Mixing Love of Music and Family

Why does almost everyone love music? And what elements in particular do each of us appreciate most that makes us love different types of music? Do you like the words, the instruments used, the beat, the voice(s)? To some degree all of these elements play a part in what type of music we listen to and appreciate the most. I've asked many people this question: How can someone try to remember something really important like a birthday, formula, recipe, or quote and find this almost impossible a week or two later (even with repeated effort) and yet they can remember the words to a song that they haven't heard in twenty years with almost no cognitive effort? It's amazing isn't it? I'm certain there are studies upon studies as to the triggers in our brain that cause such memory, love and enjoyment from music. But that's not really my point of posting this blog.

Instead, my point is that when you combine multiple things in your life that you love, you end up with the ingredients for a really great experience. That's what 'making music' with my cousins and brothers was all about. For me, spending time with my family and making music was a perfect combination of two really big loves of mine. Now, the 'making music' is in quotes because no one would describe the output of those two half days in the studio as 'making music', regardless of your musical taste. So I'm using this phrase very loosely. And you'll note, there is no music attachments available ... for good reason. But the experience was everything that I had hoped for and more - everyone of us having raw, unrefined and delightfully tacky fun!

So the next time you eat chocolate and caramel, you bike through the countryside to enjoy the fall weather, you read a really good mystery book, or you really enjoy a song for its instrumental and lyrical characteristics, you will be doing something I've come to realize: take two things you really enjoy and combine them. When you do, you won't be disappointed with the outcome.

I'm hoping for at least one more studio opportunity, not because of the music that gets created, but because of what these two experiences meant to me.