Music

   My mom and sister and I were just watching a NOVA program about how music affects the brain. All I can say is that it was incredible. Some people just have a natural instinct for music and I'm completely jealous of those people. I can hear a lot of things about rhythm, melody and whatnot but I'm not able to detect subtle differences, or express the differences I can hear.

   To me music is the most important form of expression available to us. It's so incredibly expressive and readily understood.This is true of just about any form of music from rock to classic to anything in between. Because it doesn't necessarily need words it doesn't have to worry about things being lost in translation the way a book or a play or a movie does. Music's power transcends the lyrics, though the lyrics can be a wonderful part of the song and add to it.

   Even if you're not musically inclined most people enjoy music on some level. Music is irresistible. A lot of times I'll be listening to my iTunes or watching a musical and I'll start singing along without even realizing it. Of course, I'm usually way off-key and probably flat, and my sister stops me very quickly, but I still can't help but sing because I'll want to be part of the music and that's the only way I know how.

   Life would be very dull without music. I only wish I knew how to play an instrument or could sing decently. Maybe one of these days I'll convince somebody to try teaching me but I still just don't have a knack for it. All I know is I'm grateful for the early humans who experimented with trying to make such beautiful sounds. Music is something that I honestly believe people couldn't live without. It comes as close as anything to being able to convey pure, raw emotion or energy or anything else the musician wants it to. Nothing else even comes close.

    Callie