There comes a time in everyone's life when music saves them in some sort of aspect, whether it is to block out the broken family fighting, help you forget about those kids picking on you at school, or help you quiet the late night demons in your head. If I had to describe music in one word, I'd say its a lifesaver. The lyrics are spoken for us when we don't have the words to explain our state of mind. Playing an instrument is very calming and also challenging. Not only are you making beautiful sounds escape from your fingertips but you are mentally challenging yourself each day by practicing. Music is therapy and without it I'm not sure how I would cope with my problems that I fight through every day.
Being a person who loves music means that I have been in choir and playing an instrument since middle school. Concerts weren't cool until you got into high school because you got to wear robes. Then you realized there was nothing cool about sweating underneath those hot, bright lights--unless you're an alto, then you're really cool. I was never bothered by it because I was doing what I loved with people who also enjoyed music--almost everyone, because lots of peers made the mistake of taking the class thinking it was a blow off.
However, I personally think math was always easier than music. You memorized equations that you would forget the next year and most likely never use after high school. With music, you had to learn it, and it needed to stick to you. You had to learn notes, memorize vocabulary, symbols, songs and the people who wrote them. This information is carried with you every year as you progress in your high school music career. Although not every song your teacher picks out is your favorite, you find yourself singing it to yourself in the most random situations (especially the Christmas ones).
Now, every time you listen to music, you notice the melodies and harmonies or even the way it crescendos and decrescendos. You never really appreciate music as an art until you actually learn more about it. The music itself becomes more beautiful to you and the way it vibrates through you when its just loud enough. It can give it a whole new feel and significance to the piece and artist.
It is physically impossible to only listen to one genre of music. As long as it has meaning and good rhythm its hard not to like--except Nickelback. I can easily go from listening to J. Cole to The Fray and it not seem like such a drastic change. My music is a part of me, and it can tell you more about me than I ever could. Music brings people together better than anything else i know ever could.
It's so easy to vibe with someone who has the same taste in music as you. Even if it just a retweet of lyrics they tweeted. You are already connected by the soul with this person because you listen to same artist and also burst out in song frequently even if it is just a tweet. I think bonding over music is one of the best ways to bond instead of befriending someone by how expensive their clothes are or how pretty they are. That's such an empty connection to have with a person. I'm not saying that just because someone thinks G-Eazy is the "baddest" in the game that I'm going to think they aren't that great of a person (just that they are a little nuts). That who is they connect with on a personal level and I respect that but they will not have the aux cord in my car.