Just How Important Is Music In Our Lives

Just How Important Is Music In Our Lives

I happen to think it's as important as bread and water in many ways.

Music has been part of mankind since the birth of mankind. Everyone has seen drawings of our ancestors dancing around the fire to the beat of drums, but that's not what I am writing about.

Let me begin my thoughts by noting that there are over 1,500 instrument genres in the world on record plus 1,300 music genres. The instrument sizes range from as small as a harmonica to a tuba or harp, the music genre is infinite starting with humming.

And music is so popular it has been often played in 100,000+ seat sport arenas or week long festivals. Think about the 400,000+ music fans who invaded Woodstock not too far away or the week-long magazine Music Festival in Morocco which attracted over 2.5 million people. No other form of entertainment, including soccer, football or baseball comes close to music.

And of course all the world concerts, symphonies and operas, Broadway musicals, movie music, etc., right down to marching music, music at religious gatherings, such as funerals or weddings which invoke both solemnity, spirituality, joy or sadness make my case. Of course I also know too well the very reality of small gigs in pubs, bars and backyards all over the world. Further more, I am very conscience of all the music in the millions of movies that the viewer might not realize what it is doing for the story. But no one knows what the real numbers of probably billions of songs on radio, TV and all the incredible latest technology which have filled the air.

However, my passion about music is a result of very personal experiences.

For a few years, the children attending the fantastic schools of Irish music in Pearl River visit the the New York State Rockland Psychiatric Center in Orangetown during the St. Patricks Day Season to perform Irish music for the resident patients.

As the patients enter the room, I do not usually see smiles on their faces, but as the music plays, I see toes tapping, hands clapping, smiles on every face - evidence ofthe power and magic of music.

When I am anywhere when the national anthem is played. I see most everyone stand, place their hands on their hearts or salute. Their love of our nation is stirred and shared. The embers of patriotism are lit.

While in the Marine Corps, I attended some funerals of those who gave their lives in service to our nation and I see sadness on every face. When TAPS are played with a simple bugle, I see tears rolling down the cheeks of the faces of the attendees. Many were hardened Veterans. Taps is a simple tune with no lyrics and lasts less than one minute. But it reaches deeply and quickly and powerful.

I spent more than four decades in the world of our beloved intellectually-develpmentally disabled sisters and brothers. To my joy, their service providers and life-care-giving staffs arranged social parties, dances, musical shows, at which I saw very excited joy-filled folks expressing that joy in many ways.

My conclusion is that music, sometimes, more that words, can reach further into our minds and hearts, which is why I am an advocate of its power to help, to heal. It can change the ambience of a surrounding or a persons mood. Bodies and minds are happily inflamed, if only for a little while.

I must confess that my fascination with music is largely the happy result of being the Father of a middle age artistic adult son whose life has revolved around music for 40 years since he was 14 years old. He composes music and plays the violin, but mostly he searches for new ways to communicate through music, fusing styles and techniques from across the globe - a unique fabric of world music. His name is Chris and he performs once a year at the Turning Point Music Cafe in Piermont during his annual visit with his family and his East Coast tour. Chris lives in Southern California. This year he will be performing at the Turning Point at 4 PM on Sunday, April 15th.