One of the most fascinating discussions was with a scientist by the name of Dr. Gregory Simpson. We spent several hours discussing how both music and science apply to all of life.

He started thinking about this connection when he observed some students he was tutoring in science. He saw that the kids who had studied music were able to understand the scientific process extremely quickly.

It doesn’t surprise me. I’ve known for a long time that majoring in music is one of the best things you can do if you want to go to medical school. Actually, 66% of music majors who apply to medical school are accepted–more than any other group. The second group is biochemistry majors at 44%.

Other countries see the importance, too…

The world’s top academic countries place a high value on music education. Hungary, Netherlands and Japan stand atop worldwide science achievement and have strong commitment to music education. All three countries have required music training at the elementary and middle school levels, both instrumental and vocal, for several decades. The centrality of music education to learning in the top-ranked countries seems to contradict the United States’ focus on math, science, vocabulary, and technology. –http://www.amc-music.com/research_briefs.htm

This is one of the many reasons I know music is not just a pastime, it is an important part of being human. It is essential to who we are physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.

Deborah

P.S. Gregory and I are joining together to write more about the science and music connection–so stay tuned.

I didn’t pay much attention to the game, but I sure loved playing to get the fans going and doing the half time show.

Even today when I hear “My Girl” I always think about the “Rude Tubas” at Delta State doing their own arrangement during the football games. Hearing about homecoming reminds me of standing on the field at Marengo Academy playing the theme from Ice Castles while the homecoming court passed between us. We did that song every year.

On a different level, the sound of Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” from The Planets always catches my ear because a hymn based on that tune was sung as I walked down the aisle to marry my wonderful husband. Even as I write this, the music is filling my mind and bringing me back–not just to my wedding, but my whole marriage.

I wrote an article for a Christmas themed ebook that is coming out soon. It is titled “Getting Personal with Your Christmas Music”. In the article I wrote “We all know that music can tell a story, but music also has a story.”

At the time I was thinking about what went behind the creation of the music– particularly Christmas music–that is so special to us. I thought about songs I knew and the history of the composer or writer, the circumstances that inspired them to write and the ways music has affected culture .

As I’ve pondered it for a while I’m reminded that the story in music is living. It’s not just the creator’s story or a tale of history. Its story is being rewritten by the listener and added to their own story. Their stories go one inspire the stories of others.

Music from every part of our lives act as markers to bring us back to a something that is beyond the intellectual self. It goes to the root of our soul. I think that’s why there are so many controversies around music. It is amazing the life that music has on every level of who we are–mind, body, and soul.  It’s amazing how much we miss of that reality everyday.

Deborah