by Pennie Sempell
Humans are universally drawn to music, it is true. But why? It is not necessary for survival or reproduction. Though shy about singing as a child, I sought voice training in my early 20s. Perhaps it helped me survive graduate school. More than that, singing and listening to music fills me with joy and revitalizes me.
There are those moments when a song I hear, or song that I am singing with others brings tears to my eyes. Such a moment happened recently when I heard an astounding audition by Sung –bong Choi within hours after it happened. His story is inspirational.
They say “A picture is worth a thousand words.” In this case, “A voice is worth a thousand words”. Even though you won’t understand the lyrics, this experiment will teach you and your family about the power of music to move us emotionally. Get out the laptop and go to YouTube. Search for Sung-bong Choir and the Korea’s Got Talent video. Sit down with your loved ones and do a little experiment. Watch and listen to this young man’s inspirational story. Notice what emotions well up in you. Talk about it.
There seems to be a universal capability to recognize nonverbal patterns of emotional expressiveness. Researchers have learned that there are universally recognized feelings that arise from Western music. Happiness, sadness and fear communicated in songs were recognized by people in Africa who had never heard English or Western music in a study reported in the journal Current Biology.
I always encourage my clients to ask the surgeon to play their favorite CDs during their surgery, or the bring a boom box to the bedside of a sick relative. We don’t need to wait for those down-and-out times to be elevated by music. If you are not already doing so, I encourage you to make a wide variety of music a part of the fabric of your life.
Viedo of Sung –bong Choi's performance: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BewknNW2b8Y
Working with physicians and psychologists at a major medical center, former teacher and mediator, Pennie Sempell, JD, ACMT specializes in integrative healing arts and mind-body therapies. She has written, performed and produced award-winning programs for children with a focus on health literacy. www.HealthierHappierLife.com.
Humans are universally drawn to music, it is true. But why? It is not necessary for survival or reproduction. Though shy about singing as a child, I sought voice training in my early 20s. Perhaps it helped me survive graduate school. More than that, singing and listening to music fills me with joy and revitalizes me.
There are those moments when a song I hear, or song that I am singing with others brings tears to my eyes. Such a moment happened recently when I heard an astounding audition by Sung –bong Choi within hours after it happened. His story is inspirational.
They say “A picture is worth a thousand words.” In this case, “A voice is worth a thousand words”. Even though you won’t understand the lyrics, this experiment will teach you and your family about the power of music to move us emotionally. Get out the laptop and go to YouTube. Search for Sung-bong Choir and the Korea’s Got Talent video. Sit down with your loved ones and do a little experiment. Watch and listen to this young man’s inspirational story. Notice what emotions well up in you. Talk about it.
There seems to be a universal capability to recognize nonverbal patterns of emotional expressiveness. Researchers have learned that there are universally recognized feelings that arise from Western music. Happiness, sadness and fear communicated in songs were recognized by people in Africa who had never heard English or Western music in a study reported in the journal Current Biology.
I always encourage my clients to ask the surgeon to play their favorite CDs during their surgery, or the bring a boom box to the bedside of a sick relative. We don’t need to wait for those down-and-out times to be elevated by music. If you are not already doing so, I encourage you to make a wide variety of music a part of the fabric of your life.
Viedo of Sung –bong Choi's performance: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BewknNW2b8Y
Working with physicians and psychologists at a major medical center, former teacher and mediator, Pennie Sempell, JD, ACMT specializes in integrative healing arts and mind-body therapies. She has written, performed and produced award-winning programs for children with a focus on health literacy. www.HealthierHappierLife.com.
