THE POWER OF MUSIC AS A DEVICE TO CONVEY A MESSAGE

It’s no secret that music has so many effects on those who hear it. In movies, music conveys a particular feeling or mood that is designed to compliment a scene. Try to imagine some of the iconic scenes in film, like that scene in the matrix where Neo(played by the legendary Keanu Reaves) dodges a barrage of bullets with such flair and grace. Now, imagine how you felt ,indeed, It was the music that set the mood and tone of the whole scene.

HOW DOES MUSIC MAKE US FEEL?

There is a myriad of purposes for which music can be used.Music can be used as a form of entertainment,It can be used to give an instruction, music can even be used to set a particular mood.In this manner music cannot be looked at as a mere collection of vibrations strung together to form sounds and subsequently notes, but also as a piece of art that affects us on a much deeper level, deeper than even our consciousness. We must all ourselves,”how does music make me feel? Because the truth is that we all will have varying answers to that question.The same piece of music can strike so many different reactions in so many people, but one thing is usually constant, music has a positive effect on us more often than not. It is indeed a very powerful tool when it comes personal and spiritual growth.It is a well known fact that the environment that a person finds themselves in has a higher potency on their lives than even their will power. What we find ourselves surrounded by also shapes our thoughts, moods, attitudes etc. In this regard the power of music cannot be underestimated as it acts on our consciousness far more than any other mediums of communication possibly can.Music is a vibration that easily bypasses any mental and rational defences to affect us on energetic and emotional levels, often regardless of mere things like genre and lyrics .Music even affects us on cellular and atomic levels, as demonstrated by studies with plants and ice crystals.

MUSIC SPEAKS TO US

Along this vein of thought, it is therefore possible to harness music to induce an individual to think along certain lines as a direct result of the music they are listening to, thus effectively communicating an idea in the broadest of forms to them.

According to scholars, there are various ways through which one is able to feel or understand the message that is within a piece of music but there are two paramount ways through which a feeling or message is conveyed through music.

The first way is how the music inherently has specific qualities designed to trigger a specific emotional response in those who listen to it. This is accomplished through devices like melody, tempo, rhythm ,harmony, the choice of instruments and also the style of play. For example chords from a piano  will have a different effect on our brains compared to if it were a guitar.

The second way is how music draws responses based on our own internal emotions. Certain types of music can trigger memories for people, a term known as nostalgia. In this manner all the feelings related to said memories may affect the listener.

UNDERSTANDING MUSIC

Some composers also prefer to give a brief talk before they play their music piece, normally to explain what their piece symbolises. This is because some music can be so complex that they require an initial explanation in order to “guide” the listener along a particular path, lest the composers message be lost in translation.

In the end, What is ultimately communicated through any piece of music is the consciousness and magnetism of both composer and performers: their attitudes, their emotions, their aspirations (or lack thereof), and their approach to life’s challenges. Do the artists merely express problem-consciousness, or do they actually offer solutions? Do they basically sit around and complain, or are they trying to understand?

In order to objectively  hear what a piece of music is saying in and of itself, it is very important to listen without becoming too emotionally involved, in other words, allow your inner feelings, memories etc. to cloud your judgement. This is known as the neutralisation of self.Listening to a piece of music in this state allows one to feel what the music is saying on its own.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Regardless of age, race, nationality or gender, music is a beautiful thing and its messages are diverse and have so many different effects on us as humans. The next time you are walking down the street try to listen to the music around you and try to decipher what the music is trying to say to you. Will it give you warm fuzzy feelings inside or will it remind you of your childhood? The possibilities are endless!