“Where words fail , Music speaks “ Hans Christian Andersen

As a music teacher I have come to see that there is music in everything. Every emotion we feel and every memory we make and personally it is a part of everything I do. There isn’t a thing I do during the day where I cannot hear a song in my head and it is the only thing I know that helps me clear my head and express my emotions.

A few years ago I was diagnosed with Bi polar mood disorder and I had never realised that my safe place was always music, until I started working as a music teacher. I have seen many children come in with heavy hearts and sad eyes, and watched their moods brighten simply by singing their favourite song and though it is only a small miracle it shows that music can make even the youngest of us happier.

 How do you really explain a feeling? They are not always that simple to explain because sometimes it’s a mix of many feelings instead of just one. Playing an instrument however can make these feelings easier to explain and even easier, to cope with. Drums for example can have a calming effect on a drummer because they are letting all of their feelings out when they play, it’s a physical release. I find that playing the piano helps me in this way, but instead of it being a physical release its more of a calming thing for my mind, when I feel like I am stressed.

There are thousands of types of music out there, usually called genres, and every person has their own favourite type. This doesn’t mean that if you listen to heavy metal music, that you are a bad person, it just means that your mind and body are calmer when listening to heavy metal music than they are listening to something the plays on the radio every day. Everyone is different and when it comes to music, that’s okay. If you feel like you don’t fit in because you don’t listen to the same music, you can make your own. Something new, something different and the musical community will accept you as you are. 

People also see that the type of music you listen to can sometimes explain who you are, something like a personality test. The only problem with this is because of stereotypes we have all started judging each other, and sometimes we make each other feel like our choices are the wrong ones, but from one music lover to another, just be you.

I once read that people who play an instrument tend to feel things more deeply than other, and I agree with this. Adele for example can use her music to make us feel her hurt when she sings “Hello”, whereas, Taylor Swift makes us feel her strength to get back up and start again when she sings “Mean”. I have had experience with kids who have felt things even more deeply than me and my classroom is their safe place, and that makes me the happiest teacher alive, to know that they feel safe with me and my music.

Everyone is different and sometimes we are not strong enough handle everything life throws at us, but if you just close your eyes and listen, you will know that everything will be alright.

Anuska Oroszi – Piano and Vocals Teacher at Keyboard Magic, Benoni.

For more information go to www.keyboardmagic.co.za