This is a fascinating quote by Confucius. His premise is that if you want to know whether a kingdom (or country or nation) is well governed, look to the quality of music. Is it that simple? If it is, does that correlate with music and governments throughout history? What about governments and music today? Or is music so diverse now that you can’t clearly judge like Confucius did? Comment with your thoughts!
The power of music is beyond explanation. A good song will make you laugh. Maybe it might make you cry. Or it might make you think. A great song brings about all of the emotions in that one song. What song (or songs) have brought about happy, sad or thoughtful emotions?
If you’re interested in summer music lessons with Harmanny Music Education, click here!
Sarah Dessen is an American author who lives in North Carolina. This quote is extremely powerful and true! Music brings about unity. Not only for those performing, whether that is in an ensemble, or a soloist being accompanied, the musicians have to be united on tempo (speed of the music) and much more to make music together.
But the unity goes even farther than music making. It can unite people together. I remember on the evening of September 11th, 2001, the entire United States Congress united together to sing “God Bless America”. Or more recently, how we have seen people responding to and singers choosing to learn and sing the Ukrainian national anthem. These are moments that aren’t united by age, ideals, gender or anything else except music. And music expresses that emotion that we cannot speak or convey with just words alone.
An even simpler idea would be to go to a concert. You have people from all walks of life, all ages, all incomes, gathered together for one purpose. The joy of hearing and participating in through listening or singing along to music being made. That is uniting and powerful. That’s what music does!
Harmanny Music Education is now scheduling summer lessons and a ukulele camp as well! For more information, click here!