It always makes me roll my eyes a little when people say stuff like, "I love music."
Well, duh. Who doesn't love music? Have you ever met anyone who has said , "I hate music!"
I didn't think so.
At the risk of you rolling your eyes at me, I'm going to go ahead and proclaim that I, too, love music.
Music has therapeutic qualities. It soothes your nerves.
There are articles all over about how anxiety can be combated by music (like this one: https://psychcentral.com/news/2011/12/23/music-soothes-anxiety-reduces-pain/32952.html)
This article has a list of the 10 most calming songs.
http://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/neuroscience-says-listening-to-this-one-song-reduces-anxiety-by-up-to-65-percent.html
Music can also make you feel HOT. Think about all of the nights getting ready to go out with your girlfriends. Did you apply mascara in silence? No.
What about getting ready for a date? Jack Johnson or John Mayer of course.
Cooking? You need jazz.
All of this is common sense to me. Of course music is relaxing, energizing, etc. I know because I've experienced the power.
However, life gets busy. I haven't been listening to "my music" since having children-- not really.
Sure I've introduced Maggie and Jack to some Johnny Cash and U2.
Living with Bill has made that possible. He loves to listen to Cash, U2, and Tom Jones when he's cleaning. I bet you didn't know that, now did you?
It isn't like I sit around discovering new jam bands like I used to. And don't even get me started on shows. I don't go to shows like I used to, obviously.
For most of my drive to Troy for fall semester, I rarely turned on the radio. I had Samantha, but this semester I lost my carpool buddy to softball; otherwise we would be happily chatting the whole way.
So this semester, I made a serious investment. My car doesn't have an aux outlet, so I recently bought myself some earbuds. By the way, if you call them headphones in front of teenagers, they will laugh at your old-fashioned words.
I redownloaded the Pandora app on my phone. I have been listening to Pandora in my classroom during my planning, but it's nothing like listening in the car. I can't sing harmony at the top of my lungs in my classroom! They'll think I'm crazier than they do already. (They've figured out that I'm a little loud and spastic.)
Anyway -- PANDORA!
All of those stations! Ray Lamontagne! Heart! Allman Brothers! Avett Brothers! Paul! George! John!
For the past four days I've been listening to "my music" on the way to and from school. That's about an hour and a half of jamming, singing at a dangerously high volume, picturing myself on stage singing lead in an 80's cover band, and perfecting my Janis impression.
These music sessions have INTENSELY improved my mood and brought back some happy memories.
Just like you, certain songs bring back all sorts of sensory details and I can almost completely transport myself.
When I hear any song from Abbey Road, I am instantly back in my bedroom on Clement Curve.
When I hear Lynyrd Skynyrd, I'm in my blue Honda.
When I hear Prince, I'm dancing with my mom in the living room in the house down the street from theirs now.
When I hear Tim McGraw, I'm at a field party circa 1999.
When I hear Sublime, I'm driving to Panama City or maybe cruising The Strip.
When I hear No Doubt, I'm flying to Hawaii.
When I hear Sheryl Crow, I'm in Texas headed to the Alamo. (I had my very own Walkman that played cassettes! I had joined one of those "get 10 tapes for one penny clubs!)
When I hear O.A.R., I'm at the SAE house in Troy.
When I hear The Band or "Wagon Wheel," I'm at the Pi Kapp house in Troy.
Tom Petty? Bonnie Raitt? Bonnaroo.
Spice Girls? Lauren's house.
Billy Joel? Bill's old townhouse on Malone Drive.
Willie? Waylon? Dad's truck.
Panic? Oh, so many places.
I encourage you-- especially you moms-- don't forget your music. Don't forget your hobbies, your passions...
let's enjoy this beautiful life of ours.
Until next time...
Well, duh. Who doesn't love music? Have you ever met anyone who has said , "I hate music!"
I didn't think so.
At the risk of you rolling your eyes at me, I'm going to go ahead and proclaim that I, too, love music.
Music has therapeutic qualities. It soothes your nerves.
There are articles all over about how anxiety can be combated by music (like this one: https://psychcentral.com/news/2011/12/23/music-soothes-anxiety-reduces-pain/32952.html)
This article has a list of the 10 most calming songs.
http://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/neuroscience-says-listening-to-this-one-song-reduces-anxiety-by-up-to-65-percent.html
Music can also make you feel HOT. Think about all of the nights getting ready to go out with your girlfriends. Did you apply mascara in silence? No.
What about getting ready for a date? Jack Johnson or John Mayer of course.
Cooking? You need jazz.
All of this is common sense to me. Of course music is relaxing, energizing, etc. I know because I've experienced the power.
However, life gets busy. I haven't been listening to "my music" since having children-- not really.
Sure I've introduced Maggie and Jack to some Johnny Cash and U2.
Living with Bill has made that possible. He loves to listen to Cash, U2, and Tom Jones when he's cleaning. I bet you didn't know that, now did you?
It isn't like I sit around discovering new jam bands like I used to. And don't even get me started on shows. I don't go to shows like I used to, obviously.
For most of my drive to Troy for fall semester, I rarely turned on the radio. I had Samantha, but this semester I lost my carpool buddy to softball; otherwise we would be happily chatting the whole way.
So this semester, I made a serious investment. My car doesn't have an aux outlet, so I recently bought myself some earbuds. By the way, if you call them headphones in front of teenagers, they will laugh at your old-fashioned words.
I redownloaded the Pandora app on my phone. I have been listening to Pandora in my classroom during my planning, but it's nothing like listening in the car. I can't sing harmony at the top of my lungs in my classroom! They'll think I'm crazier than they do already. (They've figured out that I'm a little loud and spastic.)
Anyway -- PANDORA!
All of those stations! Ray Lamontagne! Heart! Allman Brothers! Avett Brothers! Paul! George! John!
For the past four days I've been listening to "my music" on the way to and from school. That's about an hour and a half of jamming, singing at a dangerously high volume, picturing myself on stage singing lead in an 80's cover band, and perfecting my Janis impression.
These music sessions have INTENSELY improved my mood and brought back some happy memories.
Just like you, certain songs bring back all sorts of sensory details and I can almost completely transport myself.
When I hear any song from Abbey Road, I am instantly back in my bedroom on Clement Curve.
When I hear Lynyrd Skynyrd, I'm in my blue Honda.
When I hear Prince, I'm dancing with my mom in the living room in the house down the street from theirs now.
When I hear Tim McGraw, I'm at a field party circa 1999.
When I hear Sublime, I'm driving to Panama City or maybe cruising The Strip.
When I hear No Doubt, I'm flying to Hawaii.
When I hear Sheryl Crow, I'm in Texas headed to the Alamo. (I had my very own Walkman that played cassettes! I had joined one of those "get 10 tapes for one penny clubs!)
When I hear O.A.R., I'm at the SAE house in Troy.
When I hear The Band or "Wagon Wheel," I'm at the Pi Kapp house in Troy.
Tom Petty? Bonnie Raitt? Bonnaroo.
Spice Girls? Lauren's house.
Billy Joel? Bill's old townhouse on Malone Drive.
Willie? Waylon? Dad's truck.
Panic? Oh, so many places.
I encourage you-- especially you moms-- don't forget your music. Don't forget your hobbies, your passions...
let's enjoy this beautiful life of ours.
Until next time...