Music plays an important role in all cultures and societies on planet Earth. Without a doubt, musical language has no boundaries and everybody is capable of understanding and feeling it.

There have been many research projects that have studied the origins and influence of music, but at Harvard they have gone a step further trying to demonstrate that music really is the universal language of humanity.

For more than five years, a multidisciplinary team of scientists, psychologists, linguists, anthropologists and political scientists have searched for and compiled musical pieces from all corners of the globe.

The aim has been to create a database called The Music Lab, where you can find some 5,000 interpretations and descriptions of songs and pieces of music from around the world.

 

The main conclusion, that has been drawn from the findings, is that music has played an important role in society in a very similar way in all cultures, throughout their respective histories.

There are common themes of music running throughout different cultures such as those related to child care, health, dance, love, sadness, battles and rituals.

Whilst analysing musical pieces, scientists have realized that music which has a common message or idea, shares very similar musical characteristics regardless of its origin.

” In music theory, tonality is often assumed to be an invention of Western music, but our data raises the controversial possibility that it may be a universal characteristic of music,” explains Samuel Mehr, the scientist who initiated the study.

” This idea raises pressing questions about the structure that underlies music everywhere, and how our minds are wired to make music.”

Music is a language and it transmits messages. Certain people, who are more sensitive to music, can interpret such messages and are more aware of how it can enrich our lives. However this sensitivity and emotional connection to music is present in all of us.

 

Have you ever wondered why certain melodies arouse such intense emotions?

Each note and movement composed and written represents an action. This urge to generate an abstract idea which, often unconsciously, evokes and creates a vivid image in our minds.

An example of this is the role that music plays in movie soundtracks.

Although it can seem that we do not pay much attention to the sound that accompanies the scenes, it subconsciously reaches us and tells us a lot about what is actually happening.

Major productions are often noted for their soundtracks and their compositions are capable of raising emotions, helping the viewer to interpret each of the moments of the film more intensely, and helping us relate to the characters or mood of the film.

We are often able to recreate scenes and images from films at a later stage, unaccompanied by any imagery, simply by listening, thanks in a large part to the richness of musical language.

When composing, the piano is often the instrument used most frequently thanks to its relative simplicity, visuality and beautiful sound.

Its rhythm can help us write pieces of different degrees of difficulty depending on our abilities.

History shows us that learning an instrument is a great way of exploring and developing the richness and depth of our artistic possibilities.

Sharing emotions, messages and feelings through music is a skill that helps us live in a more beautiful and intense way.

Music has been a part of our human existence since time began.

The results of thousands of world wide scientific studies have increased our understanding of the benefits we can gain by listening and practicing music.

Regardless of our age or previous knowledge, it can help us in many ways.

Learning to play an instrument is certainly challenging, however at the same time, it is a fun activity and one which benefits us physically, mentally and emotionally.

It is a well-known fact that playing music brings happiness and a sense of well-being, but there are many other lesser known benefits that can be gained from this ancient art.

 

Let’s start by looking  at how it can help our little ones.

 

The perfect connection between music and children.

Children who have a strong connection with music will develop the following abilities faster:

Memory and Concentration

By practicing music children strengthen their powers to remember and reproduce musical sequences.

 

It is a fun activity that also reinforces concentration and memory.

 

Creativity

Several studies indicate that the practice and recognition of rhythmic and melodic patterns activates and therefore improves performance in the region of the brain linked to creativity and imagination.

 

This practice stimulates the creation of new ideas and mental processes.

Improve communication

Singing and repeating melodies and musical pieces enhances both spoken language and body language.

Music helps children develop language earlier and more effectively, as well as acquiring listening tools to achieve better forms of communication.

Intellectual development

Music perfectly complements the academic education of children.

It strengthens a better development and connection between both sides of the brain, by combining a creative and artistic activity with the effort of memorizing scores and keeping rhythm.

Sociability

For younger students, music classes are the ideal time to interact with other children and adults.

An environment of creativity and freedom is generated that fosters greater opportunities for social integration.

Discipline

Learning music takes a lot of practice and repetition.

It begins with simple exercises that are gradually built up eventually culminating in an interpretation of a complete piece. The student benefits from a routine that helps them strengthen their will and discipline.

Security and Increased Self-esteem

Musical learning promotes greater self-esteem in an organic and entertaining way.

By being part of a group that is capable of generating coordinated and harmonic sounds, both collectively and individually, a child’s emotional security and confidence are fundamentally strengthened.

It is a very enriching extracurricular activity for discipline, memory, confidence, creativity, intellectual development and sociability.

Most importantly of all, learning to play an instrument during the formative stages of childhood is fun and creates a sense of intrinsic well-being.

 

Benefits of Music for Adults

We can also benefit from musical art, as shown below.

Reduce anxiety

It has been shown that both listening to music and practicing it help to control the hormones related to stress and improve our mood.

The anxiety levels of everyday life are reduced.

Protect Against Premature Ageing of the Brain

According to several reports, practicing a musical instrument or singing helps reduce the effects of cognitive decline that are associated with aging, such as processing speed and memory loss.

In addition, it promotes a positive attitude that ultimately leads to greater happiness.

Boost Memory

When we make or listen to melodies, several areas in our brain are activated at the same time, which helps us to process information better.

Studies have confirmed that our ability to remember facts and both our short- and long-term memories are improved.

Reduce Pain

Music, when used in conjunction with certain therapies, can increase the release of endorphins, a hormone that acts in our body as a natural pain reliever.

This helps some pain become less acute and bearable.

Neurological Disorders

Songs and musical tones can be described as exercise for the brain.

Practicing this art increases neural communication, elasticity and flexibility. In addition, it helps and provides benefits in the prevention or treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and even Autism.

As we have seen, the potential benefits to our lives are extensive. Even though playing a musical instrument can seem difficult, demanding or very complicated at first,

it is important to remember the main benefit that music brings to people of any age: Happiness.

Music has the potential to make us feel good about ourselves, our surroundings and others. Learning music can be a truly life enhancing experience. It can provide us with a source of encouragement that will help us fill our lives with joy and personal growth.

 

The most difficult thing is making the decision to learn!

 

Cheerful Melodies!

Music is an artistic expression, which, like any language, has rules that are vital to understand and compose music. When you want to learn in a formal way the techniques that accompany a good instrumental interpretation, it is essential to learn the Musical Language.

Musical language helps us to understand music, to read and interpret it, to write and create it, but above all, musical language helps us to transmit it faithfully through time and share it with everyone, expressing itself through the pentagram.

 

The melody, the rhythm… key aspects

In musical language there is a melody, a rhythm and a pulse, which together create a musical composition or song.

The set of sounds that form a recognizable phrase for the listener is the melody, which is built with a certain sound organization or scale. It is part of every musical system, even the simplest, and is related, in its origin, to man’s own language.

The more you understand about what’s behind all those notes, or what makes a good melodic line, what the rules of harmony are, etc., the more confidently and securely you can play a piece.

We study the signs and terms with which music is represented visually, as a language with which a score of any musical style or origin can be interpreted.

This language allows composers to write down their musical ideas and feelings in the form of music. In addition, you can learn about the evolution of music and society through the musical notation of the scores.

The alphabet of music

Musical language is like the alphabet of music, everybody knows the notes Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, Sol, La and Si, and surely some figures such as half note, quarter note or eighth note will ring a bell. It is basic in the learning of the students since it is one of the main starting points for learning music.