A common myth is that music always conveys the same emotions, no matter who is listening. This could not be further from the truth. Early European Christian chants, for example, used minor melodies to convey intense emotion, but not any particular type of emotion.
Nowadays, however, it is common to think of minor songs as sad (Umbrella, Sweet Dreams, Pavane by Faure). The same is true of songs that we think of as inherently happy. People can be moved to tears by songs in major modes which are often believed to be inherently happy (Twinkle Twinkle, Wake Me Up, Irreplaceable).How to avoid this emotional misunderstanding? Enjoy quality music time with yourself or your family as part of home school or wind down. Use this active listening framework I created with the help of Maestro Franz at the Houston Symphony to connect with any genre of music in an emotionally neutral way. This will make room for EVERYONE’s emotions reactions to the music, as you listen for qualites that are connected to every musician’s essential skills. Get the active listening framework here (Listen Up!) or find it in my book Piano Without Tears along with the whys and wherefores of my Playful Mindful method. If you would like a free copy of Piano Without Tears, simply fill out the form on this page :-)
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Elisabeth C. SwimPlayful Mindful Music Guide Archives
January 2021
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