Learning How To Be With Music
I grew up with music all around me. I was in every musical ensemble I could get my hands on… choir, band, jazz band, church musicals, marching band, etc. Music was my life. But I should clarify. MAKING music was my life.
I never realized that this was my sole relation to music until I married my husband, brilliant musician himself. I never just sat with music. I never simply experienced it. I played music, I sang music, I made music, but I rarely (or ever) sat with music. What does it mean to just sit with it?
Don’t you get bored? Don’t you want to start singing? Don’t you want to move to the music? Don’t you want to just jam along? Well, there’s something beautiful meditative to sitting and listening to music. There’s a keen awareness that floods over you and your senses. it’s a contemplative nature that you adopt, and I believe it can be learned.
Greg was so excited to listen to the new Gungor album that had just come out. He lit a candle, set up the speakers, and we sat. And listened. That’s all we did. I was uncomfortable - who wouldn’t be if they weren’t used to sitting still (especially when it came to music!). We sat and enjoyed. We listened peacefully and took in all the sounds. We had an experience.
. . .
Now that I’m writing this out, I finally understand why I have always felt uncomfortable at concerts! Holy cow, I never connected these dots before. Concerts represent this exact experience, but this time you’re with a large group of people all taking in the same thing at the same time. Personally, I enjoy listening to music on my own far more than with a whole lot of strangers, but that’s just me 😘.
Well, I wonder if there’s anyone else out there who has the same background as me and finds sitting still and listening through an album fidget-worthy. And I hope there are some of you out there who, like Greg, find this way of listening to music essential. You can remember where you were, who you were with when you listened to that one special album. Sadly, this is not me. Well, now it is! I am starting to take on this practice alongside my husband. The latest album I did this with was the newest Backstreet Boys release. 😁 Yes, I still love my Backstreet Boys! 🎶
I look forward to guiding people into this experience, and facilitating awareness and expression with our Music & Self Care Events. It will be a meaningful time of listening and experiencing. And I encourage you to join if you’d like, but even more, listen to music on your own in this simple meditative way.
Let me know how it goes. 💕
