“What would the world be like without music?”
“Eerily silent. Uninspiring. Slow. Undesirably quiet. Sad, very sad. Unsettling. Lacking balance. Confined. Starving. And lonely.”
A conversation in my mind and happily, without any consequence to reality – but can you imagine a world void of the sound of music?
So fortunate we are to be born to this age where music is so abundantly accessible to us. Music, the discovery and the gift we would not know what to do without, continues to fill our lives in ways we hardly notice. Music can change a mood and set the stage for everything. It can fill empty space with rays of happiness and sorrow, love and hope, excitement and nostalgia. It can pump us up and calm us down. It can ignite our fire of creativity, productivity, and self-improvement all in one song. It can revive forgotten memories and make us believe in impossible dreams. It can keep us company and give us courage to go gently down the path of healing and recovery. It can be in the background of our mind or the forefront of our consciousness or anywhere in between and our brain processes those sound waves from afar or near and we can still experience the power of music even on a subconscious level.
You do not even have to own any music to be richly blessed with the harmony of sounds in your surroundings, thanks to sweet advancements in technology and the prevalence of the sweeter yet world wide web. Free online radio stations or TV music channels are streaming every genre of music 24 hours a day. Or you could choose to own your music where you can instantly download any album, any song, any music your heart desires. The luxury, the luster and the love affair of our 21st century obsession with music is everywhere but do you take advantage of it? Do you use music as a means to reach your potential in life? Do you explore the multitude of genres to find what moves mountains inside your heart and gives zest and energy to your soul? Do you feed your hunger for music fully? Do you know the power and the richness that music can bring to all aspects of your life?
How to Expand your Music Experience
Music can bring astonishing benefits to our life. The presence of music, fundamental as it may be to many parts of our lives, has blended so perfectly into the background that we need sometimes to think about all the occasions and activities where those tunes carry us through the day. Some of my life’s achievements would have been nearly impossible without music to inspire and motivate me and some of my best decisions have been born during a song.
I may be a music lover but I remain a notorious novice about music – I do not play a musical instrument (yet) and cannot name a single popular band today. I do not follow rock stars around in a concert and I cannot speak intelligently when it comes to music terminology (but I can always ask my music buff and piano player husband and impress anyone with our “couple knowledge”!) Even so, I can still bathe in musical tunes of sweet variety to feed my soul regularly. That aside, the serious practical benefits of good music far outweigh any other productivity and creativity tools out there. The power of music in your life and the importance of being open to a full range of music experience will enable you achieve greater things in the course of your days while filling you with a constant source of motivation and creativity.
If I could put some of my “music lessons” into words, I would say to you:
- Listen to MANY genres of music. Do not pigeon hole yourself by believing only one genre suits your personality or your style. You will only be limiting yourself and there is nothing to lose when you explore and everything to gain from what you may find!
- Learn how to apply each genre to enhance an activity or an aspect of my life (more on this below).
- Understand that your music taste can change not just by age but also by habits and lifestyle. Always be ready to evolve and explore beyond your usuals.
- Do not immediately dismiss a type of music you initially may not like. It deserves a second chance like all things. Hidden gems come to us in disguise in life.
- If a music genre does not suit an initially chosen activity, switch it up but don’t turn it off. What we have in this world is an infinite source of music from which to choose.
- Draw inspiration, creativity, and illumination from music especially from the richness of classical music or the sweetness of a treasured tune from your past.
- You don’t have to own it to love and enjoy it. Do not obsess with owning every piece of music, learn to listen without attachment.
- Learn to appreciate classical music sooner than later in life. There is a reason classical music has withstood the test of time and is universally loved.
- Dancing and playing an instrument teach you how to be musical and some of us are lucky to naturally experience one or both but most of us need to make it happen to us. Choose to bring at least one of the two into your life and watch the diffusion of happiness from these age-old traditions.
- Following the beat can take you places - on a run, on the bike, on the dance floor or in the comfort of your office chair and through the pathways of your mind. Learn how to zone into the music and go with it where it may take you.
A Type of Music for All Things
What do we need all this music for?
During high school and college, I used to think that ’80s pop music suited all my needs. Same music all day long for every activity except on occasions when it had to be dead quiet for studying. My stubborn engineer brain has come a long way since those days, thank heavens!! This is where I think we are as unique as our fingerprints. You may work to a music that I find distracting and that an artist may find truly inspiring. We move and think and create to different beats – and this demand for variety is no doubt what has given rise to such an astonishing growth of fabulous music in this world. Personal taste then may vary widely but more importantly, any one of us can still grow to love a large genre of music. I list here for you my top 7 prominent choices for music and how each enhance a specific part of my life.
1 Classical for Creativity and Productivity: This post was brought to you by inspiration from Johann Sebastian Bach, a man who destroyed some of his own music after playing it once – sigh, the aching regrets the geniuses of our time leave behind for us!
2 Hard Rock for Hard Workouts: No, I never thought angry hard rock music – and all its sisters and cousins – would have a place in my life until I started my spinning habit at the fabulous Sync Studio. Now I know a new woman who can move to a very new beat: me!
3 Concerto with Soprano for the Soul: The musical hubby takes me to instrumental concerts where I have fallen into a trance and traveled down memory lane in amazing detail. The concerto with a soprano usually takes my breath away and awakens emotions of deep joy and sorrow which stay with me long after she stops singing.
4 Slow New Age for Meditation: I know meditation can be as fulfilling in silence but I can never zone out without the helping hand of the right music and my favorite podcast by Meditation Oasis plays the softest and gentlest music which combined with Mary’s instructions take me into a deeper level of consciousness.
5 Opera for the Soul: I did not fall in love with the opera until watching Carmen but I never forget the scene from Philadelphia where Andrew Beckett describes his love of the opera: “Can you hear the heartache in her voice? Can you feel it, Joe? In come the strings, and it changes everything…The music fills with a hope, and that’ll change again. Listen… listen.. “. They say you will either hate the opera or love it. I would say whatever you do, give it two tries and fit in at least one Italian opera please.
6 Argentine Tango for Dancing: Tango music is sublime. It is addictive and beautiful and a genre all its own. There are three main types of songs: Vals, Tango and Milonga. Of course I am incredibly partial but so are my friends and together, perhaps we can convince you to at least listen to the beauty that came out of Argentina, or better yet, invite you to explore the tango in your life.
7 Persian Pop or Instrumental for Inspiration and Joy: I love my Persian music and it is still to this I return during many daily routines, getting ready, driving to an event, building up momentum to an occasion, for the (appropriate) parties and for practicing my Farsi with the help of Persian rap music coming out of LA studios! (Did I really admit that openly?)
Invite music to every part of your life and do it especially on those occasions when you least feel like it. Be open to experiencing the change in yourself through great music and fill the silent hours of the day with the richness of your favorite songs. You will not regret the new loyal companionship music will bring you.
Did you know that the word derives from Greek μουσική (mousike), “(art) of the Muses.”?
Share your Thoughts
The theme of music is not an easy one to close – so much to share and explore here but it is your turn to tell us what music you have in your life and how it helps you? Do you explore a variety of genres and styles of music or do you always return to what you know you love? What music do you love? And most of all, what does music do for you? I would love to hear your thoughts and ways music enhances your life and you as a human being.
With deep appreciation to John Morris, a dear friend and artist with the camera, for the beautiful photograph above.
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{ 37 brilliant comments, Care to add another? }
Hi Farnoosh,
First, I love that you are doing an appreciation for music. It is so easy to take this kind of abundance for granted. Appreciating the things we take for granted is a key to having an attitude of prosperity. We really do have so much access to the abundance of the universal language of music.
Second, I love all kind of music too. My favorite is Bob Dylan and I pay attention to contemporary Folk/ Rock singers. I have a deep appreciation for classical too. I used to play the trumpet and took classes at Berkley with a popular Jazz musician… I was OK but really learned to listen closely and appreciate the artistry of the greats.
Rob, it was an inspired topic from Andy, the piano man (and hard rock lover) in my life! Attitude of prosperity – I love the phrase. You know, they say that musicians have their own language and they communicate to each other through it regardless of any other cultural or communication barriers. I am sure you experienced something marvelous with your classes at Berkley! Thank you for sharing your love of music, Rob!
Music plays a big part in my life. I don’t own a music player. I just sing sotthing songs during my city commutations. I love the feeling. I sing, dance and enjoy my own tunes when at home.
Hi Jaky, you don’t really need a music player at all – and I am so glad you invite so much music (AND dance!) into your life. Keep it up and thanks for the comment!
Excellent post Farnoosh and I loved the title, “The Soundtrack of Your Life.”
I usually like Ghazals, soft melodious tunes with great poetry to accompany it. It always puts me into a relaxed state of mind.
Abubakar, I have outsourced the titles to Andy so if you like them, it was his play on words. Great poetry with the music, ha? I have to try it. We all know some great poets (Sa’adi among them), no? Thank you for sharing!
Well then Andy has done a good job with the title.
I’ll send you poem in email (mp3) that I love and I think you will like the composition and melody. Although you won’t be able to understand the meanings but I’ll translate.
Hi Farnoosh.
Your point about expanding your music experience with different genres sure is important. As you say, “there is nothing to lose when you explore” new types of music, and I have found this to be the case. I don’t usually enjoy country music, but I have listened to a song or two at various times to try something different, and was able to hear a couple of relaxed messages in them. Had I not given classical or jazz or lyrical trance a try originally, I would have missed out on much that I like.
Speaking of music, when you bring it up, everyone likes to talk of it, because so many of us listen to it daily, some at multiple times.
For creativity and productivity, as you mentioned, I have listened to classical, and mainly currently listen to rap instrumentals.
I sure don’t enjoy opera much at all. On a separate note, I went to a outdoor jazz concert a couple of days ago and it was just wonderful. There was a piano person, a drum person, and a bass person, and they kept going and it was great. Long live drums and piano“
Hi Armen, welcome back here, I have missed hearing your thoughts and from your music composing podcast, I knew you love music too. I can listen to jazz too but it does not move me like classical – but then again, I think each genre serves its own purpose and I have no expectations just to reap some pleasure from all music! I am sorry you don’t love the opera but you never know when that might change so try it again in a few years just for me, ok? Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Hi Farnoosh,
I loved reading this post! Your passion for all these different types of music is evident just in the way you’ve written about it. I was lucky that my parents are both music lovers (my mom is a classical pianist, in fact) so my brother and I grew up listening to everything from Broadway musicals, to the Eagles, to Sinatra, to more modern tunes. My brother and I bought season tickets to the symphony last year and we were probably the only people under 40 in attendance (we are 24 and 22). It’s a shame more people can’t appreciate a greater variety of music but we both feel very lucky that we were raised with it.
Also, thanks very much for turning me on to the Meditation Oasis podcast! I listen to several Buddhist podcasts that sometimes have a feature on meditation, but had no idea there was a podcast dedicated to this practice! My favorite meditation music is Wah!, Deva Premal, Medhi, and Krishna Das. I would recommend all of them if you have not heard their music. I love to sing along with their chanting on some of the tracks.
Dear Maggie, you are indeed SO young! And already in love with concert music, I say you are way ahead of your time. Even I – who is much older than you – find that we are one of the youngest couples at piano or classical music concerts but we all belong with great music, no matter what age! The Meditation Oasis podcast is fantastic – if only I get myself to do it daily – I have not heard many of those recommendations you have but I shall look for them in iTunes at my earliest! Thank you for your comment!
Farnoosh,
I cannot imagine my life without music either. It adds so much richness to our experience. I do love many types of music from classical, to folk, to jazz and rock and Middle Eastern and Greek music. I also love to sing – although I wouldn’t subject anyone to listen to me!
Thank you so much for this lovely inspiring post.
Dear Angela, me neither. I am glad we got that out of the way
! Middle Eastern and Greek music are wonderful too – and I’d love it if you were to subject me to your singing one of these days please. Thank you for liking the post and for your kind comment as always!
I am like you – I cannot play an instrument (but I’m learning guitar!) and I don’t know the names of most popular bands. Still, I love nearly all types of music when they come into my life. My natural way of being is often to just enjoy the quiet, as the sounds of nature are also beautiful music to me– but I love being surprised by a beautiful piece of music when I’m out and about and adore going to concerts of all types too. I guess I’m just a happy woman with a musical spirit inside
Jean, my cousin is learning the guitar too and my Dad used to play ! And you know what, between us, I am always slightly off beat and Andy says I hear the music inside my own head – probably not as eloquent as what you described but I couldn’t help sharing. Nature is music to my ears too. Thank you for telling me more about you!
I completely agree with you that we are lucky to have such easy access to music. Life would not be “life” without music. I’ve always loved different kinds of music since I was a child, and it inspired me to play the guitar. I think you should think about playing an instrument.
It’s very therapeutic. I enjoyed this post, Farnoosh.
Dear Gabe, how nice to hear your thoughts around music – and yes, music is extremely therapeutic. Keep up the guitar, as you can see Jean is learning to play too – I would pick the VIOLIN in a heartbeat, a fast heartbeat
! Someday yes. Of course I own a gorgeous Schimmel piano that calls my name every time I go past it too….Too much music and too little time in life. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Well, I guess too much music is a good thing. The next best thing to playing an instrument is listening music, so at least we have that!
Farnoosh, this is such a wonderful celebration of music!!! I love the entire gamut of music genres. I love your advice “Do not immediately dismiss a type of music you initially may not like. It deserves a second chance like all things. Hidden gems come to us in disguise in life.” Although I’m not a rap fan I do love eminem and I’m not a country fan but love the sound of the steel guitar.
Music for all moods: devotchka. pink martini, gabrielle roth – ohhh so many. I’m in love with Pandora.com because it’s a perfect place to listen to all types of music for fee – that’s very encouraging for exploration!
It’s now time for some meditation music to unwind with a yummy glass of wine
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Dear Aileen, I just finished a morning meditation and reading this – The best part of this post is getting all the fab suggestions on music! Thank you!! I am going to check into it…..Pandora is wonderful. Believe me I am not a fan of rap music at all either but the Persian rap is a different kind of genre altogether and much too fun. Explore away and thank you for sharing your musical thoughts with us!
Wow what truly inspired and magical post! I think many people will miss exactly what you’ve said here, the core message but I know exactly where this article has come from.
Being a radio presenter I listen to a lot of pop music. I love it! It gets me fired up, gives me energy and helps me burn calories!
I like it when I drive and also when I’m doing exercise. I have a fast playlist on my iphone for those times I train.
I also love classical and chillout vibez for when I write. Just this morning I was writing and I was listening to some chillout music/jazz/classical that was putting me in the perfect frame of mind for getting the written inspiration out.
I also listen to old skool music, hip hop and random times and I have various moods where I just feel like a certain type of music and I’ll listen to it.
I use this great app which is called spotify. You can get it on the iphone too. You pay a monthly fee and get access to all the music they have in their database which includes just about every variety and genre that I personally like. It doesn’t download the music as such but you can listen to the music offline. It’s a perfect tool and I almost don’t use anything else now.
Isn’t it said somewhere that the sound of the universe is music? Or that the language of the soul is music?
I just love music, full stop!
Awesome post farnoosh!
Hello dear Amit, I remember your association with radio and of course there is Indian music that I know you enjoy from that video you did a while ago. I have not heard of Spotify – I have so much music that I still am going through my collection f 8000 songs = cleanup required indeed! I am very happy to hear you among many other readers incorporate music in your life. And so happy you enjoyed the post, thanks for stopping by – I’ve missed reading your thoughts!
Farnoosh: I loved this post and I couldn’t agree more with you about the power of music and its ability to really open up the way we live and experience life. It is easy to overlook the impact that it really can have on your mood, feelings, emotions and connection to everything. For me, the beauty of music is evident when you can feel the passion and energy an artist has poured into a composition. It is as if they put a piece of their soul into their masterpiece for all to hear. Thank you so much for sharing this post and your music recommendations. I am definitely going to check them out.
P.S. Absolutely amazing photo your friend took. He really captured the essence of the moment.
Dear Sibyl, hi!! Yes John’s photo is amazing although I love the first one I took of the conductor in a moment of complete surrender to his own music. I am so happy you enjoyed the music and love your perspective on the music of your life, Sibyl. Very kind of you to share your thoughts here, always nice to read them, thank you!
Hi Farnoosh,
I love music..
Your title drew me in because many of my memorable life moments are connected with a song..either the song was playing as I experienced the moment, or when I was processing the moment I attached a song to it…
I listen to all types of music..to help me praise, to center, to dance, to play drums, to express love, to sail to, to cook to, to entertain, to feel an emotion, to raise my vibration…
One of my favorite ways to get to know someone is to listen to their IPOD..your top 25 played says a lot about you….and until recently I didn’t have an IPOD so I would exchange CD’s…
I incorporate my favorite songs into some of my blog posts and have a musical notes page….
I also don’t use music as a filler–I appreciate golden silence n my life, so I often drive in silence, or perform a task in silence..when I listen to music it’s purposeful so I may enjoy it.
Dear Joy,
We share that love of music. And the title is thanks to my hubby who is so creative. “Raise your vibration” <= Love it! And that is a very sneaky way to get to know someone – My top 25 surprise even more. I must rotate more. I listen to my iPod mostly on the go and then to iTunes at home. No matter, I think it’s a clever approach. And I shall come visit your creative song-infused posts. Thanks for your comment!
When it comes to music , I’m a hop hop head at heart ( no surprise), but i love so many types of genres. Classical, rock, punk rock, pop, techno , r& b, it goes on and on. I think the more eclectic you become, the more diverse you see the world. You also become more open minded. So it’s best not to strap yourself down to one beat box, when across the land in Thailand there is someone who is playing a different tune just as good.
It starts with being more open minded and less ignorant.
Hello Jonathan, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Eclectic is fun and diversity of world music makes my day so we share that for sure. I also enjoy techno but it so depends on my mood and the circumstance and the occasion. An open mind is imperative to exploring the world of music, definitely! Thank you for your addition to the post here.
You live up to your title Farnoosh, this is prolific advice covering all musical variants. I agree that opening up to all music is wise practice as it’s like reading oodles of inspirational blogs but with sound instead. Yesterday my ears were entertained by John Cougar Mellenkamp as well as Disney songs plus Soul to Soul. They all touched different parts of me. I feel good. As I do when I read this post. And THAT picture is totally superb!!!!!! Love it!
Thank you John. But I did not cover hardly anywhere close to all musical variants – just a wide genre! The photos add so much tribute to musicians and music – I am glad you liked it. Very nice to see your comment here. Thank you!
Farnoosh,
I love this topic here today! Music is something that very much touches my soul. My tastes can be varied. What brings me joy is really letting the music enter my being…to soak it into my soul. Sometimes…that’s the same song repeating over and over. Other times, it’s a mix of different genres. And anything in between…really, whatever feels right at the time.
So, I have really enjoyed reading this today (and you have even given me some new things to check out).
…and did you know…
I also had an engineer-brain in my college days!!
Lance, my dear friend, if you did not devour music, who would? Your entire site is filled with music and poetry, rhythm and cadence. And yes I can believe not just one but two of us were badly placed in the wrong curriculum back in college but we have now and we have the rest of our lives to explore music among other artistic abilities. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and love for music with us here.
Hi Farnoosh,
Love music! I’ve been a runner for over 25 years and have listen to music while doing so for at least 20. The last five for some reason I’ve decided to run without it! I’ve always listened to my daughter’s music I think it made me feel close to them. Now I enjoy it when my granddaughter puts her music on my iPod for the same reason! Rock and roll has always been pumped up while cleaning my house;)
Hi Farnoosh,
Another great post from you.
I love all types of music (except loud heavy rock!) especially world music from different cultures.
Here in London, I am lucky to have access to all types of concerts, both indoors and outdoors in the summer.
This Sunday, I have my annual “Friends & Friend’s Friends Picnic” and we will be having African drumming!
Hi Arvind, so nice to hear from you, all the way from London, one of my fave cities no doubt. The concerts, the music, the orchestras, the theater in London is fantastic and some are free to public. We loved attending a concert at St. Martin in the Fields around Trafalgar Square to kick off our short weekend there in January. Thanks for sharing your taste in music with us!
Let me know next time you guys visit London – and I can take you to some African drumming gigs!
St. Martin in the Fields is a great venue – one of my favourites:-)
Next year, I’d like to come during the summer to witness the sun not going down until 9 or 10pm!!! And how many concerts can we watch in one day? I shall definitely keep you posted. We had many adventures, all documented here in London’s brilliant city on the blog….thank you Arvind for the tour guide offer. You are on!
{ 3 brilliant comments, Care to add another? }