In case you missed it, here is Part I of this series. Here is another reason why I love music: #2: Music Brings People Together
Of course, you say. Tell me something I don't already know.
We go to concerts where groups of people gather, we play in ensembles together, we sing together. Music brings people together. But actually, that's not really what I mean.
Granted it's great that people get together to experience music and perform, listen, embrace all genres in communities large and small. But what I really mean is that music brings all kinds of people together. People who otherwise may not have much in common can be united through music. Language, geography, race, age, creed - all these types of boundaries can be crossed by music, and not many other things have that power.
I recently performed a couple of soulful and jazzy songs with a wonderful older gentleman, which got me thinking about this topic. Although I'm sure he and I have a number of things in common, on the surface we seem quite different, influenced primarily by the large age gap that "separates" us.
But it was music that brought us together and allowed us to share something special together. And the music crossed all boundaries - we were just two people playing music together and loving it. Indeed, music unites us on many levels.
Here's a video that's pretty popular (you may have seen it), but one that I think illustrates this point really well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEs8yqhavtI