Is it ironic that I am listening to music while writing a blog post about music? I find music to be an essential part of my life. It is essential in both my spiritual life and everyday activities. Ever since middle school, I have used music as a tool to focus on my work. I cannot seem to think in silence. While I think silence is important, I prefer to listen to music when I can. Music is very prominent in my life. It is something that I can make conversation with, it is the topic that starts almost all of the fun conversations with my brother, and participating in musical activities I have created friendships that I would not trade for the world.
Whenever we want to remember something important for school there are several ways that we can remember. One option is to use a song as a mnemonic device. When I was a small child, we had a CD that had bible verses paired with songs. Because of that CD, I learned several important bible verses and if I ever need a refresher I just have to listen to the CD again. Music has something that gets stuck in our brains and we can easily remember it. It does not take much for us to be reminded of a song. Songs are hard to forget. This is one of the many things Basil and Augustine believe about music. They believe that “harmonious melodies of the Psalms have been designed for us, that those who are of boyish age or wholly youthful in their character, while in appearance they sing, may in reality be educating their souls” (Basil). The music we listen to affects every part of our life. It is important to remember that music can have a positive and negative effect on our attitude and beliefs. I remember something Trip Lee said (I am paraphrasing), he said that even though I do not think that it affects me but the lyrics will subconsciously shift to the worldview and beliefs of the writer. So, that is why it is very important to be vigilant about what you listen to. What you listen to inputs into your beliefs, ideas, and attitudes. Does this mean that I listen to what I should? No. It means I need to reevaluate what I am listening to and how it affects my life. Does the music I listen to bring something positive into my life or does it drag me down? Now that is the important question.
I commented on Leanne’s and Madalyn’s posts.
Nice, I too agree that what we listen to in the background has a massive effect on our mindsets and attitudes. It's why I'm trying to be so mindful of what I play when I get in my car-upbeat or sad, it will always, always match my mood with it. The scary thing is, now that you've made me think it, music might be actually powerful enough to change something as set in stone as our beliefs. If that's the case, we really should keep a tight rein on our earbuds. What's played in the background will soon enough be played front and center.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what you said at the end of your post. I have found that some of the music I listen to has changed the way I view somethings. I have had to take a step back several times and reevaluate myself. I have had to get rid of several of the songs I used to listen to because of this.
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline! I really enjoyed your post! I agree with you on every point! I think music has a profound impact (whether we realize it or not) on the way we learn. Music can be an excellent tool for teaching whether it be Bible verses or anything else. Saint Basil understood this. "...Oh, the wise invention of the teacher who devised how we might at the same time sing and learn profitable things..." (Saint Basil).
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