“A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence.” - Leopold Stokowski
Music and me
Don’t we all love music? I haven’t met a person to date who doesn’t like some form of music. I have been completely into it since I was a baby. And I am sure most of the people reading this blog will be too! I always insist on music in the car, even for very short distances. I can instantly guess a song from the intro melody. When I like a song I am obsessed with it for months until it exits my system.
My favorite singer is Selena Gomez and my favorite song is Wolves. But I love all types of music, like classical, pop, soulful Bollywood melodies, and anything with a great beat. One reason I have always loved the Ganpati festival (apart from the modaks :p) is the aartis that we sing three times a day. Even as a toddler, I would be at the forefront with cymbals, keeping the beat while the grown-ups sang the words.
Why do we love music?
For one thing, there are different genres of music to suit different tastes. For those who love lyrics, there is a song for every occasion. According to research, music lights up different areas of the brain. The memories associated with songs run deep. And that is why listening to our favorite songs instantly puts us in a good mood. Music is very therapeutic. When the lyrics of a song resonate with our mood, we unknowingly hum it all day and feel much better in the end.
People love music for various reasons. For some, it’s stress-relieving and soothing. Some love the ambiance it creates. Some just enjoy listening for fun. This is what I love about music: I reckon what music does, no words can do. It expresses feelings in a much more enjoyable and delightful way.
So what does music really do?
Music triggers multiple areas of the brain, like the frontal lobe (responsible for thinking and decision making), the temporal lobe (language center), the cerebellum (responsible for motor coordination), the amygdala (the emotional center) and the hippocampus (the memory center). Now that’s really a lot! In various studies, music has been proved to
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Relieve stress
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Improve concentration
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Increase efficiency
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Improve memory
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Delay mental aging and help Alzheimer’s patients
Role of music in entertainment
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch movies, cartoons or web series without the background score? Wouldn’t that be awfully boring? No matter how good the actors are, we still need somber notes for sad scenes, cheerful or jolly music for happy scenes, and bubbly sounds for funny scenes.
Music also brings people together. During parties or functions, when the music is played, people come together, have fun and dance to the tune.
The Sound of Music is one of my favorite movies. It is based on the true story of the Von Trapp family during World War II. Apart from some amazing melodies and unforgettable lyrics, the movie also gives us the message of a lifetime. It shows how harmony and family bonding fostered by music prevails over the horrors of war. After all, music is as ancient as life itself. As Maria says,
The hills are alive with the sound of music
With songs they have sung for a thousand years!
What do you listen? Write in the comment below.