Why Music Matters

Music to me is the ultimate form of transportation and transformation. I know cool right. You may be wondering how this can be, for music is not magic. Do not judge to quickly. There is magic in every note of every song. If you have not experienced this personally, the problem lies not in the music but in yourself. Music's magic is something the beneficiary must allow to happen. I guess I would say that music is the atlas of change. When I was sixteen and my family moved from Michigan to Utah. I was surprised to feel the transformation magic of music. It was not instant but gradual. I can still remember vividly my first audition in the Sky View High School auditorium. Nan Wharton, John Caldwell, and I believe Kody Rash were there. All the other students seemed to be the ultimate examples of confidence. I on the other hand was not. After starting and restarting my monologue a million times. Nan took pity on me and told me to grab the paper and just read directly from it. However as I began to sing my confidence shinned through. Well maybe it was more like muscle memory took control. Unlike my monologue I practiced my song over and over. My dad advising me to let loose, be loud, proud, and to shake what my mama gave me. Well my dad would never use those words specifically. He more likely said "Don't hold back, sing out and be sure to use your diaphragm". Oh, we'll. It was fun imagining right? I must have done something right because I was asked in for a call back. This was the start of my transformation. The music brought me to new friends and exciting experiences. Without it I would have missed out on so much. Going through High School would have been mundane. I became a dancer, actor, and a singer. A triple threat as they are called. Okay that sounds very prideful. Understand that I was by no means the most talented in school, but I didn't just sit around doing nothing. I bettered myself by pushing to go for something full out regardless of any possible embarrassment; something I would have never done before. To just come out and say it. My transformation-with the help of music- was one in confidence. Musical by musical, song by song, and note by note. Never fully realizing the strength music was pouring into me. Now years later; the songs I heard and sang. Pull from the closets of my memory powerful thoughts and emotion. Transporting me back to the days of yesteryear. A song that promised me change is constant. That even though at times the change can be scary it is necessary. Teaching me that the way through all the change is to remember all that I learned. Recollecting my first audition, my first performance, my first solo, and even my first real kiss. I guess it isn't really the music that made the change, but that it marked the path. As if all those songs are little flares along the road of my life. Giving me focal points of learning to draw from. I hope that makes sense. We never really know what the next song on the radio will do to us. Maybe the lyrics will teach us a new lesson or remind us of one we learned long ago. Possibly it is just there to brighten your day. You know what I mean. We have all had that song that catches us unawares; where suddenly we realize we're dancing in our seats. Not caring who sees. Allow this magic to work in your life. Remember the lessons, but more importantly the change. I don't know anyone who doesn't have something about themselves that they want to change. Music helped me change and grow. Let it do the same for you.