The Forgotten Music of Everyday Sounds
Think back to the time of our past generations, when music and entertainment were only available by means of record players or stereos. Nowadays, however, it’s not uncommon to see people with earbuds in or music blasting through their car radio. It’s hard to imagine a world without constant access to music and other forms of entertainment that keep us busy throughout the day. Although having such easy access to music may seem like a blessing, with our ears constantly plugged we tend to forget the sounds that occur in our everyday lives. Don’t get me wrong, music is great; It can lift us on our feet into dance, it can make us cry, and most importantly it can bring people together. But, we’ve indulged in an oversaturated world where every album must exceed the last, and we get sick of songs after one day of playing them on repeat.
Can you remember the last time you went for a run without wearing headphones? Or drove without listening to music? It's so prevalent in our lives that it’s become less of a commodity and more of a necessity. But what can we do? The answer is simple. Next time you find yourself pulling out your AirPods or waiting for the car Bluetooth to connect to your phone, stop and listen to the natural sounds around you. What do you hear? Depending on where you are you might hear birds singing, people chatting, or cars rushing down a street. These sounds, although mundane at surface level, are beautiful in their own nuanced ways. One can marvel at the chirp of birds and ponder the question of how they naturally produce such lovely sounds. The chattering of people could be found in many places–classrooms, hallways, or shopping centers–and all hold different topics. One person may be chitting about their annoying boss who always wears a brown tie, while another might be chatting about their grandma’s delicious homemade applesauce. All natural conversation holds beauty. Every car that noisily rushes down a street has a destination, and the brief sound of wheels zipping along the asphalt is only a small part of its journey. The car might be on the way to get repaired–no wonder it was so loud–or on the way to the grocery store so its owner can cook dinner that night. Sounds that come across as dull, boring, and unoriginal may present themselves as such, but being able to enjoy the beauty behind the mundane noise will let one truly enjoy the music produced by life and hence life itself.
Caleb Boreson, 10, who partook in Mr. Hayden’s psychology addiction challenge, gave up his phone for an entire ten days. I asked Caleb his thoughts about the experience with no constant access to music or stimuli from his phone.
“I don't know, I mean instead of walking around the halls with music I was just looking around and paying more attention to the moment. I’m not sure if I realized it that much at the time, but I was definitely more aware, even if it was unintentional,” Caleb said.
Without music keeping us in our own heads all day long, we can become parts of the moment or even just observers of it.
So, I know jamming out to Kanye’s innovative beats or Drake’s zesty lyrics is ideal for many, but sometimes it’s gratifying to hit the pause button and take in the sounds the world has to offer – the sounds we often forget are there.