Music Changes Lives at Tang Hall
At TANG HALL SMART, we see how music changes lives all the time.
Our students and participants come from all kinds of different backgrounds and yet share one thing in common: an ability to create music.
There’s no entrance exam, no audition and no edge of competition. The fact is that everyone can create music.
People with a learning disability, those who have struggled with homelessness, mental health issues, disadvantaged upbringings, social stereotyping and prejudice – anyone.
We all have an inherent ability to respond to and join in with music on a level that lies far deeper than the mind.
As Shakespeare wrote, “If music be the food of love, play on!”
The Bard knew how important music is for us: nutritional, life-sustaining, sociable, energy-giving, healing and warming. He could have used all of those words to describe music, but in the act of ‘composing’ his lyric he chose the word ‘food’ to sum them all up.
Research shows that a shared experience of creating music together helps to develop skills and a stronger self-esteem. In turn, this helps people to co-operate in tasks, empathise and communicate with others and to try new things, develop further life skills (research commissioned by The Irene Taylor Trust, University of Cambridge 2008).
During “active” music therapy, in which participants create music by using vocals and instruments, the sheer joy of creative expression and freedom with tune, rhythm and words is quickly evident. We use this “active” form daily and many of our students can testify to a greater sense of wellbeing and happiness.
Here are five ways music can benefit us:
It reduces stress and anxiety
It boosts the immune system
It decreases pain
It can aid memory
It improves mood – usually by getting us moving!
Many health care professionals recommend music therapy to their patients with various physical and cognitive complaints. There is lots of recent research available online and elsewhere that backs up the claims of how music can improve people’s wellbeing physically and mentally.
Truth be told, though, music has been making humans happy since the beginning of time in every culture under the sun. Our ancestors were less shy of using the term ‘spiritual’ than we are, but at TANG HALL we believe that that’s where the fundamental ‘lift’ takes place.
Something magical happens when we create music: we experience an automatic and irresistible change of emotional state. When our feelings change, our thought patterns change, too, and hence our actions.
When this happens, we see lives change.
“Music can change the world because it can change people,” stated Bono. He should know.
Have you tried it yet? Do you know of someone who’d benefit from it? Don’t listen to that little voice that says, “Oh, I’m not a creative-type …”. Music is for everyone: that includes you. There are many ways you can encourage your latent musical talents – Sound Castle’s blog post has lots of good ideas to start you off. You may just surprise yourself with your first composition …
Come and meet us at our next live gig on 11 November at “The Barbican” in York and be inspired!
Till then – EXPRESS YOURSELF!
Sue Williamson
Managing Director
Tang Hall SMART CIC
