Music is the Only Universal Language
When people think of the term literacy, they most commonly define it as the ability to read and write, in the verbal sense. But there is a wide range of literacy apart from that, which also requires mastering a set of crucial skills. One such example is musical literacy, which is the ability to read, write, or appreciate music. Musical literacy is not all that different from the verbal kind. Leonard G. Ratner, when speaking of 18th and 19th century music, writes "Both language and music had their vocabulary, syntax, and arrangement of formal structures, subsumed under the title Rhetoric" (xiv). In other words, music, like language, is based on its own set of learned rules, and both serve as a form of communication.
But what exactly does it mean to be musically literate? One example is the ability to look at a piece of music and know how its components fit together, such as scales, key signatures, crescendos, and other parts. This is known as sight-reading, where people play an unfamiliar piece of music at first glance, because they understand counting and basic underlying principles. But musical literacy also has a wider definition. Listening to a symphony, playing a musical instrument, or even humming along to a song on the radio all show a general understanding of musical principles.
Once an individual obtains this understanding, doors are opened. That person can appreciate music on a more complex level, and musical literacy adds to a well-rounded personality and view of the world. Once people actually understand what is going on behind music, they gain a newer appreciation of its sounds.
On a personal note, I have played the piano for about 8 years, and it has opened doors for...
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...s of ability. Music can be used to express everything from emotions to political opinions. It uniquely soothes us when we are unhappy, and echoes our highest spirits. Simply put, the world would be an emptier place without literacy to translate those feelings into a language that everyone understands.
Overall, music is unique by its duality. Different forms are partial to a particular culture or time period, but every form can reach people all over the world and throughout time. To be literate musically is to spread thoughts and expression, and sometimes those musical ideas weigh more heavily than language can. Music serves as a bridge between generations, societies, and opinions, and without literacy, the world would be a much more restrictive place.
WORKS CITED
Ratner, Leonard G. Classic Music: Expression, form, and Style. London: Schirmer Books, 1980.
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Music is one of the most powerful and influential language which to many people in
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