“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
“Without music, life would be a mistake.” This statement from Friedrich Nietzsche, one of the greatest philosophers in history, I believe perfectly encapsulates the importance of music in human existence. Music, in all of its forms, serves not only as a way of expression and beautiful musical language through harmony and balance, but also as a gateway to another world where most of us feel something different—something irreplaceable deep in our core.
Music is a fundamental part of the human experience. According to the Smithsonian, humans started building their own musical instruments around 40,000 years ago. Music most likely began with early humans banging rocks together against the walls of caves yet has evolved with humanity: now, we enjoy listening to large orchestras play beautiful classical music by Bach or Vivaldi, and perhaps love just as much the upbeat tunes from the Beatles to rap by Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Listening to, making, and playing music is intrinsic to what makes us human. But not only is music internal to humanity, it offers us experiences that we could not have otherwise; it teaches us lessons and creates experiences unique to itself. Now I want to share three lessons I learned from playing violin for over a decade that I do not think I could have learned elsewhere.
The first lesson I learned was about discipline. To be truly good at playing a musical instrument takes a lifetime. And that lifetime must be filled with rigorous practice, tiring scales, boring etudes, and cold-cut discipline in order to even begin playing a piece! And yet, when you finally begin that first piece or advance to a harder piece, you feel a great sense of accomplishment—I did that! It was my hard work and dedication that allowed me to play this piece. No one else did it for me. This feeling is what makes all the difference. You have proven to yourself that you can stick to something, that you can endure through hardships, and that you have the power to directly influence your own life; you input the hours, and now you get to see the output. The reason this is so valuable is because it directly translates to other aspects of your life. Once you start being more disciplined with music, you will begin to see yourself applying these maxims to things you may have wanted to do for a while, whether that be going to the gym, studying consistently, or building the company of your dreams—everything you have ever wanted to do takes discipline. So if you want to prove to yourself that you can accomplish whatever you want in life, the first step is to be disciplined and focused. That was the first lesson my violin taught me.
The second lesson I learned was about humanity. In my experience, music unlocks these feelings that are truly magical in a way. It is not so much that the music surrounds the man, but instead the man becomes the music. He becomes so immersed in it that he sways with the melody and basks in the counterpoint. He enters a new world where his imagination is ignited with a bright fire of vibrant colors (if he is listening to a happy song) or dull flames (if he decides to be more gloomy). But most importantly, his counterparts enter this new world with him, and together they can enjoy each others’ presence and appreciate the beauty that they are collectively participating in. Not one man feels spited by his fellow, nor does anyone feel less than others. Each man forgets about his troubles and enjoys his short time to the fullest. Music is so powerful that it binds humans together.
That was the second lesson music taught me.
The final lesson I learned was about creativity and emotional expression. Playing the violin, or any musical instrument for that matter, is not just about following notes on a piece of paper; it is about bringing those notes to life. It is about making them dance across your mind; when you finally achieve this (and it is very difficult to achieve), you will realize that whatever you play reflects exactly your own interpretations and your perceptions of the world around you. That may seem confusing to those who haven’t played an instrument or been immersed in music before, which is why I urge everyone to explore the world of music to unlock these otherwise obscured feelings. Each performance you have is unique because it reflects your emotions and creativity at that moment in time. This taught me to appreciate the creativity and beauty of music: it allows us to convey feelings that words sometimes cannot capture.
Music has also been my outlet for emotional expression. During times of joy, sorrow, stress, or excitement, playing the violin allows me to calm down and express whatever I may be feeling. It is truly the best form of meditation and self-love.
I hope that these three lessons I have learned throughout my time playing music have shown you how music has profoundly impacted my life. It has taught me discipline, humanity, and creativity. These lessons extend far beyond music, though. They have enriched my life and guided me through so many hardships I have faced in the past, and I am certain that my violin will continue to act as a savior for my mental well-being in the future. Whether you are an aspiring musician or already a musician, I hope that I have inspired you to embrace these lessons that can help you lead a more disciplined, connected, and creatively fulfilled life.
Note from the editor: The author has asked to remain anonymous, and I will respect her wishes. She is a phenomenal writer. If you wish to see more from her, contact me directly at jackson.danieljay@gmail.com. If you want to write a piece for The Noble Entrepreneur, please fill out this form. We will try to get back to you soon, although we do have a couple of authors lined up already. Thanks for your interest!
