The Power of Music

Music has always played an important part in my life and I have always found the right music to fit my mood really helps the situation.  Now that I see how much my son loves music it reminds me what a big part of my life music has been.

The soundtrack of my life: It lifts me up when I'm down, makes that last mile just a little bit easier, energizes me when I'm lethargic, helps me concentrate when studying, brings a smile to my face when a song makes me reminisce and so much more!

Here's a very basic timeline:

5 yrs old -  my mom put my brother and I in piano lessons, I loved music so much but unfortunately did not have a good ear.  My brother on the other hand could listen to a song on the radio then figure out how to play it on the piano

10 yrs old - I begged my mom to put me in voice lessons.  I loved acting and I loved singing and I loved musicals so of course I wanted to be in one.  The poor instructor had to pull my mom aside and tell her that I just wasn't meant to sing.  Now don't feel sorry for me this was and is a very true statement.

11 - They tried to give me a solo in the school play and even worked with me one on one until it was decided it was best that I sing it with a group and they relegated me to be Mary and trust me that was hilarious because Mary should not look disgruntled and try to push the 3 wise men off the stage for teasing her.

12 - I discovered pop music and I would blast New Kids on the Block, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson and Power 102 as loud as possible.  We had very thin walls so I must have the most patient parents in the world.  I also new all the songs to Grease and would try and force my brother to act it out with me.  Believe it or not there were only 2 people in my class that liked NKOB and I stood up at one point and yelled at everyone telling them what a good band they were and that they were all idiots for not understanding!

14 - 15 - I discovered that in my brothers room you could pick up a rock station that I couldn't get in my room and found that blasting heavy rock was much more satisfying when I was angry and wanted to make a point.  Again very patient parents.

Middle & High School - I played 1st chair flute but had to have a tuner with me at all times to know if I was flat or sharp while everyone else just knew.  I worked very hard at practicing anytime I had a solo because I was determined to keep it but again this did not come naturally to me.

My mom and I at our last concert.

College years - I really got into Punk music and not only felt I could really relate but thought Hey I finally found a type of music I could sing.  I could be in a band and the distortion would cover up my vocals and heck bad vocals were in style.  That dream never came true either.

I also conducted an experiment for one of my college courses trying to determine with a timer, a heart rate monitor and a walkman if music increased heart rate and or improved run time.

I've gone to more concerts than I can count ranging from 1 country concert only because I won tickets, Juanes, Ricky Martin, Rancid, Blink 182, Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, Sugar Ray, Green Day, Staind, Beck, Santana, Tom Petty, Cake, I could go on forever.  And more off Broadway musicals than I can count.

My brother on the other hand has been in several bands yes including a punk band and knows how to play the piano, trumpet, drums, guitar etc.

Adulthood - I use to only exercise while listening to music then I discovered longer distances and found that I had to run sans music.  I only listen to music now if I'm lifting weights or running an easy 3 miles.  Does music help you with your workouts?

That face!

My son plays air guitar to Santana and lip syncs to several lyrics on the Santana Pandora station thanks to my mom.  He goes and grabs an old guitar I have in my room and pretends to play while the music plays on the radio.  Is the only one dancing on the dance floor when we went to a charity event and there was a band playing.  Starts dancing to a song and can't figure out if it's rock or salsa so goes back and forth between head banging and shaking his hips.  And best of all CONSTANTLY is asking for DANCE Breaks.  The three of us have been known to stop cooking and cleaning and hold hands and jump around.

He has reminded me how much I love music and has shown me the magic of it again as his face lights up every time I turn on the radio.  I'm taking him to his first concert in December, Alvin and the Chipmunks! :-)  May music bring as much joy to my son as it has to me.

Here's a little video of my son's dancing and flirting skills:

Happy Thanksgiving!!  Happy Training!!!!