What is it? Sound waves are what make up all sounds. The way the sound waves change from loud to soft is what makes music different from other kinds of sound waves. When you drop a metal pan on the floor, it makes loud, random vibrations. When you hit a note on a piano chord, the sound goes from loud to soft in a smoother, more even way. Obviously, a musical note will sound much better to your ears.
An old saying says that "music calms the wild beast." This is not only true, but it also says less than it should. Music is such a big part of our lives that we can only scratch the surface here, but let's take a look at the big picture.
We all grew up with certain songs or instrumentals that still make us feel something deep inside. For example, when I hear "A Summer Place," I'm right back in the summer of the 1950s. I can still remember how the sun felt on my face, how hot dogs smelled when they were cooking over an open fire, and how my friends and family laughed.
There is a theory that some notes or chords have a vibration that makes them feel especially good to some people. Have you ever heard a song that made you feel like you had "goose bumps"? If so, you prove that this theory is right. When this happens, the music has a deep effect on the mind. When you add strong emotions to the mix, you make a powerful, permanent mark on your subconscious that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
For instance, let's say you hear that a loved one has died while a certain song is playing on the radio. That music may leave an impression that lasts. When you hear that song again years later, you might feel sad for no apparent reason. The same can be said about "positive" feelings, like the ones in the story.
It is a proven fact that music has a subliminal effect. How often do you find yourself humming a part of a song you don't know, only to find out that it's a new "commercial" you heard on TV? A lot of money comes from the advertising business to study why and how music affects the subconscious mind. This is also why it's become popular for big companies to put new twists on old songs that were first sung or acted out by famous people.
Try, just for fun, to remember when, where, and how you heard a song for the first time the next time you find yourself humming it. The exercise will probably help you see how things that happened in the past have changed your taste in music. I'll bet that when you hear "A Summer Place" again, you'll think of this article.
Happy Listening!
