"If music be the food of love, play on..." William Shakespeare
It might be a truism that life would be so much better with a built in soundtrack, but I think there is something in the idea...Maybe not a literal soundtrack, but we could certainly all do with some more music in our lives.
Music has a fantastic power; it can rejuvenate and enliven our lives and let our spirits soar. Music helps us express our emotions (our hopes, dreams and fears), and connect with others. Music allows us to to transcend our simple, every day lives and for just a moment to travel somewhere fantastical.
If this sounds a bit like romantic gobledegook to you, then perhaps you'd rather be presented with the 'cold, hard facts'. Studies have found that babies as young as five months old reacted to happy songs, and those as young as nine months recognise and are affected by sad songs. Happy music can make us breathe faster, (a physical sign of happiness) whilst sad music, (usually slow and in minor keys), causes a slowing of the pulse and a rise in blood pressure. [source: Discovery Fit and Health: Music and Happiness]
Music can also reduce stress, and increase happiness. Live music also provides a way to forge social bonds and create friendships. [source: Discovery Fit and Health: Music and Happiness]
As a Music Educator I know that Music can effect a child's language development, increase IQ, enhance abstract reasoning ability, improve auditory memory, increase creativity and improve manual dexterity. [source: B Macmillan: Word and Music Games]
But personally, music has given me so much more: I've had great opportunities and experiences, met some amazing people, travelled (and made money at the same time!) but more importantly, I've laughed and cried and learnt to understand myself through music.
In this blog, I aim to share with you a little bit of my passion for music and for life in general. For all the best things in life: the three Fs (family, Friends and Food), for travel, for good books and great writer's, historical anecdotes and powerful stories.
Roll on life... let the soundtrack begin!
