Music as Life Philosophy: 10 Ways Music teaches us to Live Better.

Having been around musicians (including singers and music producers) my entire life, I can attest that they are generally quite a unique bunch of people. Many are creative, independent, often rebellious, and have a youthful spirit which can be wild, insightful, deep, expressive, and sometimes aloof or dreamy. They can be extroverted and introverted, offering unique contributions to the performance and creation of music. Many musicians conserve their age behind a deep passion for music which gives them a vibrancy and youthful glow that keeps them young at heart.

Conversations with many musicians over the years has led me to believe that music keeps musicians centered during hard times, giving them access to resilience despite the tumultuous events of life (check out some of my artists interviews for Xook, where I discuss this and other topics about music creation and living well). Music can be the source of joy and peace, something they turn to when people and events let them down. Music also serves as an escape when life seems harsh, or when mundaneness or boredom kicks in. Music inspires musicians to learn, focus, and to create, and provides them with purpose and meaning. Music forms a key component in their lives, affecting and influencing upon other areas, such as relationships, health, scheduling, recreation, and sociability. At the same time, music provides a spiritual resource where musicians can tap into something higher which they may call by many names.

These examples suggest that for many musicians, music is more than a creative outlet but a way of living, a philosophy for life that can be broken down into ten main areas. These ten areas are just some of the ways that music is more than a practice, but a way of approaching life which is visible in the musicians who make music the centre of their world and purpose.

1. Creative Expression

Music teaches us to express ourselves creatively. Through the toil and dedication of learning a musical instrument, music teaches us to experiment and to speak from the heart. Most musicians are inspired to create something new and to provide that for audiences through recorded music or performances that inspire others. The creative and inspired musician entices audiences into imaginal worlds, providing new experiences that bring audiences into relationship with their creativity and perspective. This practice provides a lifelong vehicle for continuous self-expression that rejuvenates the mind, body, and soul, and enables musicians a way to connect with others.

2. Respect for Tradition

Learning an instrument or performance method requires that musicians learn an established tradition. This provides them a view into the past, which enables profound respect for previous traditions. We learn to see that traditions are important for moving forward, and rather than being stifling, they are sources of profound inspiration that teach us how to approach our own music so that we can innovate and express ourselves. We learn that we must first embrace tradition before creating anew. Expanding upon this idea, this gives musicians a respect for their ancestors, family, and those that came before them, a philosophy for embracing the past and making way for the future.

3. Collaboration and Connection

Music requires collaboration with others, whether in a band, orchestra, or ensemble. It requires we learn to keep our ego’s in check to create relationships that foster creativity and innovation. Music cannot be created in a state of negativity with others, and so, musicians learn that in order to create they must learn to nurture harmony, foster excitement, and establish understanding and rapport of others. Creative collaboration is most rewarding when both parties feel they have contributed to a work, proving that win/win situations can be philosophies for life in general.

4. Discipline and Mastery

Music teaches us that discipline is needed to master an artform. This requires continuous effort throughout years, developing resilience, dedication, and technical mastery. Musicians learn that things of value take time, and so they play the long game, slowly aiming to master their instruments through steady practice, study, and performance. Music teaches us that nothing good comes quickly and that mastery enriches individuals in the long run. The admiration that musicians eventually receive is due to the innate understanding that they have toiled for years without recognition or reward to establish their art.

5. Flow and Adaptability

Musicians are taught to improvise when they make mistakes. This approach teaches them to improvise in life, and to keep going when things get tough, or when events are unpredictable. This philosophy provides a mindset of going with the flow rather than pushing against the momentum of life. A musician’s ability to improvise ensures they don’t become stifled by challenges, and are able to adapt with grace and reverence. Improvisation provides a mindset which instills the situation with a creative approach, so that problems are solved through adopting new ways of thinking honed from a deep imagination. Often, improvisations are the most creative parts of music, for they emerge from the deep core of inspired action, without prior thinking and planning. It is these intuitive reactions that teach us to trust in our intuitive instincts and gut reactions, an understanding that can reach deep into how we approach life in general.

6. Living in the Present

Music creation and performance requires us to be in the present and leave all problems and thoughts behind. The extreme focus learnt through study and rehearsal enables musicians to establish themselves in the present, a skill which they can carry into their everyday lives. This ability makes music into a spiritual practice, as it provides a form of meditation which focuses attention on the now and among the space around us. This is one of the reasons many musicians hold tightly to their music practice, for it provides a sanctuary where musicians find spiritual meaning and relief from the forms of the world.

7. Diversity and Unity

Music brings together different cultures and personalities to work in creative harmony. Music teaches us to look for our similarities and to see our differences as strengths that empower the music. When these differences come together in a collaborative spirit, new musical innovations emerge that integrate different cultural traditions, approaches, and sonic soundscapes into new pieces of work. The final product is an objective expression of the ability to work harmoniously, to share knowledge, and to connect with others. While embracing diversity, it also teaches unity by focusing on the areas of mutual connection between humans, rather than on the racial, cultural, or gender differences that often keep us separated and fearful.

8. Narrative and Storytelling

Music uses a unique language for imparting stories to the public. These stories are developed through lyrics, music, and form to express intimate thoughts and experiences, or adapt the traditions that inspire them, or provide commentaries on current events and cultural attitudes. Music is a powerful method for telling stories that resonates emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually, providing a direct experience of the narrative in the body and minds of the audience. Furthermore, the musical structure presents an unconscious narrative which is imbedded into the emotional bodies of audience. We feel the music as a story which takes us through highs and lows, affecting our emotions, and providing us with ecstasy and sublimity.

9. Responsibility

Music performance makes musicians intimately aware of how music can be used to affect people emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. The ability of music to change an atmosphere, to make people feel joy, anger, or sadness, attests to its role in consciousness transformation. This powerful use of music empowers musicians to take their skills seriously, ensuring they uplift their audiences positively, and use the mastery of music to enhance their communities. This responsibility is often overshadowed in the West, where the commodification of music is taught to serve the self and the business world.  But those musicians that choose to go deep into the study and practice of music, particularly of other cultural or religious backgrounds, will find a strong sense of responsibility for oneself and the community.

10: Self-transcendence

Music provides creators and their audiences with temporary altered states and peak moments of flow. These provide a glimpse into hidden aspects of reality and personality, providing deep experiences that touch the lives of those who receive them. Often this occurs as a feeling of oneness with others, or the emergence of a new identity that has greater freedom of expression, joy, and ease, or as a cessation of thinking, or ecstacy. These events lead us to seek them anew, changing the direction of our lives and helping us evolve our values. This participation in these musical experiences helps us understand that goals that serve the ego are secondary to those that serve the spirit and community, and thus, helps us to focus on higher ideals.

These ten aspects form part of a music philosophy that can teach us how to live better. Musicians aren’t created through intellectualisation, but though active participation in music creation and performance within their cultural contexts. Musical philosophies are honed through an active doing, making them powerful for creating lasting change in individuals. This attests to the importance of learning an instrument, participating in music creation, or performing. As this article has shown, music isn’t just a form of entertainment, but an approach to life that has positive effects on health, well-being, and social connection, and can serve as a philosophy for living.

Thanks for reading. If you would like to read previous articles then head to https://www.vincentsebastian.com/blog  . Don’t forget to join the newsletter for upcoming thought-provoking articles about music practice and psychology, culture, spirituality, and creativity . You can check out my original ​music​ here.