The Impact of Music
Music can be heard from headphones, television commercials, blaring car speakers; it echoes throughout department stores, elevators, hospitals, and even in classrooms. Obviously we live in a very musically active culture where most every activity that we do is accompanied by some essence of music. Although the topic of “music” can be rather broad, this paper will focus on the way an individual should interact with music and will feature the benefits music can have overall. These benefits will validate why music programs should not be cut during the nations’ budget crisis, but rather supported and funded even further.
The act of participating in music has almost completely dissolved. Although some people listen to music while sitting behind the steering wheel of their vehicle, they are hardly interacting with music as it was originally intended. Martin Luther wrote some of the first Protestant hymn books so congregations would not simply plop into a pew and listen to monks sing ancient spiritual chants. He felt that the individual would have a deeper experience, physically and spiritually, if they participated in the singing themselves. Although this belief was viewed as sacrilegious during that time, it is a practice that almost every modern American church currently follows. Outside of a church however, many Americans have strayed away from this “interactive” musical experience. Although many Americans participated in a chorus or band while in school, the majority of society has slowly become removed from these musical participation groups as they exit school and grow older. As we grow older and music is no longer a part of an everyday class, it is often only accessible by taking specific lessons at specific times with a specialist. We do not want to give our children the impression that only a few can participate in music (Jones, 44).
Before the invention of the telephone, many families would gather together and create music as their main form of
The act of participating in music has almost completely dissolved. Although some people listen to music while sitting behind the steering wheel of their vehicle, they are hardly interacting with music as it was originally intended. Martin Luther wrote some of the first Protestant hymn books so congregations would not simply plop into a pew and listen to monks sing ancient spiritual chants. He felt that the individual would have a deeper experience, physically and spiritually, if they participated in the singing themselves. Although this belief was viewed as sacrilegious during that time, it is a practice that almost every modern American church currently follows. Outside of a church however, many Americans have strayed away from this “interactive” musical experience. Although many Americans participated in a chorus or band while in school, the majority of society has slowly become removed from these musical participation groups as they exit school and grow older. As we grow older and music is no longer a part of an everyday class, it is often only accessible by taking specific lessons at specific times with a specialist. We do not want to give our children the impression that only a few can participate in music (Jones, 44).
Before the invention of the telephone, many families would gather together and create music as their main form of
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