The way that we listen to music as a society has shifted and changed over time. Yet, it remains a crucial part of many people’s lives.
The sad thing is that music has become an isolated part of life, even though it was created as a way to connect and communicate with others.
There is something extremely special and intimate about sharing music with other people. The music we like can often be a reflection of the internal maze of our minds, and sharing the songs we relate to with others can often feel like handing over your heart.
But this is what music was always meant for. Listening to music only in your headphones when in public or alone in your room means that it only exists between your two ears. Often, listening to music alone can trap us in a cycle of rumination in our heads.
For much of human history, music was only experienced live. Live music holds significant value still for a reason. The Ticketmaster battles alone are proof of this.
But beyond that, concerts are important because they create a sense of community when everyone gathers together for the same music, to hear the music they all love. There’s something special about being in a space where everyone else in the crowd is just as passionate about what is about to be played as you are.
On a chemical level, music helps us bond through a shared oxytocin release, according to the Greater Good Science Center. It’s hard to deny the science in the fact that sharing music with others is proven to create a stronger bond between people.
Arguably one of the most important parts of sharing music is that it helps give us a greater communal and cultural understanding of one another. Instead of using words to communicate, which often fail us, we can use emotions through music to express our intent.
Everyone is extremely passionate about their personal music taste, and there is no better way to connect with someone than sharing music and finding that you like a lot of the same things.
As a whole, music combines language and sounds that by far transcend plain speaking in regard to emotional impact.
Music has its own place in special events in society: weddings, death and religion, for example. This alone shows that music connects us and makes us feel we move as a whole in big life moments. Music can say something about the human experience that cannot be stated simply through words.
Listening to music with others, or even creating music with others, can give people a common outlet and a sense of belonging that was not there before.
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So remember, if you are feeling disconnected from people, one of the best things you can do is pick up the aux cord and share your favorite music with them.
Ren Chaffee is a sophomore strategic communication major with a minor in rhetoric/writing and has a passion for writing and music. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, spending time in nature and hanging out with her dog.
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