The 'How Does Music Affect You?' thread (in association with Shard)

(Yes, it's yet another thread with which I try to distract myself from myself, and from the troubles I constantly bring both to me and to all-round much better people):

How Does Music Affect You?

There's an interesting article on the NAS website about music therapy for autists. One unfortunate person who struggles to communicate his emotions has been helped by way of this therapy: thankfully, he can now use musical instruments to have a 'voice' when, ordinarily, he might be lost in silence. After reading this feature, I wondered how music affects our lives? Not only in the 'helping' sense but also in music's basic power to change or sustain our moods? It doesn't matter if your own examples are standard or unusual ones. I'll start us off ~

*Cue the obligatory and dreaded 'Simon examples', listed because he has no actual life-experiences beyond those in his mind*:

1. When watching Kate Bush's 'The Sensual World' video, I feel transported to a world of Romance. It's like a Pre-Raphaelite painting come to life. A medieval fairytale in crimson, adorned with Autumn leaves. It is breathtaking. Who needs reality?:

'And how we wished to live in the sensual world...
You don't need words -
Just one kiss, then another

Stepping out of the page
Into the sensual world'

2. I often have images in my mind when listening to music, but sometimes I get it 'wrong'. On hearing a Classical piece, I was unshakeably convinced that it soundtracked a slender ship cutting through the ocean, casting blue waves aside; later, I found out that the piece actually represented the flowering of an English country garden. Doh.

More interestingly, (I hope): How Does Music Affect *You*?

Parents
  • Controlling my sound world is a constant battle for me which music plays a very big but not the only part. There’s lots I could contribute on this subject but for now just this …

    I connect to the rhythms of music incredibly well and am an amazing dancer. We go clubbing most weeks and it’s a delight to me - the loud music, the dance with it’s physicality, the lights, the incredible attention I get. I really get high on all this and say when people ask “what are you on?”: “who needs drugs when you’ve got music!” But I can walk away from it easily, I know when enough is enough then we tram home. And it’s a drug with no hangover either lol. 

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  • Controlling my sound world is a constant battle for me which music plays a very big but not the only part. There’s lots I could contribute on this subject but for now just this …

    I connect to the rhythms of music incredibly well and am an amazing dancer. We go clubbing most weeks and it’s a delight to me - the loud music, the dance with it’s physicality, the lights, the incredible attention I get. I really get high on all this and say when people ask “what are you on?”: “who needs drugs when you’ve got music!” But I can walk away from it easily, I know when enough is enough then we tram home. And it’s a drug with no hangover either lol. 

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