Music Appreciation

Who, but You, would ever choose
To dream Your dream in me?
Tell me who, but You, would dare me to
Believe what I can’t see
Who, but You?

Great and might God, I believe, I believe You
Keeper of the stars, I believe, I believe You

– Excerpt from Who But You performed by Mark hall & Megan Garrett from Casting Crowns. and written by Nicole Nordeman. From the CD set Music Inspired By The Story.

I love music for its ability to lift me out of my every day life, however briefly, and help me think of something outside myself. The lyrics above (and the entire CD set they came from) encourage me to dream and not only think of the Bigger Picture, but also how that applies to me and my family. I have dreams that my child will have an abundant life (and I learn almost daily what that means – in some ways it is unique to each of us). I’m finding that the profound hopes I have for my child, I must live out for her to see. For example, if I want her to live in freedom from bitterness and unforgiveness, I must be forgiving and joyful. (This is not something I do alone, but in cooperation and surrender to Christ…but that is a topic for another post.)

It may seem that I’ve have gone off on a rabbit trail away from the topic of music appreciation, but listening to Who But You earlier today brought this to the forefront of my mind. Although I took piano lessons for several years as a child and appreciate music, I am not an expert on music theory or instruction. I do know that the ability of music to affect our thoughts and emotions is both awesome and frightening. The phrase from the classic children’s song comes to mind – “be careful little ears what you hear” – but I don’t want to focus on the negative in this post. We have the opportunity to fill our family’s minds with quality music of all genres that will lift our spirits and fill our minds with great ideas. To inspire us to dream and then to follow those dreams!

I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning. – Plato (Source: goodreads)

A grounding in the arts will help our children to see; to bring a uniquely human perspective to science and technology. In short, it will help them as they grow smarter to also grow wiser. – Robert E. Allen – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AT&T Corporation (Source: Children’s Music Foundation)

Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent – Victor Hugo (Source: goodreads)

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination
and life to everything. – Plato (Source: goodreads)

It builds relationships, unifies people and, most importantly, it’s fun. – Don Spencer, Founder of the Australian Children’s Music Foundation (Source: Body + Soul)

Music is the one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend. – Ludwig van Beethoven (Source: goodreads)

Find out more about The Story and the CD set it inspired at this link. Reading the lyrics isn’t nearly as soul-stirring as listening to the song being performed, so I embedded the video below. Courtesy of YouTube.