From an early age, music has served as a great source of inspiration. Not only do the lyrics seem to perfectly align with my life struggles, but the melodies also impact my mood in remarkable ways. Like Oliver Sacks, I feel mentally and physically aroused by music as my hair cells bounce around in response. My perception of music, or my interpretation of the meaning of such sensation, stems from a long-standing appreciation. As mentioned in our readings, individuals can experience a variety of emotions in response to pieces of music. Ranging from indifference to uncontainable sensitivity, these varying attitudes towards music demonstrate the influence of the role of music.
Lately, I have turned to country music as a source of comfort, which is quite ironic given my background. Growing up in North Carolina, I was constantly surrounded by country radio stations booming from every car. I detested every croon and enunciated phrase. I felt as though I could not connect to the music. The lyrics appeared archaic and the melodies seemed tacky. My range of emotions towards country music ranged anywhere from utter annoyance to indifference. As soon as I got to Boston, however, my musical preferences evolved. Now, on my playlists remain the select country songs that I know and love. I am not quite sure when it happened, but my brain began to respond to country music. There became a more apparent emotional and motor arousal in response to each tune and melody heard. I felt new connections and emotional empowerment from each song. As Suzanne Langer eloquently states, “…music…has the power to evoke emotions and moods we have not felt, passions we did not know before.”
Although I love listening to country music, I simply cannot listen to it while I am studying or completing my homework. In every past attempt, the songs captured my attention, preventing true focus dedicated towards my assignments. Reflecting on the power of music in this way is interesting because it provides a new perspective on the potentially destructive and obsessive factors of music. Even though music can be a potent source of comfort, it can also destroy a person’s capability to concentration. Sound transmission and interpretation is not a physical process that I can see on a daily basis, I guess that I truly do not know the complexities of how I hear and react to music.