Music has the extraordinary ability to bring people together in ways that inspire, captivate, and motivate. While you could say this about some other mediums, music is particularly potent in this regard, since it can literally change the atmosphere of any room at the drop of a note.
This is what renowned concert pianist Byron Janis speaks to in his article for The Wall Street Journal. Janis reflects upon a long and joyous career by examining times where he, like many others, experienced the soothing power of music. One of his recollections is from the Cold War era, where he performed for an audience of rowdy Russians who were not too keen on an American playing for them. In the WSJ article, Janis describes the immense and immediate change in the crowd and the atmosphere:
“Then I began playing, first performing Mozart’s ‘Sonata in G major K.283,’ then Robert Schumann’s ‘Arabeske’ and the great Chopin ‘Funeral March Sonata.’ By the intermission, I sensed that I was having a great success. To see how music changed the atmosphere from hostility to tears showed me how music’s magnetism can quickly affect the human psyche. And so it went for four exhilarating weeks of concertizing.”
The right song can carry people beyond the stress and suffering they may feel in their hearts. It can make a room of conflicted individuals feel at peace, as Janis describes. Music, in fact, has been used in therapy to address people’s various physical, emotional, social, or spiritual needs.
Music Therapists at the American Music Therapy Association, for example, develop programs for patients that require them to create, sing, listen, and move to music in hopes of stimulating positive outlook and confidence. The programs are designed specifically around each patient’s individual taste, so that therapists are working with the types of music that make their patients feel the most comfortable. The goal is for the patient to take the good and reaffirming vibrations they feel when interacting with music, and carry them over to other aspects of their lives. The AMTA also finds that music can be a helpful tool for those who struggle with communication and self-expression.
Regardless of genre, music is capable of healing the soul and self-esteem in very significant and profound ways. It can stimulate the nervous system, making the brain and body feel more energized and productive. Music can bring back wonderful memories of times shared with loved ones. It has the potency to change views of the world and of one another. It can be the perfect medium for self-expression. Whatever the need or ailment, music always seems to hit the right note at the right time.
So put on that favorite song and sing along! The world around you will feel much brighter and happier.