Response to Blog- A world w/o music

This is in response to Kelsey McCullough's blog. The question posed was What would a world without music be like? In my opinion a world without music wouldn't be an entertaining one at all. Imagine this: you're at a wedding and it is dead silent as the bride walks in the only sound you hear is the shuffling of her dress and the soft whimpering of a few members. When she reaches her destination at the front of the church, everyone sits down and the preacher starts the ceremony. When the wedding is over the same is heard as she leaves the church. At the reception, the only thing that is heard is the clink-clank of forks on the plate and the soft conversations of people. OK come on, does what I describe sound entertaining? The major reason why people go to weddings and birthday parties and other celebrations is to have a good time, to be happy and to celebrate! If you take away music from the world life wouldn't be a celebration anymore.

Music is a way to also expiate emotions,so what would happen if people had no way of getting rid of dangerous emotions? If someone was angry and the only way to calm them down was to listen to that one song. Would people not know how to handle their emotions if music was taken away completely? The world needs music. Its a part of culture and life. We use music everyday, whether its just to fill the silence or to vent feelings or even to make a movie more interesting. Music is an important aspect of life and if taken away can turn life into something dreadful. We use music to do many different things; we sing babies to sleep, we praise God, we relax. To be honest music makes things less awkward. In the residence hall I live in, there is no music in the elevators and it can get pretty awkward when in there with a person. Music is a really important component in everyday life, but why is it that music so important emotionally? Why is music have a special role in helping people with their emotions?

The many smiles of music

Today's class was an interesting one and I enjoyed much of the conversation. The areas that were of particular interest to me was when we hit the points of music and emotion ,music and memories, and music and that "high feeling."

Music plays a big part in my life especially when I am anything but neutral. When I am sad I listen to slow songs that helps me cry out what I need to, when I am frustrated or feel down and sometimes when I am joyed I listen to Gospel music and then others in between. Why is music such an escape mechanism though? A majority of people I know rely on music to help them with their strong emotions. Is this done because music is an escape from reality? I must admit it is for me. For example, when I am exercising and I listen to music I am any and everywhere but the present. I forget I am at the gym and I make my own world in my head around the music I am listening to. It not only effects my thoughts , but my body my adrenaline starts going and I get stronger, I run faster, the intensity builds as the music increases, I get lost in the beats the instruments the words the vocals and then it STOPS! and I stop. Music is more than just rhythm and beats, its a world of its own and it controls its listeners.

So what is this hold that music has on people? Why does it create this alternate world for people?

Then the thing about music and memories...I hear a song from my childhood and I just smile or frown because of the memories I have. When I listen to music that reminds me of an event in my life, I can actually tell you a story, where I was the first time I head it, who I was with, and what happened that day. OK maybe my memory may not be that detailed, but it does refresh my mind of some really good/ bad childhood days. So one last question I pose.....Do we underestimate the power of music?