Music has been around for centuries and is a big part of so many people’s lives. Music is a way of connecting with others, no matter what genre you listen to. It is also a way of expressing yourself, either through what you listen to or even creating your own music.
What are the positive impacts of music?
Listening to and/or creating music can help your physical and mental health. Music makes you feel more cheerful, decreases stress, improves your sleeping patterns, decreases depression, and lastly, improves your learning and memory skills.
You shouldn’t feel embarrassed about what music genre you listen to, anything from your typical pop tracks to more alternative ‘screamo’ music, or what instrument you play, from violin to kazoo, as your preferences are what makes you an individual. Music can make you feel more confident within yourself and can calm you when you feel anxious, stressed or uncomfortable.
My Experience with Music
I’ve always loved music from a very young age. My taste in music has changed over the years and now it’s at that stage now where I like a mixture of genres and artists. I started out listening to music from artists such as Pharrel Williams and George Ezra. Now, I have found myself listening to more 70s, 80s, and 90s music as I feel this type of music is more suited to me. However, that hasn’t stopped me from enjoying music from the era we live in now.
Music has impacted me in so many ways as I have experienced so many different opportunities that I know that I wouldn’t have had without it. I have experienced concerts and even performed myself. As well as this, I always have to listen to music whenever I am walking alone and I have a routine where I have to listen to music before I go to bed.
When I was in year 6, I played the guitar, piano, and ukulele and performed in front of an audience. One of my favourite memories of playing an instrument was when I performed on stage at the Royal College of Music and Drama and at Cardiff City Hall. I played alongside my classmates, playing the ukulele which boosted my confidence. However, once I started high school, I stopped playing as at that time it wasn’t for me. Now, looking back on it, I wished that I persevered. However, as I am having a gap year next year, I hope to pick up an instrument once again.
Why not try it yourself?
Music is within all of us, and all you have to do is find it! Whether you like to sing in the shower or if you have that guitar in the attic that you have always wanted to play. Lockdown is a great opportunity to develop your musical skills and embrace/utilise all of the amazing things that music has to offer! Just give it a go, what’s the worst that could happen!?