THE POWER OF music

Most of us enjoy music. But science shows music is central to being human and its effect on us is far more astonishing and impactful than we realise. Music is fundamental to life.

- Linda Moon

Many of us can think of a time when music made all the difference to our lives. The song that helped us hope or feel less alone. Or the enlightenment a particular piece of music - almost magically - conjured.

An oft-unacknowledged aspect of being human, music weaves through the tapestry of our lives.

While watching a movie, we might focus on actors and storylines, but it's music, wending invisibly in the background, that tweaks our mood and emotions, creating atmosphere, interpreting character motives, and foreshadowing what's ahead. Proof of its power to tell the story, it can literally change the meaning of the imagery on screen. Music makes all the difference. But it's all about the right music at the right time.

Mothers use lullabies to help babies sleep. Teens connect to songs that promote their identity. Music elevates our special occasions and spiritual practices and soothes our stress. There are the tunes that help us vent, express ourselves or make us want to dance.

While we know music has some magical power over us, few understand how it works. Science is beginning to catch up on the answers.

The science of music

The take-home from musicologist, Michael Spitzer's 2021 book, is that music is universal to our species.

In The Musical Human: A History of Life on Earth, he says all of us are born innately musical. It's a statement some of us might disagree with.

How music became commodified

"We all have the capacity to be musical," Spitzer says. "But we're too embarrassed." Music is 'taught out' of most of us, he says. "Very few schools and kindergartens invest in music anymore. And we go through the system of education where we're all brainwashed to think that the only value in education is to make money and train you to become a professional.