I love music, always have. As a kid, I imagined I would someday sing beautiful flowery song endings that went on for bars, in a high range. As it turned out, I’m an alto, and a very moderate one at that. And flowery endings have mostly fallen out of fashion, except for opera. Of which I’m not a fan.
I don’t have details or data about the influence of music on the brain, but I can speak from experience. There are pieces of music that create such nostalgia that I can still visualize the event where they were played or sung, the place in the story I was writing. I often have music playing in the background while I write, and even though I, personally, must choose instrumental music that doesn’t steal my concentration, when I hear a particular piece, I still fall into the part of the story where that music was played.
Music not only relaxes or stimulates, depending on style, it also affects the body physically— blood pressure, anxious responses; emotionally—remember the song that played when you met your spouse; mentally—concentration and focus; spiritually—again depending on the genre and style, but consider worship songs that draw you closer to God; psychologically—causing feelings of distress or relief, and everything in between. Music has been used for millennia to stir up feelings of motivation and devotion.
I enjoy instrumental piano music, especially with a contemporary beat. I am also a fan of soft rock (“Call me a relic, call me what you will, say I’m old-fashioned, say I’m over the hill…”), and some of the more trendy trained voices (think Andrea Bocelli or Josh Groban), sometimes blended with rock. I despise country & western, to my husband’s chagrin, and can’t figure out where that aversion began, because I don’t mind the old western songs my dad used to listen to on the record player (Sons of the Pioneers, Wilf Carter). In moderation.
What is your preferred genre of music, and do you listen to it while writing / reading? How does it affect you and what reaction are you looking for? I’d be interested in your feedback. And remember, this is totally personal, no rights or wrongs.
I find it interesting that our favourite genres are very similar, Janice. I also like instrumental music, piano or otherwise. I enjoy the voices of trained singers–like Andrea and Josh. In their day, Nana Mouskouri and Catherine McKinnon, who had beautiful voices and a folk element to their music, groups like the Celtic Thunder. I also am not a fan of country music with some exceptions. I too didn’t mind the old country artists that my dad enjoyed. I love many hymns old and newer and classical church music like Handel’s Messiah, etc.
I have never got used to listening to music while writing. Then I prefer quiet. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Janice.
So many similarities, Sharon. As my granddaughter would say, that’s super cool! Thanks for responding. Have you ever heard Handel’s Young Messiah? https://www.amazon.com/Handels-Young-Messiah-Various-Artists/dp/B00000282Z
It’s older now, but we really enjoyed it when it first came out. Contemporary Christian artists doing their versions of the classical ones. Might be able to find some of it on you tube.