Appreciating Music Does Not Require Prior Qualifications

Music is a lifeline for me. It is one of the most consistent things in my life–no matter where I am, who I am with, or what mood I am in, music is always there for me. It seems as if there is a perfect song for every situation I have ever been in; whether it describes my experience explicitly through lyrics or from the melody alone. 

Recently, however, I have been considering something that someone once told me: “You cannot truly appreciate music if you have not created it by playing an instrument.” Their reasoning behind this assertion was that understanding how songs are constructed and relating firsthand to the practice of generating harmonies are crucial to truly resonating with the track. 

I agree with this statement to an extent; having a hand in creating one’s own sound can amplify their awareness of the structure behind a song and provide them with deeper insight of how it is made, especially for more methodical music such as classical or baroque genres. Being able to play an instrument surely amplifies the experience of listening in terms of technique and skill assessment–and when someone is very musically inclined, it undoubtedly makes them a better artist in general. 

Having played piano for eight years, I am blessed with the ability to recognize certain things about a song like changes in tempo or the dynamics of melodies and harmonies. However, as my days of piano fall further and further into the past, I find that even though I cannot analyze these technical things about music as well as I used to be able to, my level of admiration for enjoyable songs has not diminished in the slightest. I find that all that has changed is my way of thinking while I listen; instead of initially dissecting every note and rest, I acknowledge how the song makes me feel and how I can connect with the atmosphere it creates.

All in all, the composition and technicalities of music are not the most important things about it. In my opinion, the purpose of any song is to evoke an emotional response in listeners, allowing them to come up with their own interpretations and apply it to their own lives. The sentimental connection to music is personally much more valuable than the ability to understand its structure and evaluate time signatures. 

Music is a language; it can communicate more than words can say and allow others to sympathize with the feelings that artists cannot always express verbally. Playing an instrument surely does not hurt in amplifying the understanding of a song, but it is not a necessity to appreciate it.