Organized Sound

I’m currently teaching my lovely wife to play drums right now for our nascent garage rock band and in addition to talking about basic rock and roll stuff like melody, bridges, etc, we’ve also discussed what music is anyway.

Music engages me on so many levels, but it’s hard to pin down exactly why. It’s just sound, really, and sound is one of the most common stimuli in our lives. From the moment of birth to our death we are barraged with sound. The vast majority of what your ear receives, your brain throws away. If you live near a freeway, train or airport you know what I mean. Remember how loud it was when you moved in? Do you hear it now? No. That’s because your brain, in order to focus on what is relevant to your interests, disregards most of the sound it takes in.

That’s why I think that music, which is just sound organized with regard to pitch and rhythm, is so amazing. If you meet someone who isn’t engaged by music of some sort, you have found a rare individual, maybe even someone with a slight brain abnormality. The human brain is wired for music (for an great read on this subject, check out Daniel J. Levitin’s book http://www.yourbrainonmusic.com/). Sound is everywhere and yet some individuals can organize it such a way that can strongly evoke every emotion humans are capable of, from elation to bitter sadness.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely one of those sound manipulators. I hope you appreciate it

Kyle