And the Beat goes on....

And the Beat goes on..

Music, all kinds, at all times, in all places.  It is the soundtrack to my life.  There is simply no better way to describe it. I associate music to everything I do and it has the power to affect even how I feel.

As I prepare for work every morning I listen to music. As I drive to work, I listen to music. There is not a moment of my day that in some way or another music is not a part of it.  I refer to music as my time machine.  It has the power to instantly transport me to a different time and place.  Music has been this way for me ever since I can remember.  I recall many times when feeling, well, not so great, listening to a song, or a familiar melody and almost magically taking me back to a happier time or place which I associate with that song.  It is a powerful tool in my opinion.  I have known nothing else in my life that has had the ability to impact one’s feelings with such ease.

I am Latino. My family is from Guatemala (Central America) and Puerto Rico (the Caribbean).  My exposure to music is vast.  I am fortunate to understand lyrics of songs in two languages but the magic if music is that it really knows no boundaries.  I have, on many occasions enjoyed music from other parts of the world some.  I find music to be very inspirational. It is used in so many aspects of our lives.  I have used music to celebrate, to remember, to worship, to entertain.  Music impacts me even when I am unaware it is doing so.  Advertisers use music to entice. Politicians use music to identify and appeal to specific demographics.  It influences my life daily. IN how I make decisions and how I approach certain situations. It does so because, again is has the power to alter our moods.

The Language of music is international it it influences the way we see and understand the world around us.  It is through music than many barriers are broken and how we are able to achieve civility with others.  Often through the shared appreciation of music understanding is achieved. 

It is my belief that utilizing the theme of music in this class will allow me to better understand and appreciate music by exposing me to different genres and artists.  To learn more about how music impacts others. How it may be similar to the impact music has on me but also discover how the impact differs from person to person.  It is thru a shared love of music that we are able to bridge the gap of understanding between diverse cultures and backgrounds. 

Music will continue to play a significant part in my life.  It will definitely be interesting to see how music impacts others. To learn about different experiences that people have with regard to music.  How different people use music in their lives.