Importance of Music in Life
Music is the pleasant sound (vocal or instrumental) that leads us to experience harmony and higher happiness.
Music is an essential part of human life. The importance of music in various spheres of human life is briefly discussed below:
Fine Arts: Music is one of the fine arts. Like other forms of art, it requires creative and technical skill and the power of imagination. As dance is an artistic expression of movement and painting of colors, so music is of sounds. What a pretty sight is to the eyes, aroma is to the nose, delicious dish is to the palate and soft touch is to the skin, so music is to the ears.
Music is an important aspect of Education: According to Plato, one of the eminent Greek philosophers, music is an important aspect of education. In his scheme of education, he has laid emphasis on three disciplines:
Gymnastics for the training and development of the body,
Mathematics for the training and development of brain, and
Music for the realization of the soul.
Thus, music connects us with the real self, i.e. soul. While listening to relaxing music, we tend to begin the journey inward.
Music is loved by all living creatures: Love for music is not a tendency of human-beings only. It is a common characteristic of nearly all living creatures. The moment musical notes softly enter our ears; they rouse the dormant love for it. Mythology as well as folk tales bears evidence to the fact that even animals respond with joy to the melodious vibrations of the harp. The cows used to respond to the call of Lord Krishna’s flute and flock round him when it was time to return home.
Relaxing and Healing powers of Music: Music has unlimited powers, is a well established fact. It has a soothing and healing power. Music helps us to relax. Just as the application of balm relieves our brain of its ache and tension, so music can relax the tense muscles of our body. The melodious notes of music have the capacity to cure the mental or physical fatigue of a weary person.
Treatment of ailments: Music has miraculous powers for treating certain mental ailments such as anxiety, abnormal excitement or depression. It is also helpful for the treatment of patients suffering from insomnia. It has excellent exhilarating power. It can be compared to mother’s love. Just as a child forgets everything and feels joy in mother’s lap, in the same way we forget all worries and anxieties in musical environment.
Magical power: Music has magical power. This is testified by the fact that Orpheus, a legendary Greek musician could make stones dance to his music. The stories of Tansen and Baiju Bawra are not unknown to us. They could light lamps, melt stones, blossom flowers in autumn, cause rain just by the accurate use of the ‘accurate tune’.
Emotional and spiritual uplifting: There is no doubting the various powers of music, but the aspect of music which is of the greatest value to the human being is its emotional aspects. No achievement can be as great as the emotional and spiritual uplifting that we get from music. Music helps us connect with our deeper self and bring our emotions to the fore.
Universal language: The barriers of language and religion cannot restrict music to flourish in a foreign country. Music has the power to dissolve the physical boundaries of the nations. It removes the barriers of age and language and speaks to us all.
Conclusion: Music washes away from the soul, the dust of everyday life and inspires one to live a lofty life. There is absolute tranquillity and harmony, when the magical notes of music enters one’s heart. Such experiences are beyond words and can only be experienced.The notes of music take the listener to the region of the unknown where there is only emotional ecstasy and transport him to a world of melody and sympathy.
