The Importance of Music in our lives
Dear MissM and dear colleagues, I am going to tell you how I feel about music and why music is so important in our everyday lives.
“Music is the language of emotions”, said once a great man with a deep knowledge of life (Immanuel Kant). It is true: when I am happy, I play the piano, when I am sad, I play the piano as well, and when I am tired after a day of school, it is the piano which gives me energy.
Music is the way leading to emotions, but also to express emotions through notes. Music can help us become good persons and is a great way to learn about the world and its beauties.
Point 1: Music can make us happy; happiness improves our performance.
Listening or playing music is a way to get happy when you are sad and to share your joy with your friends.
Did you know that the brain can use the music to keep the mind and body healthy? Today’s doctors tell us that music helps the brain to be receptive and alert; that music slows heart rate, reduces stress and anxiety by increasing the levels of what we call HAPPINESS.
Do you want to know a “scientific trick” to boost your performance before a quiz or exam? I’ll tell you about the “Mozart Effect”. Scientists have shown that listening to 10 minutes of Mozart’s music increases your performance significantly…but, for a short period of time.
It can be a good idea to play in the background music by great composers such as Mozart, Bach, Chopin for a longer period while we study. Being happy is important not only for how we feel, but also for how proficient we can be.
Point 2: Music is a tool to develop into a harmonious person.
Music is not only a way to improve one’s performance almost instantly. It helps young people to develop in many important ways. The best part? You don’t have to have a great singing voice or play a musical instrument to benefit from the positive influence of music on your brain’s development. The simple and enjoyable act of making music will naturally foster important social and emotional skills, such as self-regulation, self-confidence, leadership skills, social skills, and socio-emotional intelligence.
Moreover, music-making and learning to play an instrument may enhance the brain’s ability to fulfil tasks which require language skills, memory and attention.
Point 3: Music is a great teacher!
Playing the piano is also a way to learn about the history, geography and people the music comes from. When I play Beethoven’s Bagatelle, I imagine seeing and talking to Elise and realize the emotions, of deep love, felt by the great composer.
Ludwig van Beethoven was an amazing creator, whose work is exceptional in complexity and sensibility, but what makes him even more exceptional is the fact that he symbolizes the impossible made possible. Beethoven was truly unique as he could create music of unmatched beauty even after he lost his hearing.
Even if we realize the great achievements of Beethoven and praise him now for his huge contribution to the world’s culture, this does not mean he had an easy and beautiful life all the time. To the contrary. He struggled and fought most of his life to be appreciated and was even cruelly mocked when he couldn’t hear anymore. He died unhappy, but he left a musical legacy without match.
I would like you to try an experiment. Just go after a classical composition you like and try to find information about the composer, when and eventually why he/she composed that musical piece, where did the composer lived/lives. I promise, you will be amazed by how many things you may find from a musical piece: places, people, stories!
Conclusion
In conclusion, I strongly believe that music is very important in our lives. This becomes clear when we realise that music helps us discover emotions at a very young age and improve our spirits and general performance when needed, that music is a way to communicate emotions and build social harmony and understanding around us and that music underpins the knowledge about exceptional people whose lives will keep on inspiring humankind.
All the great thinkers of mankind from ancient times till the present day have stressed the role of music in the betterment of people and in creating peace. When you realized the miracle of music, wouldn’t you want to be part of it?
