The Death of Music

Ask yourself seriously…

When was the last time you heard something and concentrated on listening to it just for the pleasure it gave you?

When was the last time you listened to a song being played by someone who was playing it just for himself?

When did you last go on a trip and come back with memories of not just the sights but also the sounds?

When did you last listen to something other than conventional rock or Bollywood music?

When was the last time there was music in your head that you made yourself?

I talk about the death of not the music that you hear but of the music that you do not. Imagine the time before the internet and CDs or cassettes became the only source of music for the majority of people. There were small villages with small village centers where small groups of people played their music for a small audience. Making money was not the major motivation for making music. Now with such easy access to a wide variety of music for so many people, a wide variety of musicians have prospered. But the music of the small time musician of the streets has died its death.

Musicians make music for themselves foremost. But it is also the way they share some of their emotions with other people. With no audience they have no one to share it with. The musician needs an audience to survive. His music is always in his head. He brings it out only to see how many others feel the same way as him when they hear it.

The first question. When was the last time you heard something and concentrated on listening to it just for the pleasure it gave you? Many of us have forgotten that the sense of sound can give us just as much pleasure as any of the other senses. The twitter of a bird is something to be enjoyed when you hear it early in the morning. The sound of the sea, the sound of the wind rustling the leaves of the trees, these are all things that are worth listening to with your eyes closed every once in a while.

The second question. When was the last time you listened to a song being played by someone who was playing it just for himself? The next time you do listen to it carefully. You will get to know a lot more about the person playing it than by any other way. You might even feel the same emotions he is trying to express.

The third question. When did you last go on a trip and come back with memories of not just the sights but also the sounds? Pay more attention to the music of the place next time. Every different place has a different flavor to offer. And you will come back fresher than ever before. Try it.

The fourth question. When did you last listen to something other than conventional rock or Bollywood music? Try not to restrict yourself with some specific genres or bands. India is a great repository of music. Try listening to some classical and folk music once in a while.

The last question. When was the last time there was music in your head that you made yourself? Every one of us is capable of making music, great in its own way. Make music in your head. You don’t need any instrument or a great voice. It’s something you create and will forever be yours. All the best and enjoy.