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The Language Of Music - What Does Music Mean To You?
The meaning of music is dependent upon the creator or listener because the musical language is abstract. How many times have you listened to music and wondered what the deeper meaning is? The composer or writer may share what it represents and other times they leave this completely up to the listener. Keep in mind there is no right or wrong answer here. It is important to know that it can mean whatever you want it to and better yet, describe your own personal experience with the music. The language of music is a lot like many other languages. It is a form of communication that can provoke an emotional response and make the listener think. It is important to know that the language of music cannot represent concrete things or ideas similar to how nouns, verbs and adjectives are used in the English language. Knowing the historical and social context of the music can also be helpful in bringing meaning to the music. As an example, a country music singer may find it helpful to have a prolonged study of Gregorian chant before choosing to perform it. Similarly, it may be difficult for a jazz musician to play Mozart unless they are willing to understand the time period and style of the music. Overall, music is a highly affective language giving us the experience of deep feeling and emotion. The meaning is entirely up to you and your experience. Understanding the language of music can be intimidating at first, but it is just as easy to learn as your native speaking language. There are a series of signs and symbols in music that musicians read and translate through their instrument or voice. These signs and symbols are categorized into two main areas: pitch and rhythm. The rhythm tells us how long to hold the note and the pitch tells us what the note is. In order to learn how to read this language, you have to know what the symbols mean in a piece of music. This could be as complex as reading a jazz "lead sheet" or as simple as reading a short melody line. These symbols appear obscure to the untrained eye. The happy news is that anyone can learn to read and understand the language of music. It is not dependent upon social class, economics, race or color. Your experience will deepen even further once you begin to learn the language. Noticeably, your ears and mind will be open to more sounds, thoughts and emotions. A newly discovered appreciation for the art will be the result. Don't be afraid to take the next step and start learning what the signs and symbols mean in the written language of music. In not too much time, you will be reading music and experiencing it like never before. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Teresa Rose is a music instructor with a passion for helping people learn music. She especially enjoys sharing with others how to learn to read music. Stop by her website and read many more articles about music on a variety of topics. |
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