Music. When I was four years old, I came home from my aunt and uncle’s wedding and played “Here Comes the Bride” on the piano by ear. My parents put me in music lessons. That was my introduction to music. We were a musical family. All six of us kids knew music, and I am pretty sure we all played in church one time or another.
I learned to sing alto sitting by Grandma Campbell in church. When Grandma’s voice changed, I learned to sing tenor. We grew up in a church that sang. Sunday night was at least 30 minutes of favorites. Mine was page 229. My father’s favorite song was page 373. We sang his song at his funeral. I still love to sing mine.
Music, according to Rob Stein, “music has a calming effect, slowing our heart rate, deepening our breathing, and lowering stress hormones. This makes us feel more connected to other people as well as the world around us.”
Think back to the camp days and sitting around the campfire singing “Pass it on”. Suddenly, everyone’s hearts were beating together. The combination of darkness, campfire, music, and friends melded the night into a time of wonder. Music opened our hearts to hear the beauty of testimonies, repentant hearts, and the Bible being shared to mold the dreams of our future.
As an 18-year-old kid from the farm, music was what helped me fit in when we visited Hartford, Connecticut, and walked into the African American storefront churches. I was home, not because it was like rural Minnesota, but because the music moved my heart, and they made room for me to sit at the piano and play. The greatest compliment I ever received was, “We didn’t know a white woman could play with such soul.”
The music and songs that are forever etched in my heart are the ones that came from a heart moved by the Holy Spirit. I came forward to be baptized when the song, “Lord, I’m coming home,” was being sung. To this day, when I hear that song, tears come to my heart.
Aunt Betty, as dementia had taken over her mind, would put the hymnal up on the piano (upside down) and begin playing the song, in a different key than was written on the upside-down page. Still, in her mind, every word had meaning, and every musical phrase knew its measures. Music speaks when words no longer are decipherable.
The power of music is often so subtle that, standing in an elevator and listening to elevator music, one will recognize a tune and instantly be taken back to a memory. The longevity of music stays in our minds seemingly forever, especially if it’s a rather odd song, and I can still sing the song I learned in 4th grade for the program at school.
God knew music would be a catalyst for calming the heart.
1 Samuel 16:23 tells us the power of music as it calms the emotions.
”Whenever God’s spirit came to Saul, David took the lyre and strummed a tune. Saul got relief from his terror and felt better, and the evil spirit left him.”
Paul and Silas didn’t play games or tell stories in prison; they sang. Miriam didn’t hesitate to express her joy after the crossing of the Red Sea; she broke into song.
Music will walk you through the valley to soothe your broken heart and have you standing hands lifted high on the mountain, shouting to the Lord, not caring who hears. Music doesn’t need a loudspeaker, nor does it need to have an instrument to play it upon. Music is etched in the hearts of God’s people. We are made in the image of God. Music is such a powerful part of our hearts; the rhythm of our world is based on beats. The solar system has music of its own, and the heartbeat of every unborn baby is music to a mother’s ear. Music can be a solo in the shower or a choir in the church. God created music to be an intrinsic part of our lives, our faith, our relationship with others, and our testimony. Much of the Psalms are sung, wept, chanted, and memorized. Never underestimate the power of music that God put in every heart. From the child’s innocent “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, to “Let me call you sweetheart”, to “How Great Thou Art”, and the nonsensical humming of a mother to a fussy child. Music is powerful because the God who created music is powerful.
Great article! I worked with Alzheimer residents and led a choir of them every week. Residents who couldn’t speak or recognize family, would be able to do these things during or after our choir times. Music is a gift from God. Even before the lyrics would be sung, ny residents would be humming or singing the words. It was beautiful!!