Press Play.
Beats. Piano. Drums.
A voice or instrument recognizable from a million miles away.
Memories finding their way back into your mind. A wave of feelings and emotions. That’s when you turn the volume up, sink into the sounds of your music and forget everything around you.
Music is a big part of students and teachers’ lives. Sometimes it’s easier to cope with your own feelings by listening to music. Whether it is slow or upbeat music or old-fashioned or modern. Artists produce music to express their own feelings.
However, there are many different genres of music that offer diversity and variety. From Metal, Country, Rock, Pop to Hip Hop. Among teachers you can find all kinds of genres and often it’s very surprising what a teacher is listening to in their free time.
“[My favorite artist or band is] Shinedown and P!nk,” math teacher Penney Brewer said. “I can sing along at the top of my lungs and it makes me feel better.”
For most people music is an important part of their well being. It can motivate and push them to achieve goals or dreams. Or it can simply make you smile on a mediocre day.
“[My favorite song is] Scar Tissues by Hot Chili Peppers,” StuCo sponsor Mica Martin said. “The lyrics detail different forms of baggage (“scars”) that people carry. Sometimes it’s important to be reminded of the things others are going through even if they can’t be seen by the outside.”
Music can be a way of escaping from reality. Whenever listening to music, the outside world gets blurry and it’s just you. Emotions can navigate what music you choose to listen to. Whenever you feel down, you more likely tend to listen to sad music. But when feeling energetic and happy, you are probably listening to uplifting music. Without doubt, that doesn’t speak for everyone.
“[My favorite song is] Enchanted,” art teacher Kami Yeilding said, “[Because] I had just gotten married and when I heard it, it reminded me of my husband and [me].”
Connecting. Music is all about connecting or bonding with other people. Even if you have nothing else in common with one another, music can bring you closer together. A lot of people meet their closest friends through music. If it’s because you met at a concert or simply because you are a fan of the shared artist. You can always communicate with music.
“It’s timeless, it’s transformative, it takes people back to experiences. It can be healing and therapeutic,” counselor Ashley Aaron said, “It also bonds people together through commonalities and shared experiences.”
People come together at concerts, to their favorite artists for the first time. A whole room full of people who share the same passion and love. They might not even know a single person in that room, but when the music starts to play everyone is connected. They met for a split second and they probably won’t see each other ever again.
“I have to say the last concert I went to was probably one of the best shows I have ever been to,” English teacher Celeste Zachry said, “It was the Italian band Måneskin.”
Music is all over the world. It can connect people from completely different continents. There are multiple different languages and genres, diversity that has a place for everyone to feel comfortable.
“[If I could go to any concert I would want to see] Josh Groban, his music isn’t too loud,” science teacher Bria Bird said, “I won’t go deaf at his concert, but I might at a heavy metal concert.”
Music can get a hold on memories. Happy moments or sad moments, it will always offer you a place to stay. People won’t always share your opinions but music itself will never judge you, so don’t be afraid of listening to what you like.
“[My favorite bands are] Bee Gees and MercyMe, [because] their music is full of love and hope,” math teacher Danny Elam said.
You can learn a lot about a person, by just knowing what music they are listening to. It helps to develop your character and to find out who you truly are. If you struggle with knowing who you are, music will definitely stand by your side on your way to finding yourself.
“The importance of music cannot be defined,” Aaron said.
