Music has meant a lot to me over the years. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember; I joined choir in 4^th grade and have been in it ever since. I joined my school band in 6^th grade until senior year of high school. But music means so much more than just singing or playing an instrument. Music is so powerful and can make a difference in someone’s life. It can change your mood instantly. Music can also transport you to another time, place, or memory. Music speaks when words can’t; when words just aren’t enough.

I was scrolling through twitter recently and saw that one of the trending hashtags was #WeNeedMusicBecause. This struck me because I had never seen a hashtag like it before. As I was reading through some of the tweets, I was really touched by what some people had to say. Some of the reasons why people think we need music is because it saves lives, allows people to express themselves, transcends barriers and unites people, music is a cure for all problems, it takes us back to incredible moments we’ve experienced, and is a universal language that everyone understands. I think that music does all of these things and more. The power of music is so hard to describe in words, but I will try my best.

Music does unite people. The music we listen to here in the United States is popular all around the world, not just here. I had a foreign exchange student from France awhile back, and she had all of the songs that we listened to on her iPod too. I was surprised to learn that she knew all of these songs and artists. It formed a bond between us and was something that we had in common. This shared love of music brought us closer together and made our friendship stronger.

Music helps cure problems and is healing. If you’re having a bad day, listening to music will instantly cheer you up and make it seem as if all of your problems have gone away. It will help reassure you that everything is going to be okay and that you can get through it.

Music is even known to save lives. If someone is having suicidal thoughts, it can help them to feel better and realize that life is worth living. Music can help bring them out of a bad place and into a good place. Music therapy is also gaining popularity in helping people with Alzheimer’s to remember their past. I volunteered at an Alzheimer’s nursing home and recorded people’s reactions to songs from their youth. A lot of them remembered and started dancing and smiling. It was clear that music has a strong effect on them and their memory.

So, while music may seem like a hobby—whether it’s singing, playing an instrument, or simply listening to it—it’s much more than that. Music is very powerful and has the ability to unite people, cheer one up, and maybe even save lives. Music can go a long way.