A UNIVERSAL WORD FOR UNITY? HMMM….MUSIC.

Welcome to Sonicmyth’s first blog post.  This is where we will discuss, debate, reminisce, and pontificate ‘all things music.’  That means every category we can think of because, you see, we love music. Music is powerful. Music “occupies a unique place in the human experience” (Hodges, 2017, p.257). Our ancestors “believed deeply that music civilizes us, humanizes us with our world and makes us whole, thereby fulfilling us” (Reimer, 1989, p.25). When music and its elements are understood, it expressively communicates (Reimer, 1989). Music can “help people feel more deeply” (Reimer, 1972, p.30). Carl Seashore states “Music is the language of emotion.” (Hodges, 2017, p.71). Hodges discusses Deryck Cooke, a British musicologist, and his statement that composers can communicate deep, intense emotions “while still remaining silent” (Hodges, 2017, p.156). 

Music contributes to effective communication that unifies communities and creates a sense of belonging by providing audiences with “immediate demonstrations of facts about human experience and affective states” (Hodges, 2017, p.27). Hodges quotes Dewey’s description of music as having the power to “merge different individualities in a common surrender” (Hodges, 2017, p.190). This is one reason why music can offer deep insight into a culture. Hodges also quotes Susan Sontag’s statement that “All aesthetic judgement is really cultural evaluation” (Hodges, 2017, p.69). 

That last sentence is important. Every culture and sub culture has ‘their music’ as one of their forms of expressions. Music is one of the strongest modes of commuication to help us understand, tolerate and relate to eachother’s ‘plight’ in life. This promotes empathy  and  humanity, something this world seems in desparate need of as of late.  For example, where would American music be without first understanding the origin’s of the Blues? How many events can you think of that unite tens of thousands of people together? People that probably in everyday life would turn down your Sunday dinner invitation. I know, you’re probably saying “well Sonicmyth blogger, sports events, religious events, political events etc.” and what is included in these events? Music. Even events that are not centered around music, have, you guessed it, music. It is our hope that this blog and website explores every avenue of music from genres to recording to education and beyond. We do hope you join us. You are important.

Hodges, D.A. (2017). A Concise Survey of Music Philosophy. New York, NY. Routledg

Pérez-Ibáñez I. (2018). Dewey’s Thought on Education and Social Change. Journal of Thought. 52 (3/4), p.19-31. Rhode Island, NY

Reimer, B. (1989). Music education as aesthetic education: Past and present. Music Educators Journal, 75(6), 22-28.

Reimer, B. (1972). Putting aesthetic education to work. Music Educators Journal, 59(1), 28-33