Musical Bell Tower

I love the way a single event can affect the rest of your day.

On one of the first blogs, I talked about how waking up to your favorite song can change your outlook on the day.  The same thing can happen when hearing your favorite song at any point in the day.  This method has helped me to overcome some hard days.

The school campus that I am attending has a big clock tower in the middle of campus.  Its toll can be heard from almost all over the campus.  My favorite thing about this clock?  It plays music.  The other day while walking from one class to the other, my brain subconsciously picked up on the melody.  According to some studies musicians have a better ability, and are more likely, to notice background music.  The song on this particular day was "Oh What A Beautiful Morning" from the musical Oklahoma.  Once I was able to recognize it, I smiled.  I was so amazed that whoever was in charge of the clock:

1) Chose the song

2) Was able to enter the melody into the program of the clock

What makes me sad is that most people would not notice that there was a song playing.  Also, that if they were able to realize that a song was playing, they would not recognize where it came from.  

For me, hearing the song played on the bell tower became one of the highlights of my day.  I went for the next couple of hours singing the musical in my head.  However, because the importance level of music has gone down, I doubt that the average human would gain the same benefits from hearing the song.  

I hope that others will start to realize the difference music can make in their lives.  Meanwhile, I will be singing along with the bell tower.

Music Matters: Creating a Future

Growing up in a small town, I was able to participate in a wide variety of activities.  As a result of the small population of my hometown, it was necessary for the students to take part in multiple groups in order for any of them to survive.  The music program in my hometown has continued to grow, due to the hard work of the teachers there.  The students in the programs love the teachers, and learning from their teacher's example have grown a love for music.  Last year, nearly 90% of the seniors graduating from the music program went on to play with music scholarships at college.  I, myself, was able to continue on to the college level because of people in my life who supported me, and had a love for music themselves.

Why aren't people taking advantage of this opportunity?  Although many went on to play in college, a good portion of the orchestra slowly whittled away over the years.  Students simply gave up because they did not want to practice, and were not motivated to do so by anyone.  They give it up to play sports, or dance, or pick up underwater basket-weaving.  They do so either because they did not enjoy the music, or did not have time to do both.  Although these other activities are well worth the effort and provide better hand eye coordination and a healthy lifestyle, the chance of pursuing a career in any of those areas is far less than that of pursuing a career in music.  The percentage of participants in sports that went on to get a scholarship at college was dramatically lower than that for music students.

“A grounding in the arts will help our children to see; to bring a uniquely human perspective to science and technology. In short, it will help them as they grow smarter to also grow wiser.”

Robert E. Allen – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AT&T Corporation 

Teachers and parents should be motivating their students and children to participate.  Even without taking into account all of the other benefits of music (better memorization, studies show better standardized test scores, etc) music can provide for their future.  It provides an instant social network at school.  A way to pay for school, while enjoying themselves.  Music careers exist in all shapes and sizes.  Music technology, performance, teaching, instrument making, recording, the list goes on and on.  Any future can be available through music.  My own future has been made possible through music.  I want to make sure that others have the same opportunity to make a future for themselves.  In anyway possible I hope to motivate others to love music, and find their own connection with it.  How has music affected your future?  What about your friend's or children's futures?  Music can provide them with a chance to achieve their dreams.  It has put me on the road to achieve mine.

Everyday Music

     I was thinking today of my platform (who knew?).  I asked myself, "Why does music really matter?"  Obviously I came up with quite a few answers.  I realized however, that most of my answers were on the large scale.  I had not really thought of why music matters in our everyday lives, not just life in general.

     Have you ever realized the difference it makes in your day to wake up to an upbeat song?  Or when you are working out, to choose something with a steady beat?  Even while riding the elevator, the music is relaxing.  In almost every action of the day you can find music in it, or relate it to music.  There is a reason why music is so frequently present in our lives.  Music awakens parts of the body and soul that would otherwise go untouched.  It can affect us in many ways, as noted in the last post.  This is partly why we keep finding ourselves needing and wanting it in our everyday lives.  According to the American Cancer Society music can "relieve stress and provide an overall sense of well-being."  Our bodies literally react to the music that we are listening to or playing.

     We also use music for a variety of occasions.  It has the power to bring happiness and a sense of occasion on our birthday.  Music brings comfort at a funeral.  Weddings, graduation, even the NFL!  The list goes on and on for ways that we use music.  Most of these tunes are easily recognized by society.  When heard, they spark an idea, thought or feeling.  The two tones of Jaws will be forever the trademark for the preparation of an attack.  William Tell's overture is almost always a chase scene.  

My point is, music has a way of being an important part of our lives, without us ever realizing it.  What song makes you happiest?  What is going to make you get up and dance out of bed with a smile on your face?  What song do you sing in the shower, or belt as loud as you can in the car?  What rhythm do you tap on your legs while waiting?  Do you notice those these musical occurrences?  Think about how your day would go without those small interactions with music.  How much do those occurrences with music matter to you? 

Music Matters: Affecting Suicide

Today, while reading the news, I read an article that reported the suicide rate had doubled within the military (CNN).  With further research I was surprised to find out that in 2007 it was the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. (National Institute of Mental Health).  Curious to see if my platform applied to this national problem I did some further research.

According to the Centre for Suicide Prevention, in some cases hard rock, which is often attacked as a cause for suicidal thoughts, can provide a release for anger and a chance to deal with "issues of death and for managing the anxiety these issues create".

"Why waste money on psychotherapy when you can listen to the B Minor Mass?" 

 Michael Torke

Furthermore, the Psychological Harassment Information Association says that listening to "calming or uplifting" music can be preventative against suicide.  Singing your favorite positive and uplifting songs, similar to positive "self talk and affirmations", can make you happier.

Music has certainly always been an emotional release for me.  Whenever I had a bad day or week, playing my violin or turning on a good CD always made me feel better.  Playing in a group and being able to enjoy it with other people strengthens this feeling.

(Union High School Band and Orchestra)

The goal of this blog is to educate people on why music matters.  This post specifically identifies that music helps prevent suicide.  I hope that more people are exposed to the healing powers of music.  Music is not just notes on a page, but somehow takes something from the foundation of humanity and expresses it for all to hear.  I hope you are listening.

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

 Berthold Auerbach