By Cæcilie Liv Carlsen
Why and how can music be seen as important to the health and well-being of a community? Today, we spend a lot of money on going to concerts and listening to music with others. We attend Roskilde Festival, Heartland Festival, Skanderborg Festival, Friday Rock in Tivoli and are flooded with the same tones, sounds and rhythms. We share a common experience of being taken on a musical journey.
Many would even say that if they could only take one thing with them to a desert island, it would be a musical instrument or even a concert recording.
However, few people would say that they listen to music to be healthier, feel good or improve their mood.
So how does music as a shared culture affect our health and well-being? What happens to us and our culture when we share the same sounds, songs and lyrics? And what would society be like without music?
Music was originally a collective term for all art forms that, according to Greek mythology, were under the protection of the Muses. Today, the word is used exclusively for tonal art. In this sense, music can be defined as sound structured in a time sequence.
Music therapy can be studied as a Master’s degree at Aalborg University. They are trained in how music can be used to help people improve their wellbeing. Research is also being conducted into the impact of music on wellbeing and new knowledge is being gained about how and why music affects us.
There are places in the world and throughout history where music has been outlawed and banned. Music is said to collectively encourage rebellion against a regime, a political power or a set of rules for ethical living.
Music is memorable. When you travel the world and meet someone from your own country with whom you happen to share a taste in music, it’s often an opportunity to delve into memories that, as it turns out, can create a common footprint.
We must cherish music. It can unite people across generations, countries and walks of life through collective experiences that become precious memories. Music can soothe, express love, grief, death, broken dreams and hope in ways that spoken language cannot.
Try to imagine which songs evoke which emotions, experiences and memories and what happens when you share them with others. Which song can define a chapter in your life and which melody can reflect where you want to go in your future.
Give music a chance in a new way.
