Today is my birthday. It’s not a big milestone or anything, it’s just a day. But it’s more than that. It’s a day to be thankful and take stock in things, just as it is for every day.
But today I’ve done a bit of thinking. What does my birthday have to do with music? What do birthdays in general have to do with music? Here’s what I’ve come to.
First personally, I’m a musician and a music teacher. So today, on my birthday, I’m going to be making and teaching music. That in and of itself is a celebration. To stop and thank God that I’ve been given this gift of music, as has the whole world, is something to celebrate and rejoice. Music is powerful and amazing. The fact that God has placed that ability and understanding in me to make music is awesome. It is a joyful thing as well. And to be able to encourage and help students learn and grow as musicians? Another great gift from God!
On a larger scale, though, have you ever noticed that birthdays are one of the few times that people communally sing? Whenever people find out I’m a singer and a voice teacher, they immediately say something to the effect of, “I’ve really never been good at singing.” But when it’s someone’s birthday, does that excuse come out? Nope. Everyone joins in and sings together whether it is good or bad! This and the example of the National Anthem before a sporting event are my 2 go-tos of communal singing outside of church, however, I went to 5 major league baseball games this season and one of the things I noticed was less people singing along.
Why is that? Why is a birthday the only time that people let loose and freely sing together? It could be because of their genuine love and care for a person. It could also be that there is strength in numbers. I haven’t quite put my finger on why, but when it comes to birthdays, there are less inhibitions.
I’m a believer in, and I tell every person I work with this, everyone can sing. As long as you can talk, you can sing. We use the same structure and the same mechanism to do both. So why don’t more people sing? I think a big reason is they let their mind get in the way. Yes, singing is hard, far harder than talking, but it does give some opportunities for growth and strength not only in the talking and singing mechanism, but also in confidence.
As a Christian, I see throughout the Bible that when people respond to what God has done, it’s responded to through song. Spontaneous, natural singing. The children of Israel cross the Red Sea, see Pharaoh’s army drowned and destroyed…what comes next? A song. I think deep down, whether or not we believe in God or not, the reason we sing at birthdays is the deep response. A response of gratitude and gratefulness.
Ultimately, that’s how I feel today. I am grateful for so many things. I am thankful for opportunities given to me. Are there things I want to do differently? Of course. Are there opportunities I want to explore that I haven’t yet? Without a doubt. But today, I’m thankful and grateful for so many things, music being at the forefront.
Leave a Reply