The Power Of Music

Photo by Kael Bloom on Unsplash

Many people have different theories on the effect music has on us.

Some people believe music makes babies more inteligent if they are played classical music in the womb.Other researchers dispute this theory.

Some researchers claim music alters our mood-everyone has a favourite song that takes them back to a happy or sad place.I have songs that remind me of when i was a teenager in the 80s and other songs remind me of past relationships or events in my life.I like to put the music on in the morning,drink my tea and wake up the musical way.I cant find a nicer way of waking up!

As an ESL Teacher i know that Music can aid language acquisition.”Songs develop students listening, speaking, reading and writing” (saricaban et al, university of Edinburgh,20000).Research by (ludke, Ferreira, and overy,2013) found Adults who sang phrases or words from a language they are learning were twice as good speaking it over time.

Listening to words in a song and singing them as a technique for learning enhances links between music and memory. Mora and her research states “The musicality of speech has an effect not only on the pronunciation skills of EFL students but also on their language acquisition process” (mora,20000, pp.148) Mora,C.F.(20000) Foreign Language Acquisition and Melody Singing, ELT Journal, s4(2), 146–152Ludke, K, Ferreira. and Ovary, K (2013) “Singing can facilitate Foreign Language Learning, memory and cognition”,41(s) 41–52.

If you are thinking of learning a language-get on you tube and sing along to a song in the language you are learning.You will be able to speak better and remember words easier.

A few years back i went to a workshop at the Royal Conservatoire Of Scotland.This was in conjunction with Nordoff Robbins -.music therapy.

I was shown the benefits of making music with Children under 5.

Children with autism learn to concentrate better and learn to tolerate noise over time and many children and adults with Additional Needs use music as a way of communication.

Some people find music therapy beneficial if they suffer from depression as is singing with other people in a choir.The social aspect of singing in a choir makes people who live on their own feel less isolated.

There is nothing better than a music concert to raise your spirits.

Music has the ability to bring large amounts of people together for a great evening out.

Music festivals are also great gatherings for people to sing,dance and be happy.

Music also has the ability to raise money for every charity and disaster at short notice.We cant forget live Aid on Saturday 13 July 1985,the first of its kind to raise so much money in a short time.Since Live Aid there have been numerous concerts to raise money for different charities world wide.

Music also has the power for peace in this turbulent world-even if it is just for a little time.

The West -Eastern Divan Orchestra was co founded by Edward Said and Daniel Barenboim.The orchestra comprises of Israeli and Palestinian young people all playing peacfully together.This was not a political agenda but a way of opening up dialogue and discussion for people of both sides to aid a better understanding of each other.

Identity has paid a great part in music and songs from reggae,political songs to folk and traditional music from all around the world.

Music is a universal language that everyone can connect and communicate with each other -be it Auld lang Syne on New Years Day to Bohemian Rhapsody which is the most streamed song from the 20th Century with over 1.6 Billion listens (google).

No matter where you are or what language you speak music will always unite us for a little while-Thats The Power Of Music.