Truly Important

Submitted by: OperaPulse

by Kristen Whalen, University of Central Florida (mentor: Joel Herold)

In response to The Savvy Musician Challenge #1 

Are Musicians Truly Important? Most people immediately agree that doctors, farmers, and teachers provide essential services to our communities.  But what about musicians?  Is our work vital?  What kind of important differences can we make?

“I went to the store to buy some bread.” To most individuals, this statement is of small significance and easily forgettable. However, I will never forget the look of pure joy and accomplishment on Mrs. Cooper’s face after she sang this. Just 5 minutes earlier she had not been able to utter a single intelligible word.

Allow me to explain. Mrs. Cooper has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease for the past 2 ½ years and has trouble with her movement, articulation and breath support resulting in slurred or unclear speech patterns. After many different medications and therapies failed to solve her issues, Mrs. Cooper finally came to the Speech and Voice Clinic at the University of Central Florida to receive some help. With the aid of professors and graduate students, I was able to gain a first-hand glimpse of a revolutionary treatment: music therapy.

Mrs. Cooper was encouraged to try to sing all of her words on one single pitch rather than speak them. My peers and I taught her different breathing techniques and even taught her to play several different scales on the piano so that she could learn pitch matching.

Music therapy has been shown to stimulate the production of dopamine and serotonin (vital chemicals to healthy mental and physical human processes, and of which are deficient in a person with Parkinson’s) and this certainly seemed to prove true in the case of Mrs. Cooper. After only about 4 months of treatment, I have seen firsthand what a difference music therapy can make in an individual’s life. Thanks to music, Mrs. Cooper is now able to use her voice in ways that each one of us take for granted.

So, when I am posed the question, “Are musicians truly important?” I can honestly say YES. Musicians can make many important differences not only in providing entertainment value, but we can also help in a scientific and practical way, by boosting the overall physical and mental well-being of a human life.

Spiritual and emotional well-being are vital aspects to living life to the fullest and I believe that music strengthens both entities. I personally cannot imagine my life without music and I am always feeling the need to spread the message of its great power.

My immense love of music was inspired from an early age. My grandfather was always a great lover of music and actually played bassoon in the Marine’s National Symphony Orchestra. While I was growing up, my grandfather would love to discuss music with me and share all of his knowledge and wisdom as well as his extensive CD collection (while other kids my age were listening to Britney Spears, I was falling in love with great opera divas like Mirella Freni). I always dreamed of performing with great Opera companies that he and I would watch on TV. We would often talk about going to Carnegie Hall someday to watch the greats perform.

However, this dream never came about. Sadly, three years ago my grandfather passed away due to a glioblastoma (a very aggressive brain tumor). While he was sick, my grandfather was completely aware of everything going on around him, but was completely unable to speak. So I would just talk to him or sing to communicate. This was truly the hardest and most tragic time of my life, and for awhile I found it even too painful to listen to or sing certain songs.

I wish very much that my grandfather were still alive to see me on the path to living out the dream we both always wanted. However, it gives me great comfort to know that when I sing, I have a cheering section up in heaven with an individual who shares my love and passion for music.

I believe that musicians can make a difference if they inspire even just one person. Even one simple performance or discussion about music could potentially change an individual’s way of thinking or even the way they live their life. In a way, my entire life has been shaped by the introduction to the music of opera and the love that my grandfather and I shared through it; and for that I will be eternally grateful. I only hope that one day I am able to make that same sort of impact in someone else’s life.

When people ask me, “Are musicians truly important?” I always know my answer right away… I can only hope that they have also experienced the awe-inspiring power of music. I have seen firsthand how music can change an individual’s physical, emotional and spiritual well-being and how it can inspire a whole new generation long after we have left this Earth.

OperaPulse is a social enterprise that represents the entire American Opera community. We are a socially integrated, interactive hub for news, resources, and education. OperaPulse’s mission is to strengthen the opera industry through promotion and education – a place where users make vital connections in the opera community, both online and offline.  

2 Responses to “Truly Important”

1. The Link Building Black Book. | Wireless Router Reviews says:

   April 30, 2010 at 3:38 pm

   [...] Truly Important | the savvy musican blog | The Savvy Musician Blog [...]
2. Latex mattresses says:

   October 10, 2010 at 6:03 am

   …

   Good brief and this article helped me alot. Say thank you I seeking your data….