30 days of giving - Day #17: The healing power of music

I have always loved music. From the time I was a child I can remember listening to all kinds of music, knowing the melody, memorizing and reciting the words, singing at the top of my lungs in public as a toddler.

I grew up in a musical home. My father was a Grade 10 Royal Conservatory pianist, my grandfather played the guitar and violin, and aunt's and Grandmother played the piano and keyboard. I took piano and guitar lessons and my sister and I often sang at church events and for family gatherings.

Music is part of every culture. Music touches our hearts, elicitis emotion and memories. It can make us mad, sad, happy or in love. Music is also extrememly healing. Cultures all over the world use music in ceremony and healing. From drumming music and circles, to the sound of a gong in a monestary, to a bustling gospel church and having a concert in your car as you belt out the lyrics to your favorite song in the car; music is important and necessary for healing.

Music brings the community together. If you have ever been to an open mic night you will see how the audience relates to the aspiring musicians. Or at a concert wher ecomplete strangers sitting next to each other will begin to talk becasue they both like a particular song. The power of music is facsinating.

Harmoni Olsen, my sister, is a Jazz singer and lead for her band Fuze and a Kindermusic teacher.

In her children's music classes she can see first hand how transformative music can be in young lives and at her gigs it brings her joy to know that the people in her audience are entertained, and often moved, by her words and music.

To learn more about Kindermusic with Harmoni visit her website: http://harmoni.kindermusik.com/

To listen to some of her music, click here.

To stay updated on Fuze gigs check out their Facebook page.

Think about how music has affected your life:

- What is the first song you remember listening to or singing as a child?

- What is your favorite genre of music? Why?

- What song illicits feelings of love and joy? Saddness? Anger?

The video below is of me competing in the Nashville North Karaoke Country Star summer of 2015. I apologize for the poor quality.