highten one s deepest pain. It can creep into your mind and can take you to a different time and
place, “the highest and best music seems to have a message beyond itself perhaps, and certainly
beyond words.” It can not be translated yet it s message is profound. It motivates us to believe
there is a connection between composer and listener due to the emotion it evokes. Subsequently, it
motivates us to believe that we all share the same experiences when the same song could be
interpreted many different ways. Music takes an emotion already present and electrifies it. We
often chose what music we want to hear based on the emotion we want to provoke. We chose
classical for a calming effect when we want to relax. In choosing rock or jazz we want to induce
an upbeat emotion. The relationship between music and emotion is symbiotic, each one feeds of
the other. Our emotion dictates what music we listen to and music dictates our emotion.
The body is ,also, motivated by music. Obviously, the urge of movement when listening to
certain disciplines of music is well noted but music, also, “has a marked effect on pulse, respiration
and external blood pressure music delays the onset of muscular fatigue and has a marked
effect upon the pschogalvanic reflex.” These qualities are similar to the responses of a change in
emotion. Dancing proves this point. Where as classical music dictates a slow and methodical
dance, varying degrees of rock music spur on a fast and uninhibited style of dancing. People, also,
chose to listen to loud upbeat music when performing physical activities such as working out.
At athletic events stadiums usually pump in rock music to pump up the crowd rather than choosing
classical or jazz.
Music s effect and motivation on societies can be highlighted when viewing the evolution
of the late twentieth century. Beginning in the mid 1960 s music began to express feeling of
unrest and disapproval with current affairs in North America. Musicians such as Janis Joplin and
John Lenon expressed there displeasure with the United States involvement in Vietnam. Social
commentary expressed through mainstream music was spreading and dispersing information to the
masses. The effect was astounding. Disenfranchised youths came together and formed
organizations to express their opposition to the crisis in Vietnam. Without these musicians and
their social commentary, certainly, the truths about this conflict would not have reached these
people and ,thus, they would not of been motivated to express their views and aid in ending the
Vietnam war.
Music s motivation in reference to our culture is endless. Each culture possesses certain
unique musical styles that are used to motivate. Religious or spiritual music would be a good
example of this point. In the Jewish religion songs such as the Hava-Na-Gilla Nigila motivate
people to dance and celebrate. In Arab culture music is used to put people in trance like states
which they believe places them closer to god. In the Arab religion of Sufism a unique ceremony
highlights this point, ” The concert took place under the direction of a master who led the ceremony
and at the same time was the spiritual director The solo singing was provided by a cantor , the
quawwal the concert consisted of several successive phases, some vocal, some instrumental
The faithful listened to the music seated, in a state of inner contemplation, and allowed themselves
to be gradually overcome by trance When the trance became to intense, they rose and began to
dance. Return to calm and normality was brought about by the sound of music suitable for that
purpose.” This ritual not only displays music s motivation over culture, it also proves music s
ability to motivate one s mind and body.
After viewing the remarkable abilities of musical therapy in dealing with children with
special needs one can conclude that, although, it may not cure the patients it enriches their lives and
motivates certain qualities that did not exist before. It allows the children to break the constraints
of their disabilities and motivates them to grow socially and academically. Music s ability to
motivate our mind can be seen in it s manipulation of our emotions and its ability to make to make
of mind stronger than our body. Physiological differences that occur in our body when being
affected by music prove its power over our body. The motivational tools that music possesses are
far ranging and should be explored for years to come, so we can harness its energy and create
better lives for the people who create it and the people who listen to it.
Aiello, Rita. Musical Perceptions. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994
Beadle, Jeremy. Will Pop Eat Itself. London: Faber and Faber Co., 1994
Chanan, Michael. Musica Practica. London: Verso Co., 194
Cooke, Deryck. The Language of Music. London: Oxford University Press, 1959
Lee, Vernon. Music and its Lovers. London: George Allen Ltd, 1932
Robbins, Clive. Music Therapy in Special Education. New York: John Day Co., 1972
Rouget, Gilbert. Music and Trance. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985
Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins, Music Therapy in Special Education ( New York: John Day Co., 1971)
22
Nordoff and Robbins, Music Therapy in Special Education, 238
Nordoff and Robbins, Music Therapy in Special Education, 229
Nordoff and Robbins, Music Therapy in Special Education, 232
Deryck Cooke, The Language of Music,(Great Britian: Oxford University Press, 1964) 56
Gilbert Rouget, Music and Trance (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985) 167
Gilbert Rouget, Music and Trance, 169
Gilbert Rouget, Music and Trance, 171
Vernon Lee, Music and its Lovers (Great Britian: George Allen Ltd, 1932) 261
Rita Aiello, Musical Perspectives(New York: Oxford University Press, 1994) 13
Gilbert Rouget, Music and Trance, 265-266
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