What is Music?--Sebastian

 

To some people, music is more a combination of sounds, lyrics, notes, chords, and scales

all clumped together. Music takes many forms. It is seen as a language, or an art, that is so

diverse it has the ability to bring people together. It is recognized by billions of people no matter

the language barrier or cultural differences that may separate them. In the words of Ludwig Van

Beethove, “music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy”. To them, and to

myself, music is best described as a way to speak one’s feelings and emotions, without saying a

word. Music has the means to unravel twisted emotions of a person, almost as if the composition

of the “sounds”, which are produced by said chords, scales, and individual notes, seem to reach

into a person’s soul and speak to them directly. This experience varies from person to person.

One might relate to lyrics present in a song that captures their emotions, their current mental

state, thought process, and intrusive thoughts. Or, the song might describe their current situation.

To me at first, music was just the “simple” notes, chords, and lyrics clumped together. I

had no idea what a melody was, what rhythm meant, or what harmonies were. I didnt have the

ability to sit through a song and pull it apart piece by piece. I couldnt tell you if the tempo

changed or not, what time signature was or what it even meant. I never paid attention to the lines,

how the track was mixed, how the instruments crossed paths. I didn't know what a verse, chorus,

or bridge was. At the time, music was just background noise. It brought no value to my life.

When I first picked up a guitar, and began my musical journey at the end of my junior

year, I never expected things to turn out the way they did. When I soon realized how musically

talented my uncle was on bass, and my dad on drums, I felt a sense of urgency to “catch up” in a

sense to reach their playing level, or at least where they would be at my age. I would hear stories

of my dad, at barely 7 years old, playing on cardboard boxes and pillows, then getting his first 5

piece kit at 11, and being in a band by the time he was 16. In a sense this motivated me to try my

absolute best when I play the guitar, even if it's warming up with my scales just before my

lesson. However, there are times where the opposite effect takes place, everything seems

overwhelming to the point I want to quit. Since I started playing over 5 months ago, and even to

this day I still find myself anxious before, during, and even after my lesson. Even with my dad

and my instructor’s support, I still feel a sense of urgency to practice, to improve, even on things

that were outside my playing level. When I first began my journey I never paced myself to

practice 10, 20 or 30 minutes a day. The tips of my fingers became numb, red, and sore. After the

skin tore off I would keep going after finding a different way to play until I temporarily healed.

My wrist would ache for weeks at a time, yet I ignored my parents’ advice to take breaks. My

fingers would ache after forcing them to stretch and curve just to hit the right chord. After

cursing myself out for not playing it correctly, I would try again only to make the same mistake.

When summer arrived, and school was finally out, I jumped at the opportunity to practice

whenever I could. I would often do three hour practices, pushing myself to play more, thinking I

needed to practice as much as I could before the school year started again, and I would never get

another chance. To this day, I miss opportunities to hang out with friends, miss out on

homework, and going out in general. I have reached the point where I find myself comparing

myself to other players, even those that are years ahead of me in playing experience. It has

caused me to set unrealistic expectations and goals for myself. Other times, I turn those negative

thoughts around to motivate myself to practice.

Now, I am more experienced and educated musically. Unlike before, I can pick apart

instrumental tracks in a song, almost as if I am listening to the isolated track itself. Knowing if

there is a major or minor chord for example, has allowed me to experience the “feel” of the

music. The change in tempo and key of the song, with understanding the lyrics, allows me to

better interpret the message in a song. Even without the basic knowledge of music theory behind

me, I am grateful to have the appreciation of music. It speaks to me and others who share that

appreciation.