Despite the existing behaviors and emotions, music remains one of the major elements penetrating each aspect of human life. According to Martin and Jacobus (2019), its power is in the possibility of provoking in people “involuntary reactions, pleasant or unpleasant” (p. 224). Someone might call me old-fashioned, but I cannot resist my passion for listening to such music genres as jazz, classical music, and symphony orchestra. I grew up in the 70s, when the popularity of jazz, fusion, and soul music was inevitable. The works of Miles Davis, Boney James, and Peter White affected my growth and understanding of the world. I am lucky to carry the power of jazz and classic through my childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, believing that no words in music create better possibilities for listeners to focus, create, and deal with emotions.
Addressing my best memories about childhood, I admire the stories with classical music backgrounds my parents shared and the cartoons I watched on TV. In fact, I did not pay much attention to the style of music, its subject matter, and its content. I remember the feeling of safety and calm that I usually come back to when listening to classical music. Now, the reading by Martin and Jacobus (2019) helps me understand that music “may not evoke feelings… but also reveal the structure of those feelings,” meaning hearing and listening to the music (p. 233). Although such compositions as “Symphony # 8” or “Piano Sonata # 4” by Beethoven and “Goldberg Variations” or “Toccata and Fugue” by Bach were not regular, they have a significant mark on my childhood. At that moment, I was not a listener but a hearer who gathered associations and developed some feelings.
Several years after, during my adolescence, I was able to recognize the motives, make preferences about the nature of music, and choose musicians who fit my style. In the 1970s, jazz became a popular American music style, characterized by a powerful rhythm and certain beats in the blues scale (Martin & Jacobus, 2019). I was impressed by the works of Miles Davies, namely “Bitches Brew” and “Pharaoh’s Dance.” This artist reflected the mystic idea of jazz that was “wrapped in an enigma” and attracted the audience by its “inescapable unknowingness” (Early & Monson, 2019). Instead of rebelling against the present, I could absorb the rhyme and tone and organize my emotions and feelings as per my needs. When little or no words are present in music, it helps the listener focus on personal stories, not those dictated by singers. That is why jazz was my major music preference that easily adapted to my mood.
There are many reasons for listening to music, and one of my goals is to experience comfort and satisfaction. Thinking about the best songs in my adulthood, Enya and her “Only Time” is one of the first songs that come to my mind. Although most people consider her style pop music, I cannot ignore the evident elements of classical and folk music. Her light musical background helps me deal with certain periods of my life: exciting memories about graduation and marriage. At the same time, I know that music is my salvation in a world where losses and challenges are unpredictable but inevitable. The death of my parents was one of the most terrible moments in my life. Not to lose the connection in time and place, I addressed Yanni and his “Prelude and Nostalgia” composition. This style evokes the sentiments and helps accept the reality through letting thorough off in the sky and experiencing comfort.
Finally, it is hard to imagine my life without music as a vital source of inspiration and happiness. When I listen to Boney James’s “Dedication” or Peter White’s “Perfect Moment,” I find additional powers to accept the external threats and get motivated to do something new and necessary. In 2008, the recession of the financial market put under threat my career, savings, and home value. I knew that music was not enough to solve those problems, but those compositions were effective for finding the balance between life and work and creating an environment where happiness, sadness, and relaxation could co-exist. I learned the truth discussed by Martin and Jacobus (2019) about the congruency of music with human feelings. This art form does not answer but reveals the “profound richness of the emotional resources” (Martin & Jacobus, 2019, p. 230). It is impossible to be ready for all changes and obstacles in this life, but music is a permanent source of happiness and inspiration.
I am fascinated by the chance to live this life with all its opportunities and losses and use music as one of the motivational means that helps me a lot. My preference for jazz and classical music should not be treated as a sign of old fashion but as a possibility to find uniqueness in simple and sometimes forgotten things. Many questions need answers, and I rely on my childhood and adolescent experiences to remember how inspirational my music without words can be. People are free to choose their zones of comfort and sources of happiness, and my decision to listen to music has its benefits. This art is always available, fascinating, and instructive, and I want to share this free but priceless gift with my family every day.
References
Early, G., & Monson, I. (2019). Why jazz still matters. Daedalus, 148(2), 5-12. Web.
Martin, F. D., & Jacobus, L. A. (2019). Humanities through arts (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill.