Music Is a Necessity

Andrew Vaccarezza

Dr. Keith Bohm

Music 129, section 2

12 June 2007

Necessity

During the course of any given day most Americans come in contact with some form of entertainment which helps one detach from the tension in their lives momentarily. For some this may be a magazine, for others it may be the almighty television. What most Americans do not notice is the frequent contact with music throughout their everyday lives. Music can be found in the work place, at home, in the car, in the elevator, and even in the restroom. Music is the most used source of entertainment in the lives of almost every American. Some might say it is due to the easy access, others might say it is due to the simplicity of music in how it is used as entertainment. The reason music is the most popular form of entertainment holds true to many cultures, necessity.

During the early years of my life, around four or five years old, I was subjected to some of the best music of my parents’ youth, 1970s Rock. This is the first era of music I can remember gaining a preference for. Now it is true I was in contact with music before this time. As a baby my toys had music and short tunes playing on command, and the cartoons and children’s shows almost every American child is subject to have a musical theme. However, most of these small tunes and songs did not top the billboards and gross millions of dollars in album and concert ticket sales. Bands, such as my favorite, Boston, had broke records in album sales and developed new types of music that a five-year-old could even thrive for. Some thought it was strange how a five-year-old knew every word to nearly every song on every album Boston had in circulation. What most do not realize is how much music a child of that age can hear in a single day.

Everyday people are listening to music and do not even realize their foot tapping to the beat uncontrollably. Growing up I found that music can be incorporated into almost every aspect of one’s life. Whether it is driving, working, relaxing, or even sleeping, music always seems to be a mood setter. Setting a healthily and helpful work environment is always a good use for music. No matter what the task, I have always found the presence of music almost necessary in any form of work. During a single day I have found myself listening to music for over 14 hours. Music will start my day off on the drive to work, keep me going throughout the day, relax me on the drive home, and later put me to sleep.

The use of music is broad in my life much like my preference. Currently my main preferences for music are pop, hip hop, and alternative rock. No, it is not narrow, but how is one to choose? There are so many different types of music I enjoy listening to thus, it is hard to choose a favorite. Different types of music are like different types of food, if you eat chicken everyday for every meal you are bound to get bored with it after a while. This is why I am very well rounded when it comes to my choice of music. Some days Nickelback and Fall Out Boy are on my menu of music and other days it may be Rascal Flats, Justin Timberlake, or even Ray Charles. Whatever the choice, everyday it seems to change a little.

Change has always been a routine of my music history.