in music, can affect one’s mood. Music can raise someone’s mood, get them excited, or make them calm and relaxed. Music also, and this is important, allows us to feel nearly or possibly all emotions that we experience in our lives. The possibilities are endless.
In all levels of education, music has immense worth. Students learn many important and necessary values for life as music enhances their mind, their expressive ability, and a whole host of other qualities. Learning to read music is learning a different language with abstract sonic meaning. One not only has to comprehend and decipher unique symbols on a page, they have to know how to execute them and do it well. Those learning music also learn how to develop a critical ear. With a critical ear, one will know how to practice, rehearse, analyze and critique music performance. Also, performing music encompasses playing with others, as well as alone, which both necessitate certain skills. One can also learn tremendously from studying and analyzing music, composing, reading about music, understanding the history of music and its association with historical and current trends, and knowing what to listen for in music. Students of music – whether it be at the elementary, middle school, high school, collegiate level, or through self study – learn self-discipline, expression through sound, enhance technical motor skills, further develop problem solving skills, learn how to cooperate and collaborate with other, and learn how to ignite the creative and critical mind. Most importantly, the student can come away understanding that music offers all those qualities in addition to the enjoyment in listening casually or with great attention. Anyone who is educated in music learns these skills whether they know it or not. People who do not make a career in music but study it will apply their skills to their everyday lives and career. Even by watching “Indian Idol” viewers learn how to become critical of musical performance and share strong musical opinions.
Music is one of the very few things which qualify among the things that I always keep close to my heart. While writing, while playing or while doing any damn thing I hum to myself. Through experience I have found that music when it is playing in the background or when you are enjoying it helps you to be focused on your work.
When it comes to me, let me tell you that I am totally addicted. Though one can’t carry an I-pod or a walkman you can always sing to yourself or just hum. Good music transcends all linguistic boundaries and proves to be a great bond when it comes to making friends.
Music is something which just can’t be discarded or disowned. Music belongs to everyone and it plays a vital part in one’s character formation. Those who don’t have time to spare for crooning or listening to melodies are often found to be gloomy, dull and short tempered. On the other hand, music lovers are often those who are most loved in gatherings and are very cheerful.
The man enters into this universe and exits with music. The music is the only common link to everyone in the world. Though there are many different kinds of music, it is only one and the same. The music is one and only though we call them by different names. It is just a part of whole music.
We can identify all the seas and oceans only in the world map and globe. It is very easy to say this is Atlantic Ocean and that is Indian Ocean. But is not at all possible to say which ocean is which and we can say only one thing that it is water. It is same with music.
When we talk about music, we can call them with different names and we can feel the difference between different music. But we involve ourselves and play or listen to music, the feeling is entirely different. The state of our mind would be in a different world.
There are many different qualities of music and they reach you to different parts of the body.
Some music reaches your hands and you start to clap.
Some music reaches your legs and you start to make rhythms with your legs. Some music reaches your whole body and that is the reason that you have the feeling for dancing.
Some of the ragas in Indian Carnatic Music reach your heart. This is very nice. It takes you beyond this world. Music is the only art form which makes you to forget yourself. For other arts, the awareness would always be there. When you are involved in playing or listening to music, you enter into a different world. This is one of the most important factors of music.
Affecting the brain waves
According to studies it has been proven that your brainwaves can get stimulated with strong beats. The stimulation takes place to resonate in sync with the beat. Sharp beats ensure sharp concentration and it can help you attain a meditative and calm state. It has also been proven that any change in the activity level of the brainwaves caused by music, enables the brain to shift speed as required. This means that even after you have stopped listening to music; it can have lasting effects on your state of mind.
Music and your heart rate:
Due to alternations taking place in brainwaves, other bodily functions also get affected. Functions like heart rate and breathing that are controlled by the autonomic nervous system can be altered with music. This can result in slow heart rate, relaxation response and slow breathing. This is the reason why music can play a vital role in preventing the damages of chronic stress and promoting health. You can also ensure positive thinking without depression with the help of music therapy.
Discipline:
You need to practice discipline if you want to learn music. All successful musicians have gone through a lot of pressure and hard work to become successful. If you are learning classical music, you will have to practice singing or playing the instrument on a daily basis. It requires a lot of hard work and patience. So, if you learn music you will also learn discipline, patience and determination.
Music has always helped students understand the concept of sustained efforts, accomplish excellence and learn the meaning of hard work. It can enhance teamwork and disciplinary skills. For instance, an orchestra can sound good only when all the musicians work in harmony. Children can be offered music as a means to express themselves. Experts suggest parents to make sure that their child is trained in music lessons from a small age.
Besides the skill of playing a piano, flute or guitar, it can also offer various developmental benefits to them. It enhances academic achievements and intelligence too. Based on a recent study, it was found out that many music majors got through medical schools, followed by humanities and bio-chemistry.
Mozart effect
The skills you learn through music get transferred to your communication skills, study skills and cognitive skills. According to a Harvard University study, the spatial-temporal reasoning gets enhanced when children start learning music. Such reasoning tends to improve in a temporary manner when an adult listens to a particular type of music. This study was named as the “Mozart effect” and it suggested that spatial reasoning and music have a neurological and psychological connection.
Other Advantages
From the sci-fi fetal development notions to everyday emotional healing, music therapy has come a long way. As far as emotional benefits of music are concerned, any good song can ease your emotional turmoil and change your mood for the better. Every human being goes through certain phases in life and most of them prefer to hear to certain songs in order to be happy. This has been considered one among the numerous benefits of music as it helps you give words to your feelings like no other medium. This is the reason why people like playing melodies that captures their vibes in the best manner. In order to improve the relation between music and your emotional state, you can start associating moods and songs.
Did you know there is a strong connection between music and exercise? If you haven’t, then try listening to your favorite song while doing a chest press or push ups at the gym. According to experts, the tension in your muscles can increase due to stimulating music, whereas sedative music can decrease it.
Music also enhances motor skills. Kids who have started learning the basic motor skills such as catching, throwing or jumping while listening to music, perform better as compared to the same exercise without music. Even the perception of chronic pain can be healed with music up to 21%.
Human Development
However, you must not consider it as the primary treatment method. Your favorite tracks can help you only when you are under medical treatment. Another very effective and important advantage of music is human development. Since, it is a universal language it can play a very positive role in this context. It can be discussed with anyone and everyone.
Music helps in developing a better interaction with the brain. It has been proved that people who hear music develop a better interaction with their right and left sides of the brain. So, these are some of the effective advantages of music that can enhance the chances of your overall development. It can never be too late to enjoy the healing powers of music.
Music comes in different formats, styles, and genres, and there are so many reasons why we love listening to it. Some people live, breathe, and perform music while others listen to it for recreation or health. There are also a lot of advantages for listening to music. It can improve our mood, set a specific tone for a movie, it can make you more productive, and it can improve our health and help with occupational therapy. One of the best formats for listening to music is to listen to it online. Here are some of the advantages for listening to online music.
One of the best advantages of listening to music online is the accessibility of it. You can download music from your computer or laptop with any Internet connection. You can find music from around the world at the click of a mouse and have music streaming live to your computer. Music stored on your computer is also easily transferred to a personal MP3 player, so your music can go wherever you go. There are a lot of online music stores and websites that allow you to download certain songs for free.
Buying and listening to music online allows you to create a customized play list and in turn you become your own DJ. This can be less expensive than purchasing a CD, especially if you are only interested in one or two songs from a certain artist. A lot of music listeners find that when they buy a CD, it often gets scratched or they only listen to it while they are in their car. Most listeners also prefer to have a variety of music playing at a time and online music listening allows this. You can download a few songs from one band and a few more from another of your favorite bands.
When you listen to music on the Internet there are fewer distractions and commercials. Traditional radio shows have a lot of advertising to fit during their programs because they have a lot of endorsements to fulfill. When you listen to online music, you do not have to hear annoying commercials or sit through a DJ that you do not like. Internet radio stations generally have less commercials and less talk time which allows for more music that you want to hear.
Another advantage of music that is streamed or bought online is the variety of music that is available to you. Most traditional radio stations consist of pop, country, rock, and oldies. However, some people prefer metal, glam rock, or another type of genre. You can listen to different genres in one place and find music and artists from all over the world. Using the Internet is a great place to discover a new band and introduce you to a new genre of music.
It is hoped that this trend will lead to a time when classical and concert music find its place in mainstream society, offering all it does to more people.
(The author is All India Radio Artist, Diploma Holder in Veena, Vocal and Associate Professor in Sri Dattha Engineering College, MBA Dept, Sheriguda, Ibrahimpatnam)
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