Not long ago I asked my fellow musicians (via Facebook) a relatively existential question about their involvement in music. Leaving out any limitations of specific music styles or instruments, I explained my theory and asked for input from those who currently make music on a regular basis.
Most articles champion the CEREBRAL and/or PHYSICAL benefits of playing a musical instrument—better memory, organizational skills, team skills, perseverance, math skills, listening skills, enhances respiratory, relieves stress, etc. Yes, music teachers, many of you need as much ammo as possible to prove to administrators that your music programs are worth keeping. I get it and I completely support that.
However, what I haven’t seen much of in mainstream media are the EMOTIONAL advantages of playing an instrument. That’s the reality of why we all play in the first place, isn’t it? No one thinks, “I want to sharpen my concentration and create a sense of achievement – I think I’ll keep playing trumpet/sax/drums/whatever.”
No—we play because we enjoy it. In fact, we enjoy it so much that we keep it as part of our lives. If we didn’t feel it was worthwhile, we would’ve quit a long time ago.
So, I’d like to get a sample: no matter what instrument you play, when you started, how long you’ve been playing, who you perform with, what styles you love, or anything else that inspired you to learn/stick with your ax, I’d appreciate it if you could answer this poll: what keeps you in the music game? What’s the emotional draw that keeps you coming back for more?
Of my hundreds of Facebook musician friends, I received slightly more than 25 responses. Not exactly a worthy sample size for scientific purposes, but that’s all I needed—just a smattering of answers to give you a taste of the various reasons that we musicians follow our passion after graduation and well into adulthood. The most common reasons we do what we do are explained below.
Therapy
It’s been well-documented that many people feel busier than ever, due to our society’s penchant for overscheduling (Elizabeth Dickinson’s excellent 2016 article expounds on this phenomenon). Thankfully, one way to make your life more meaningful and less stressful is to allow time to do the things that you enjoy, and for many of us, making music fills that role.
From the poll responses,
- Trumpeter Paul writes: “After a particularly not-very-pleasant day, taking a horn out of the case and playing anything for 15 minutes makes it all better. It’s my drug of choice.”
- Vocalist Laura writes: “Singing inevitably lifts my mood and has many times brought me back to life when I felt exhausted by the day’s demands!”
- Percussionist Katy writes: “I spend my career in my head, and my anxiety and OCD and ADD keep my gears spinning constantly, too. Playing or singing music slows all that down and gives me a focus while also carrying me away on the wave of the sound of the band playing together.”
Community
We humans are amazingly social animals. We can’t help coming together to work toward a common goal, whether it’s to provide labor, money, technology, knowledge, or ideas. Many of these goals improve our lives, including the seemingly individual act of making music in an ensemble. No matter what genre of music you enjoy, there’s something special about rehearsing tunes as a group and getting better each time.
From the poll responses,
- Clarinetist Stephanie writes: “It’s like communal meditation.”
- Trombonist Harold writes: “I enjoy the feeling of purpose and community it give me.”
- Euphonium player Marty writes: “Music is more than notes on a piece of paper. Music is more than sounds coming from an instrument or a voice. Music is more than organized noise. Music is raw emotion expressed in a language that everyone understands—a language that can communicate between individuals who don’t share common words, but who can share emotions through the sound of music.”
Accomplishment
Closely related to the sense of community is the concept of overcoming a challenge and/or accomplishing that original goal. Whether in a band or individually, musicians exult in finally reaching those high notes, learning that vexing musical phrase, or just performing an excellent concert. We may not be building bridges, exploring space, or curing disease, but our successes are no less important to the human spirit.
From the poll responses,
- Trombonist Ron writes: “At first, singing (and later percussion, then trombone) initially came more easily to me than other skills. In high school I found that practicing added to my musical skills and served as a source of emotional satisfaction. Music was a ‘win-win’ for me.”
- Flutist Nichole writes: “As an adult amateur player, I thoroughly enjoy being challenged to learn and try to perfect new music every six months performing in a flute choir. I use music to remind me that hard work pays off and doing what I love with supportive musicians brings joy to my life.”
- Guitarist Andrew writes: “It gently massages both sides of my brain. It satisfies both the creative and technical aspects, sometimes independently, sometimes both at once.”
Socialization
Meeting other like-minded people is inevitable when you find the right group, and making friends is a big part of the experience. If you’re lucky, you might also meet the love of your life.
- Saxophonist Kelly writes: “People form lifelong friendships and even love—now there’s an emotional benefit! And for a couple, going to band rehearsal every week is like instant guaranteed date night, something that continues to reinforce the bond.”
- Trumpeter Dave writes: “My wife was a professional musician, and she got me back into playing the trumpet 44 years ago. Music helped strengthen our marriage. I will play in her memory as long as I am able.”
- Flutist Jeanette writes: “As a person who moved a lot, it gave me a way to meet new people everywhere we lived that were in no way connected to either of our jobs. That was hugely impactful.”
Emotion
Stripping everything else away, what’s left is the raw emotion we feel when we hear or play a beautiful symphony, a hot jazz tune, a remorseful ballad, a patriotic march, and many other music styles. As mentioned previously, music is truly a universal language that connects us with emotion. Some would say “All the feels.”
From the poll responses,
- French Hornist Becky writes: “The purity of the all-brass sound is something that can bring tears to my eyes. The power of Beethoven 5, 7, and 9, Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique, New World, Pictures at an Exhibition, not to mention Mahler. Now, the emotional draw that keeps me coming back is the light that I see turn on in my students eyes when they get it, or feel it and fully understand it.”
- Nichole (from above) writes: “Music brings peace, calm and wonder to those who listen and get the underlying emotions conveyed by the composer with added emphasis added by the musicians.”
There are other reasons, of course, but these are the biggies. Whether you play an instrument, sing, or simply listen to music, what does it do for you? How does your favorite style of music improve your life?