Though it would be hard to pinpoint the biggest benefit I've derived from teaching music courses at local colleges since 2014, my interaction with enthusiastic music-loving participants is near the top.
Recently, that interaction rose to a new level when a participant invited me into her world via sharing a powerful personal story connected to a song I'd used in class. The trust this person invested in me via telling her story moved me enough that I felt completely safe reciprocating in kind. I shared with her some of the ways music has assisted over the past year with challenges my life has hurled at me. And doing so reminded me - for perhaps the thousandth time - the way music can help heal even gaping psychic wounds. My brief interaction with this participant re-focused me on the mystery and joy of music. What would my life have been like had I never been delivered to it?
Ever met someone who described themselves as indifferent to music? The first time I heard that self-description is possibly one of my life's most vivid memories. After moving beyond dumbfounded, I don't recall what I felt next; I hope I felt sad. But ever since, I have lingered on wondering what someone misses in life being indifferent to music. If I were to ask you what you would have missed, could you formulate an answer? What would you say is the cost of being indifferent to music?
Music has, and continues, to impact my life. One word to describe that impact: friend. Music filled my childhood through a musical home. Music guided me through those young adult insecurities, helping me find my way into the grown-up world. Music was the soundtrack throughout my adulthood-filling my home with iconic and wonderful sounds that I am proud to say my children grew up with. Music is the friend that continues to bring me wonder, solace, joy, exuberance-ultimately, peace. To have been indifferent to its beauty and power would've meant a "gray" life, an existence devoid of color, emotion, feeling for me. All the wonderful and valuable moments that music has brought to my life have shaped me into the "ME" that I am now. It remains a friend for life for me.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous; If you are someone unknown to me, I sincerely hope that will soon be remedied, somehow. If you are someone known to me, I trust you will find a way - in your own time - to make your identity known to me. In eleven years of messages from cyberspace here on my blog, your beautiful comment about a subject as obviously dear to your heart as it is to mine has moved me as much as any comment I've received. Thank you for this gift; you have made my week, perhaps my month.
DeleteThe comment from Anonymous is so beautiful. I can't express it any better than that!
ReplyDeleteInes; Couldn't agree more. Music = friend sums it up perfectly, right? Thanks for continuing to support my blog.
DeleteGood morning, Pat. Hope this finds you doing well. I was thinking about how much I could write in response to today's Blog post but, along with Ines, I too agree that the post from Anonymous covers it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI will add that there are few better feelings than getting lost in music. Bringing up wonderful memories of my parents dancing to the Big Band sounds playing in our living room. Going through my vinyl collection, lining up what I'll play next, and next, and then what to play after that and watching an afternoon go by in an instant ...
And, 'indifferent to music' ... Well, I know a few people that are, but I honestly don't understand that thinking, I am also sad for them thinking about what they're missing and (this isn't as negative as it sounds) make little effort to engage them in conversation about it.
Be well ...
Bob
Bob; Thanks for the comment, especially the memory of your folks dancing to big band music. My best memories of music in my childhood home were the times my Dad accompanied my Mom's nice singing voice on the uke. Thanks for reminding me of that.
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