A Better World With Music
By Peak Music and Dance
How do we make a better world?
We live in difficult times. Political divisions, hostility, conflict, and a seemingly endless parade of problems, most of which, if we’re honest, are of our own making. We’ve become remarkably proficient at finding things to fight about. If arguing were an Olympic sport, we’d have enough gold medals to pay off the national debt.
But I have a solution. Not to everything, of course. I’m a musician, not a magician. Although, come to think of it, magic is exactly where we begin. At Peak Music and Dance, when we meet a new student, we ask a simple question: “If you could wave a magic wand, what would you be doing in music?”
It’s a deceptively important question. If someone can answer it honestly, we can usually get them on their way. Very few people are truly incapable of developing musical ability. Most simply haven’t had the right instruction, encouragement, or opportunity.
One student told me, “I want to be a rock star.” My response? “Great! Let’s get you the skill set that will support that.” No laughter. No lecture about unrealistic expectations. Let’s find out what you want and what you’re willing to do to get there.
More often, though, the answer is, “I just want to have fun.” Sometimes it means exactly what it says. But sometimes, with a little exploration, we discover the unspoken truth: “I’d really love to become an excellent musician. Maybe even perform professionally. But I’m afraid I’m not good enough.” And there it is. Fear, disguised as modesty.
Of course, sometimes having fun really is the entire objective, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. I once had a student whose entire ambition was to sing a Whitney Houston song at karaoke night. That’s it. No recording contract, no world tour. We worked toward that goal. He accomplished it. And then he stopped taking lessons. Success! He knew where he wanted to go, did the work, and got there.
For those who want to become truly exceptional, another decision awaits. Are you willing to pursue excellence for its own sake? Are you willing to do the work because becoming the best you can be is a worthy endeavor?
I believe it is. But whether your ambition is Carnegie Hall, a heavy metal stage, your local karaoke night, or singing while making dinner, there’s something more important at work here. Music brings joy into the world. And we desperately need more joy.
Now, let’s clarify something. Joy does not require a happy song. There is tremendous joy in sharing a sad song, the kind that brings tears to your eyes because someone has managed to express something you’ve carried inside for years. There’s joy in sharing an angry song, too, in turning rage, frustration, and anguish into something powerful and creative.
And yes, that includes heavy metal. Have you ever looked at an audience at a heavy metal concert? Tattoos, black clothing, intimidating expressions, and enough skulls to make a medieval cemetery look under decorated. Terrifying!
And yet, I’ve often suspected that some of those scary-looking metal fans may be better emotionally adjusted than the perfectly respectable people sitting quietly at a symphony. At least the metalheads are getting their feelings out!
I love classical music, too, but there’s something wonderfully honest about a room full of people enthusiastically shouting along to a song about rage, loss, or despair, and then leaving with enormous smiles on their faces.
Music doesn’t have to deny our darker emotions to bring us joy. It can give those emotions a voice and turn loneliness into a shared human experience. The joy isn’t necessarily in the emotion being expressed. It’s in the expression itself, and in sharing it with someone else.
In a world divided by politics, ideology, religion, and competing versions of the truth, music can bring people together without asking them to agree on anything. Two people who might disagree about virtually everything can sing the same song, dance to the same rhythm, or be moved by the same melody. For those few moments, they share an experience rather than an argument.
In many cultures, singing and dancing are simply part of being human. Everyone participates. You don’t need a degree, a record deal, or a standing ovation to justify opening your mouth. Here in America, we’ve developed the peculiar notion that unless we’re approaching professional competence, we shouldn’t subject anyone else to our musical efforts. Nonsense!
Apparently, we’ve decided music is best left to professionals, while expressing poorly informed opinions to thousands of strangers requires absolutely no qualifications whatsoever. What a fascinating set of priorities.
I’d like to propose something different. Be brave enough to sing, even if you’re not certain you’ll sound wonderful. Play an instrument before you’ve mastered it. Dance without worrying about what everyone else might think. And if you encounter the occasional idiot who mocks your efforts, continue anyway. Anyone who finds pleasure in taking joy away from another human being has already demonstrated that their opinion is of remarkably little value.
Now, don’t misunderstand me. I believe passionately in musical excellence. I believe in discipline, serious study, and the relentless pursuit of mastery. Those who want to become exceptional should be encouraged and challenged to do exactly that. But excellence is something we can aspire to. It should never be the price of admission to participating in music.
A beginner singing with genuine passion has something valuable to offer the world. So does the virtuoso who has spent decades mastering an instrument. They spring from the same human need to create, communicate, and connect.
And that brings me back to our original question. How do we make a better world? We live in an age when contention has become a spectator sport. Social media rewards outrage, hostility masquerades as conviction, and we’ve reached a point where people can debate the merits of public executions as though they’re discussing the weather. I find that profoundly disturbing. We have become so consumed with telling the world what we believe that we sometimes forget to share who we are.
So I have a challenge for you. Don’t make your political affiliation, religious beliefs, or personal grievances the only things you offer the people around you. Share something of yourself instead. Share a song that makes you laugh, one that makes you cry, or one that reminds you of someone you’ve lost. Sing badly if you must. Sing beautifully if you can. Learn to do it better if you want. Play an instrument. Dance with someone. Make music with your children, your friends, or someone you’ve only just met.
Music and movement are not luxuries reserved for the talented few. They are part of our shared human inheritance, a birthright that we’ve somehow convinced ourselves must be earned.
No, I don’t believe a song will solve all the world’s problems. But I do believe that a world in which more people experience and share joy will be a better world than one in which we spend our lives competing to see who can be the angriest. And if we can create even one moment when someone feels less alone, more alive, or simply happy to be here, then we’ve accomplished something worthwhile.
Let’s make a better world, one human experience at a time.
Sing. Play. Dance.
