Music is everywhere. It is on the elevators while on the way to work, or leaving out of the office building, it is in most stores while shopping or buying groceries, it is there as we sit in the dentist office, and it plays quietly in the background while we dine at restaurants. How many times do we unknowingly hum along until caught, and guiltily stop, of course only after the best part has past? Music is an art form meant to be enjoyed and relished, but that also has been known to assist in the well being and continued "happy place" feeling of those that listen, and respond to it. One of the first steps is to find out what a persons' musical tastes are. Perhaps listening to a couple of minutes each of different types of music, can help gain an understanding of what is preferred.
Here are a few of the most popular:
- Classical- This is a generic term that applies to different styles of music covering over 700 years. One may hear it referred to as opera, or symphony music. The name originates from the Latin term classicus, meaning taxpayer of the highest class. Some of the most famous composers of this type of music were Beethoveen, Bach, and Mozart.
- Jazz- While this music form is difficult to define because it spans across radically different eras, improvisation is one of the key elements it is known to possess. In this genre a performer can interpret the music in very different ways based upon mood, and personal experience among other factors.
- Country- Although around since the 1920's, having had an original start in the southern Appalachians for several years, in the 1950's and 1960's country music became a huge commercial enterprise. Today it boasts' a huge array of diverse performers such as Faith Hill, Randy Travis, and Dolly Parton.
- Rhythm/Blues- In wikipedia the term originated in the 1940's, and was used by record companies to describe recordings marketed mainly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking , jazz based music with a heavy, insistent beat" was becoming more popular. Today the music has a huge crossover following and appeals to many people of different ethnicities. In addition, there are many other music forms out there to experiment with and find out just what one prefers.
Another way to develop an appreciation of music is to learn to play an instrument. Karen Sandstrom, author of the article, "Your Never Too Old to Learn a Musical Instrument" in The Cleveland Plain Dealer Feb 28 2008, states that "the fastest growing group of aspiring pianists are adults age 25 and older." Although piano is one of the most popular instruments taken up, so are the violin, clarinet, and saxaphone. And of course we could not forget the guitar. But whichever instrument is chosen, remember although it takes patience and discipline to stick with an instrument. It should be enjoyed, so if there comes a time when this is no longer the case, it may be time to reevauate the reasons behind the decision to start.
