"Come on mommy," my children shouted with glee as they danced to the music blaring from the stereo. I clasped both their hands as we circled around the front room. We danced past their bedtime and once they'd fallen asleep, I found myself sticking the tape back in and listening again.
As the keyboard player in a country-rock band, our drummer had given me a tape of original songs that his friend David, whom everyone called "DB," had recorded, hoping that some of his hot keyboard/piano licks might rub off on me. While I did pick up several tips, this musician's playing far exceeded my capabilities. However the tape wasn't a complete bust. The kids and I had picked up some awesome dancing music and I enjoyed the magical way the songs
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My husband and I shared an unhappy marriage and the kids rarely saw their dad. He'd found someone else and so had I. When the band broke up, I figured our marriage would too, but instead my husband begged me to stay with him and I did. Two years later he asked for a divorce. Although not the best of times, the children and I had a blast, consoling ourselves by dancing to our now-favorite dance music. And each night after I'd tucked them to bed, I'd lounge on the floor, wiping my tears while DB's songs carried me to a brighter place. Some people turn to drugs or alcohol during their most trying times--I used DB's music. In fact, I'd fallen deep in love with these songs and couldn't imagine my life without them.
As the years flew by, I ended up on the roller coaster ride of my life and through each dip and climb, my musical addiction kept me hanging on for dear
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Suddenly the words to one of his songs seemed to stab me in my gut.
Years later on a hot summer afternoon, I perched on my favorite rock, dangling my feet in the cool, rushing waters of my favorite mountain stream. I had DB's latest album with me and as I listened to one of his songs, the words shot me straight in the heart.
They were such simple words: " Unwind--all's fine; Sun shines inside me." And suddenly I wanted to have the warmth and brightness of the sun shining in my soul and to know that all IS fine.
It hit me--I had lived and breathed this music for so many years, yet I'd never thought much about the songwriter who had written these songs. There was no way this musician could write and sing with such rapture and passion if these feelings didn't exist within him. And I knew in that second that I wanted what he had. I wanted to feel the bliss that he felt and I wanted to know what he knew. His spirit, so clear in his songs had seen me through so much that I felt as if I had known this gentle soul my entire
I had just broken my glasses. It was December and my elementary school class would be taking us to the most recognized ballet, The Nutcracker. Because our seats were pretty far from the stage, I found it very difficult to see. Embarrassed, I walked and spoke to my teacher, she of course understood my situation and arranged for me and a friend to sit in the front row. Breathtaking was the experience, gazing at the beautiful ballerinas in their intricate costumes and tutus, dancing on their pointes, making jetès and èchappès, I remained extremely captivated throughout the whole performance.
On Tuesday, October 17, 2017, I attended a musical concert. This was the first time I had ever been to a concert and did not play. The concert was not what I expected. I assumed I was going to a symphony that featured a soloist clarinet; however, upon arrival I quickly realized that my previous assumptions were false. My experience was sort of a rollercoaster. One minute I was down and almost asleep; next I was laughing; then I was up and intrigued.
My older sister loved the marching band, so I always got dragged to their performances. I could not tell what was so appealing about it all; it consisted of walking on a field while playing instruments and flags being swung in the air. Participating in a marching band was never what I intended nor wanted to do. The idea bored me, but my mom insisted.
I’ve always loved music and singing, even as a kid. It has always been my passion. Performing on stage is what actually broke me out of my shell. Going into highschool I was very awkward and shy, but music helped me conquer my social awkwardness. Music has helped me give back to my community in ways I never thought of, seeing the smiles on people’s faces when I sing is one of the greatest feelings ever and I cherish it, and the applause when I’m done makes me feel all warm inside. Performing and helping others perform is something I love to do and it helped me find my place in the world. Learning a new song is fantastic experience as well.
Machlis, Joseph & Forney, Kristine. The Enjoyment of Music. New York. W.W. Norton & Co Inc: 1998
(Page 219) Growing up I also deal with the mental illness of anxiety and depression. I completely understand the mental state of Kurt Cobain’s condition. When reading his original journals, it felt as if I was reading something of my own, understanding exactly how he had been feeling and remembering that pain and suffering that flowed through me. The difference between me and Kurt was, unfortunately, he ended his life-long performance early.
My music had wrapped itself around and around inside of me. It took away my inhibitions and filled me with a new confidence. I had the power to do anything, if only for that one set. I wanted to be on top of the world!
my mom and I had a special song that she would sing to me if I was sick, sad, or
I found myself dancing, something I dreaded at family parties. I also found myself singing in public, something I was terrified of doing outside of my shower. My fears were not my fears anymore; they were a separate entity I no longer identified with. I was not worrying about my past or future, but instead on my present, and my present was beautiful. All my inner counting halted after that night except for one: my concert tally, which will soon hit
... there. A woman next to me was holding her new born baby as she was listening to the play, and that baby, who was initially sleeping woke up with a smile on his/her face. The little boy was hitting those notes perfectly, and involuntary of myself, my eyes closed, and I was sucked up in the song. It was as if I stopped listening to the song, and instead the song itself was touching me. I automatically pictured that small light in the dark that shines proudly from miles away. As the boy was hitting the last note, I slowly opened my eyes, and notice that it was not such a bad day after all. I could see the hidden beauty of autumn days which was only the reflection of my own soul, which in turn, had been transcended in to a heavenly world. The boy was looking at us like an angel who just accomplished his ultimate goal; that is to make people happy, and erase their fears.
Music is one of the most fantastical forms of entertainment. Its history stretches all the way from the primitive polyrhythmic drums in Africa to our modern day pop music we listen to on our phones. It has the ability to amaze us, to capture our attention and leave us in awe. It soothes the hearts of billions, and it is so deeply rooted in my life that it has touched my heart as well. Everyday I walk to the beat of the song stuck in my head and hum along to the melody. For me, to listen to music be lifted into the air by the hands of your imagination and float around for a while. You forget about your worries, your troubles and find peace within the sound. Every chapter in my life is attached with a song. Every time I listen to a certain song, thoughts of my past come flooding back
I had my first dance recital on the day I turned four. Now I don’t remember anything from that day, but I believe that that day is when I learned I loved to perform. I’ve been taking dance lessons since then, and many things that I do now involve performing in some type of way.
These tunes make known the downside of the enjoyable, glamorous, and dangerous drugs that people of all classes of society use everyday. They give off vibes of hopelessness and emphasize painful words and phrases. They describe how quickly something can go from a little relaxing self medication to a full out need. These songs help us to realize the consequences of losing control over our actions and help us to appreciate consciousness and life without addiction.
I opened my mouth and shook my head. From deep inside my soul a melody flows out of my chest, off of my tongue, and finally caresses my lips with the sweetest touch, and my song fills the air with a boldness like that of the glory of the angels. The sound of my song is that of unfathomable wonder, a voice as sweet and smooth as the face of a child. I sing and sing and sing my heart out, and I wonder and wonder and wonder in awe of the sound that is coming from my mouth and my throat and my soul, and I sing with more power than I have ever felt before.