Finding your Rhythm and Song
By Cynthia Friesen, Vocal Coach & Music Educator
As I write these words on a Friday afternoon, my 20 year old son is cleaning the kitchen for me while listening to the electronic dance music which motivates him. I accept it as a fair trade since some chores are being attended to even though his music choices are as diverse as they can be from my own. And in spite of myself, I’m grooving a bit to the beat. That’s the beauty of music...it is both personal and universal.
Our quality of life expands with music...we find a sense of purpose in the meaningful pursuits of learning, creating, sharing and listening to music.
The World Health Organization recently acknowledged evidence base for arts interventions, such as singing in a choir, as non-invasive, low-risk prescription options to supplement more traditional, biomedical treatments for enhancing health. People are living longer...from England to New Zealand, there is support for prescriptive applications of the arts and culture, with music being recognized as medicine for the mind. This is a growing field for musicians, with opportunities opening up to see our expertise applied to musical engagement and facilitation, combating both loneliness and health challenges.
Music is an expressive wellness tool ...how beautiful to see so many endeavors at play, making it accessible in a myriad of spheres.
When we gather as one of the Brain Wellness Program groups to share a musical experience, I encourage each person involved to trust their instincts and direct their own engagement, whether we are finding balance through deeper breathing, responding together to rhythm or singing through a lyrical piece. Just this past week, I requested musical suggestions from the participants which have roots in their cultural heritage, expanding the diversity of our musical practice.
Dr. Josef Rauschecker, director of Georgetown’s ‘Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition’ wrote a paper which was featured in the New York Times last year :
“There are theories that music is older than speech or language. Some even argue that speech evolved from music. The brain gives specialized treatment to music recognition, and regards music as fundamental a category as speech.”
He goes on to say that,
“...music works as a group cohesive. Music making with other people...is a very ancient, human thing to do.”
This past winter, I had the opportunity to hear the Vancouver Youth Choir perform a Slovenian piece which, in addition to lyrics in a language which very few of us in the space understood, involved an interplay of body percussion sounds and tones, the singers weaving their notes through each other almost as though in conversation...and we caught the spirit of the dialogue.
I encourage you each to find your song...that may begin with listening to a musical genre which you know and love before flowing into a style which taps into emotions found a little deeper down. For now, the story you sing and play may be in the quiet of your own home, or perhaps you might join a virtual musical experience like the one we offer through the Brain Wellness Program where you can share some common purpose. Soon enough, we’ll be able to physically raise our voices together in our communities again... how I look forward to meeting you there :)
Ideas and opinions expressed in this post reflect that of the author(s) solely. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the BC Brain Wellness Program.