Personal Narrative: A Music Analysis

Music is one of the most influential notions available to human beings. It has influenced my existence in ways I never would have presumed it would. The earliest form of music was first prominent around 4000 BCE by the Egyptians in the form of a percussion based instrument, similar to a drum. Ever since the dawn of time, people have been incorporating music in their essence. Whether it is the chirping of birds melodically, or the beat of a band on stage. Music has evolved in ways much more beyond theme and tune. It has emerged into a doctrine. It has become so much more than just a beat. Music is empowering, a mood-changer, strength in hard times, a memory creator, and so much more. The beauty of music is more importantly what it is to each

individual person. People of all walks of life can relate to music, and each song does something completely distinct varying from person to person, myself included. This is my story of how music has forever altered my existence for the better, and how capable of a tool it is for all of humanity.
The dawn of my realization for the blessing of music started about 7 years ago.

I was 10 years old and my family was undergoing a divorce. I wish I could look back and be thankful that it was an easy process, but the next 7 years of my life would be anything but simple. Right off the bat I was introduced into a diverted living situation. I spent 1 week with my mom, and 1 week with my dad while juggling school in the process. Life was adequate. I was indifferent to the divorce, I just went with the motions and endured the weekly transitions. I was always submerged in music while in the car or just around the house, but it had no meaning to me then. It wasn’t until a couple years later when it became the foundation of my

stability.
When I was about 11 or 12, things started to get really perplexing. My dad had found a new girlfriend and decided to start a new life in Frederick, 45 miles from my mom, friends, school, and my entire existence in essence. Times got increasingly difficult day by day. As I started a new life full of emptiness and loneliness, I sought the only thing that I could: music. As I started high school with yet another new crowd and all new atmospheres I held on to the one thing that had drew me out of depression for the last few years. Every chance I got I threw in my headphones, and it was almost like my reality altered as I was transported into everything that is my comfortability through simple songs.
The following years would prove the vigor that music contained even more.

As I matured and secured new experiences, music became less of my foundation and more of a reminder. As I would listen to certain songs in times of triumph and extreme contentment with life, the songs would resonate through and serve as a symbol for that time in my life. The beauty of the links that my soul acquired between the songs and influential times in my life is that I could re-access the feelings, memories and intellect I gained at those times just by listening to the songs again. For instance, whenever I hear ‘What You Know’ by Two Door Cinema Club, I am greeted by the warmth of this time of year. Fall is my all time favorite season, and this time last year as I would cruise in my Audi TT, windows down, on alluring mountain roads laced with golden aspens, the happiness I had comes right back anytime I hear that song. Another example is the song ‘Take a Back Road’ by Rodney Atkins. Anytime I hear that song, I am transported into last summer when I would embrace summer to the fullest with that song as the

theme.
I believe in the power of music because it is more than just beats. It is everything about our existence as human beings. It is a symbol of who we are and what we stand for. It is a representation of each individual human being and how beautiful life is. Music is the most influential things we will ever have in life, and through this gift I believe we can obtain true happiness.