Music: Mind and Movement :: essays research papers fc

Music: Mind and Movement If only there were a way to make life easier. Parents who mean well are telling us to â€Å"think for ourselves,† but often have little or no idea how to keep our minds from recycling constant concerns, unnecessary worries, destructive ideas, and negative images. Teachers are excellent at teaching us algebra and conjugating French verbs, but there has yet to be any class in the curriculum to teach us how to handle depression, let go of anger, or how to communicate with others effectively. A lot of people are quick to tell us how we â€Å"should† behave, what we â€Å"ought† to think, and which attitudes we â€Å"must† have, as if we had no choices. They put the emphasis on avoiding their mistakes or they want us to relive their triumphs. Society wants us to plan for the future instead of living here and now, today, at this moment. Our society values â€Å"hanging on† to troubles and frowns on â€Å"letting go† of them. It reinforces â€Å"tr ying† and â€Å"doing† and totally ignores simply â€Å"being.† We learn to complicate simplicity and fear silence. There are few things in our world that direct our minds to increased comfort. Music, however, allows people to â€Å"tune in† to their hearts and achieve harmony in their lives. It is so powerful that it can affect us physically and therefore emotionally and mentally.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When I was twelve, the Blues took control of my mind and heart. From that moment on, music provided a place where I could go to share feelings or to escape from reality. Soon, it was my best friend, another world of happiness. The tunes I listened to would relieve stress, make me feel happy, and allow me to let go and be myself. Maybe it was that the person who wrote or recorded those songs had similar feelings or shared similar concerns. Problems became less overwhelming when I knew other people were there with similar experiences. Those people, whom I never met, have made and communicated a sense of purpose through rhythm and harmony, that most adults I know would never be able to get across through lectures and rituals. Music had awakened my awareness. It never pushed from behind, but rather pulled me forward and it challenged me without threatening. Color and meaning were added to my world. Music, in my eyes, had become a powerful source of influence and I cou ld see how it altered people, even the pace of their lives.