BY: Nancy Fraioli, The Queen of Ageless Wisdom

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This is what I know and feel about music. I’ve coupled interesting facts, some humor and
feelings concerning music’s wisdom and I hope you’ll enjoy my findings. So follow me…

Try to remember a warm September and follow. Do you recall a play, The Fantasticks, at The Sullivan St. Playhouse in the village? It ran for 42 years on Sullivan Street and the last 9 years at The Jerry Orbach Theater. On America’s darkest day in history, 9/11, theaters were dark for three days and nights. Upon the reopening of Fantasticks, the narrator dedicated the theme song and sang “Try to remember a kind of September when life was slow and, oh, so mellow!”
This particular song and time are emotionally etched into my heart and “feelings” forever.

I read that music has been in existence 50,000 years or more and most likely began in Africa!  Each culture has given us their musical interpretations; whether in song, dance or instruments. In 1,000 CE Guido Arezzo made improvements in music theory. Guido invented our musical scale; do re, mi, fa, so, la, ti do!

Today we use music not only for entertainment but therapy and we’ve learned that many groups of different people are helped by this magnificent commodity. For example, the psychological benefits of music for our Seniors are enormous. Music improves their moods, calms them, also gives them a happier outlook on life and acts as a social interaction.

Patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia have been known to increase communication with others after listening to music. A song can trigger a memory from when they were younger. Studies have shown that music promotes positive overall health.

To those who love music, they often have better nights of sleep and less pain. Music also assists patients in recovery time after surgery.

Music has been found to be beneficial in Autism. Although individuals with autism are slower to develop verbal communication skills, evidence suggests that they’re actually able to process and understand music just as well if not better than their peers. Singing can be especially helpful for teaching the autistic child to effectively express their emotions. Music in the world of autism sheds hope in communication and social skills, behavior cognition and emotions. There are also many positive benefits for Asperger’s children too. Asperger’s children who are enrolled in a music program are found to be pitch perfect and can play guitar, piano and other instruments equally as well. A definite plus!

One-good-thing-about-music-when-it-hits-you-you-feel-no-pain.

plantOn a lighter note, are you aware that in the world of garden plants and flowers music has a definite effect on their growth? Yes, music has positive plusses on nature. Sounds and vibrations of music produce more nutrients in plants and flowers and increase their plant growth. Even humans talking to plants stimulate growth because of the carbon dioxide produced when people exhale as they speak. Marijuana plants enjoy Mozart and Beethoven. Yes, they, too, like the sound waves, the vibrations. So, next time you hear about someone getting high on weed blame it on the Masters of music. Plants have feelings too and respond to sound and vibration.

cows

I found another interesting article about cows! Did you know that they have a high-stress level? They do and the sound and vibrations of music reduce their stress level and in turn, they can produce more milk! Stress, quite a killer!

 

When you shop for food in your local stores, if music is playing, were you aware it’s a gimmick used to have shoppers buy more? If you find yourself in a fine wine shop, the atmosphere is crucial to our senses. Tempo is also a measure of importance: don’t rush the shopper. Music should be in the background and not played to influence our steps. Slow music like a slow dance, holds us closer to our partner, the store!

Music, plays, concerts and following my family members to their gigs makes me very happy.  Yes, I’m in my senior years but still a fan of singers, performers, and concerts. I follow the incredible Linda Eder and listen to Nana Mouskouri and many others. When I worked in NYC, I followed Judy Garland and whenever she appeared at the Palace, I was there! I would take groups in to see plays and have lunch or supper. What prompted me to pursue this venue was an experiment I was trying. I noticed that so many people were in a rut or just not ‘feeling the good life!’ So, I offered a day in the City: bus, lunch and theater ticket. What a job I had to sell this idea! Once sold, I noticed a difference in the dispositions of the people. About half an hour away from home, they not only lightened up but they were having a grand time. Fun times, good times gives people a different attitude about life.

I’m in awe of all entertainers: musicians, performers, and singers. Give them their due at the end of their performance(s), they are so deserving. They not only have to sing and perform well, they must feel and look good, travel to us and home again. They, too, have feelings. Shout out your Bravadoes and applaud them with gusto! After all, they bring us the ‘music!’

“Music is the only thing that will give and give and give and not take….” Amy Winehouse

“Music can change the world because it can change people.” Bono

“Music is the shorthand of emotion” Leo Tolstoy


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Nancy Fraioli is a retired Benefits Asst. from Town/Village of Harrison, NY. She’s alive and well, residing in Sarasota with her daughter and family and enjoying the Floridian lifestyle daily.

Her passions are writing, reading books of philosophy, children’s stories and poetry. Her deep love is living, learning and sharing how faith, meditation, and music guide her daily life. And she loves to lunch with the ladies!

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