How Enriched is Life Without Music?

This is four part series of posts.  Check out the others:

https://dramamommaspeaks.com/2017/07/31/how-fulfilling-is-life-without-theatre/

https://dramamommaspeaks.com/2017/03/13/how-exciting-is-life-without-art/

https://dramamommaspeaks.com/2017/03/15/meaningful-life-without-dance/

Is our life more enriched with music?  I think so. I need it with me all the time.  I have tinnitus and music helps to drown out the ringing in my ears as well as distract me from noticing the ringing.

For me, music is like frosting on a cake.  The cake (life) is good without it, but the frosting (music) makes it all the better.

Studies discovered our brains flourish when we listen to, play or sing music.

I know this is true.  The Phantom of the Opera was all the rage when our oldest daughter was a small child.  Of course, we listened to the songs day and night.  That’s just what we do.  She heard Christine’s aria so often, in time she could imitate the style and sing the range (even the very high notes) with precision and fluidity.  She was four years old. With no prodding from us, our daughter sung on her own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncvnA8p4lww

Glorious…. Yes, her father is naturally musical.  My husband is an instrumental music teacher.  I am naturally gifted in music as well.   I have performed in musicals, playing the lead female roles (South Pacific, Sound of Music, The Music Man, etc.) and sung in choir.  Whenever we have a family dinner, it is not uncommon for us to sing grace in four part harmony.

Her sister is a natural, too. She  picked up a habit of mine, but I’d never realized.  She whistle when she is unable to sing because she’s in a setting where it would be inappropriate to sing.  Gotta get those notes out somehow….

Humans aren’t the only ones to enjoy music.  Have you seen the video of the cows who come to the barn when the farmer plays his trombone?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs_-emj1qR4

Or the geese following a bell singer…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsztPqxokPM

What about the elderly?  Our Alzheimer’s patients?  Look at this wonderful gentleman as he comes alive by listening to music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKDXuCE7LeQ

Putting this post together, I did a little research about the psychological effects of music to a human.

From the United States Library of Medicine website (USLM) I found an interesting paper concerning the psychological assets of listening to music.

‘….in social creatures like ourselves, whose ancestors lived in arboreal environments where sound was one of the most effective ways to coordinate cohesive group activities, reinforce social bonds, resolve animosities, and to establish stable hierarchies of submission and dominance, there could have been a premium on being able to communicate shades of emotional meaning by the melodic character (prosody) of emitted sounds.’ Panksepp and Bernztsky

Gosh, I never thought of that!  Of course. Most cultures have their own form of music, passed down through generations. I think of the Indigenous people, the Mexicans and European countries whose celebrations are full of music.

Listening to music does much for us–give us energy, calms us down, expresses emotions, and moods and a host of other benefits. Ever seen a movie with no music soundtrack?  Although meaningful, it sets my nerves on edge fairly quickly.

Of course, there is something to said for a quiet atmosphere,  but I can’t handle it much more than an hour.

Could you live your life without music?  Try it for a day and you’ll see what I mean.  I”d love to hear how your Music Free day goes. No cheating!

Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com, or check our my website at DeborahBaldwin.net

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ttps://dramamommaspeaks.com/2017/03/13/life-without-art-is-not-life-to-me/