The Soundtrack of Our Lives
Music is everywhere, woven into memory, emotion, and the quiet corners of daily life. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how sound shapes us from before birth to our final years.
The world is full of music.
As I sit in my living room, I hear the wind outside. Today, it flaps wildly in my neighbor’s Santa flag. At some point, I fear Santa will be strangled as the flag whips around and gets caught on the pole. The crepe myrtle’s branches brush against the windows periodically, making a tingling sound.
The ancient clock on the mantel makes a double tick sound—tick tick, tick tick. It sounds like a woman in high heels running on the pavement. The fire in the fireplace below crackles as the flames devour the wood. I love a real fire. Somewhere in my ancient history, I am sure I carry genes for some fire goddess. I look forward to the winter just for the fires in the fireplace. Fortunately, my husband accommodates. Fireplaces are messy but delightful.
When we moved into this house, the ash collector between the fireplace and the basement clean-out had obviously not been attended to for years. The billowing of white ash was a shocker. Did you realize that when you shove ashes down the little tin doors at the bottom of the fireplace, they go collect somewhere? Obviously, the previous owners had no clue. I am grateful to them for replacing all the windows in this 1940s house and ensuring everything is airtight. But the billowing ashes filling the basement were a real shocker.
And while the response to this may not have been music, it was really loud.
As the new year approaches, I look forward to the New Year’s Day Concert in Vienna. If you have never listened, you are missing a treat. I realize it will be shown on TV, but I prefer to sit by the fire and stream it over the radio, now known as Spotify. I love imagining myself in that gorgeous concert hall, surrounded by fellow music lovers, melting into my seat.
Music is universal and powerful. The fetus in utero responds to music. I am not quite sure if they have preferences or just like all kinds. My husband had a huge jazz collection when I was pregnant, and I tended to play Mozart’s flute concerto over and over. Those are pretty different experiences. Maybe we were hoping to foster a musician, or to enjoy life ourselves.
I know that early musical experience tends to stay with us. I remember seeing a therapist interact with an Alzheimer’s patient who had not spoken for several years. The therapist began singing nursery songs, and after the first stanza of a particular song, the patient joined in. You cannot watch that coming to life without crying. Music stirs us before we are born and comforts us as we exit.
Want to explore more about the power of music? Visit Psychology Today’s article on how music shapes memory and emotion and Greater Good’s guide to how music connects us.
If you’re reflecting on memory, emotion, or the role of music in healing, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support clarity, resilience, and emotional growth.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst
