Why I love Music and teach it?
Why do I love Music and why I teach it. ( Part 1)
In this 2 part series, I want to share with you my reasons for loving and teaching Music. You can get to know me more in my About Me page. However I want to share with you why I love Music and why I teach it.
Music is art.. Why is this? Music is art in sound. It is the art of communicating in silence and in sound to our emotions. Music has power since it has the power to transform and to heal our emotions.
Music affects the way we feel. Listening to music and/or playing/singing can lift us up when we are down, or can add another layer to our happiness and contentment. We can feel connected to some music- sometimes the lyrics touch us and other times it is the combination of the lyrics and the music combined that give it a sublime sense of satisfaction. I feel that when I sing ‘’O Holy Night’’ or when I listen to music played by Andre Rieu or sung by Luciano Pavarotti. My heart sings.
Sometimes we can identify how Music has transformed us and at other times, we may not have the words to express how it has affected us, but we know in our inner being that we have been touched by it. Music therefore is good for our emotional well being especially and our spiritual well being, but also for our physical well being. For example listening to 5-10 songs daily can improve memory, strengthen immune system and combat depression by 80%.
Music has its power to heal and to transport us. How often do we listen to music when we need to be uplifted? When we are happy, we enjoy the music and when we are sad, we often understand the lyrics more. Music can provide empathy when we need it most and from this experience of being understood, we can provide a greater level of empathy to others since our own spirit is more finely tuned.
Music is history. It reflects the environment and times of the period of history in which it is written. Understanding music history can give us insight into the country and feelings of the race of the composer. Understanding music history provides us with a greater insight and a greater appreciation as well as a safe context in which to place the music itself. After all music is composed by a person/people and when we gain insight into the music, we gain a greater insight into people of history and their lives and times.
When we listen or play/sing a piece of music, it is therefore worthwhile to understand something about the composer, his/her life and times and how the composition fits into a bigger context. When we understand music history as we listen, play or sing a piece of music, it can help us to appreciate the genius of the composer and the work itself. We can ask why does this piece of music live on when many others do not. How does this composer/this composition contribute to a development of previous eras?
Understanding music history can also help us to appreciate the music of today as well.
Music is life where I can be a melody of rejoicing, a harmony to myself and to other people, a rhythm that makes my heart beat, a stable form on which to pin my life. As a Music Teacher, I love to be able to help my students learn the skills required so that they too can fall in love with Music. Being able to play/sing music is totally engaging because it involves us physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Listening to Music is definitely soothing and can be exhilarating too, yet it does not have the same physical input as actually playing and singing. Yet, in listening to Music our hearing can be engaged. Can be? I say can be because we are often bombarded with Music around us and we can easily tune out to it. We need to be actively listening when we are listening to Music. It is a definite mental choice and decision just as we choose not to listen or to tune out to what we do not want to hear.
Music Theory is its language: Understanding Music is essential, so I always teach Music Theory from day 1. Being able to understand what is on the written page is important in being able to interpret and to put our own stamp on how it is played. Knowing its meaning and why symbols are there is vital, as these are signs/symbols which communicate more about the music. We cannot speak without knowing our alphabet nor can we read. In music, learning Music Theory is, in my view essential from the first music lesson. It opens the student up to the language of Music.
Look out for my next post: Part 2: More keys to Music and why I love teaching it.
Are you interested to find out more? Check out my 5-week course in Music Theory for beginners called Love Music Theory 1 or for those who play/sing but have yet to learn Music Theory. I also have Love Music Theory 2 which extends the learning from Love Music Theory 1.
Some people in the past have had a negative learning experience when it comes to Music. Perhaps they loved to sing. but told to mime in the choir and never sang again, or perhaps they did not see music as important so tuned out in Music classes.
I am passionate about teaching Music and in particular Music Theory. So why not enrol today and be prepared to enjoy and to learn. After all, talkingmusic.online is a place love life and learn Music. So love life today by learning Music.
I use rukuzu.com to host my courses so when you click you will be taken to my courses on their platform. I will look forward to meeting you there in teleconference calls, helping you with your questions through email support, online discussions and where necessary, through Skype. I always want to give my students the best opportunity to learn.
Check out my Pin here on this topic and Feel free to share the links https://talkingmusic.online with friends, family, colleagues and on social media too. Let’s spread the word about it and let’s love life and learn music.
You can also listen to Episode 1 from Talking Music Classical which not only talks about this topic in more detail as well as music examples. Why not check it out here.