Extra-Musical Associations
I was talking to my choir members last night because, well, I sorta broke down during rehearsal. All of our songs were talking about the grief process and how faith provides support. I am still in the mourning stage of grief about my young man and just lost it.
I was talking to them, trying to express some of what I was feeling, and we all started to talk about grief. I stated that I didn't like the custom out here of having a public viewing of the body, and the organist agreed with me. She said that every time she goes to the viewing of a person and then has to play for the funeral, she associates the music that she plays with that person forever after. She says she sees the person's face when she plays that music every single time after that.
Isn't it amazing that our minds can make such strong links between our memories and our music?
Many times, these extra-musical associations work well for us. I know things that I have not actively thought of in years because an innovative teacher recognized the musicianship in her fifth grade classroom and asked us to write a song instead of just memorizing a fact about plant science. I can recognize television theme songs from shows I haven't seen in decades, and I can remember specific people, places, things, and experiences when I hear specific songs. I will always be reminded of specific people when I play or hear specific songs.
This is the reason that Music and Memory programs are attractive. The music stimulates recall and promotes interaction. We know that. As music therapists, we recognize that the right music can prompt amazing responses. We also know that music that is not right is just entertainment - not a bad thing, but not as enriching as the right music. We also recognize that there is more to music therapy and the therapeutic use of musical elements that can enrich a music experience and transcend it into a valuable opportunity for growth and exploration. Music listening on an iPod may provide people with the occasional right music, but more often, the music tends to be not quite right. A music therapist can change music so that more of the music offered is the right music for the client. There is value there.
I've been thinking lots about the music that my young man loved, and I can't quite face singing specific songs with others yet. I know I will, but I will always remember him, his face, his response and reaction to this song. It is the same for the other students that have left over the years - some through death, others through graduation, still others just from moving on. I will always think of that particular song as his song, making that song a bit bittersweet.
I am thankful for these extra-musical associations - the memory tracks that help me remember things about people. Without them, I wouldn't be able to rejoice and reminiscence about those who have made an impact on me and on my life in many different ways.
I was talking to them, trying to express some of what I was feeling, and we all started to talk about grief. I stated that I didn't like the custom out here of having a public viewing of the body, and the organist agreed with me. She said that every time she goes to the viewing of a person and then has to play for the funeral, she associates the music that she plays with that person forever after. She says she sees the person's face when she plays that music every single time after that.
Isn't it amazing that our minds can make such strong links between our memories and our music?
Many times, these extra-musical associations work well for us. I know things that I have not actively thought of in years because an innovative teacher recognized the musicianship in her fifth grade classroom and asked us to write a song instead of just memorizing a fact about plant science. I can recognize television theme songs from shows I haven't seen in decades, and I can remember specific people, places, things, and experiences when I hear specific songs. I will always be reminded of specific people when I play or hear specific songs.
This is the reason that Music and Memory programs are attractive. The music stimulates recall and promotes interaction. We know that. As music therapists, we recognize that the right music can prompt amazing responses. We also know that music that is not right is just entertainment - not a bad thing, but not as enriching as the right music. We also recognize that there is more to music therapy and the therapeutic use of musical elements that can enrich a music experience and transcend it into a valuable opportunity for growth and exploration. Music listening on an iPod may provide people with the occasional right music, but more often, the music tends to be not quite right. A music therapist can change music so that more of the music offered is the right music for the client. There is value there.
I've been thinking lots about the music that my young man loved, and I can't quite face singing specific songs with others yet. I know I will, but I will always remember him, his face, his response and reaction to this song. It is the same for the other students that have left over the years - some through death, others through graduation, still others just from moving on. I will always think of that particular song as his song, making that song a bit bittersweet.
I am thankful for these extra-musical associations - the memory tracks that help me remember things about people. Without them, I wouldn't be able to rejoice and reminiscence about those who have made an impact on me and on my life in many different ways.
Comments
Post a Comment