Introduction to Music

                       Definition of Music 

        In reality, music does not have a specific meaning. Music has meanings for different people, it is unique in each person’s life. To a musician it’s their life, they eat, breathe and live music.

         Music is said to be a universal language, because it is generally understood all over the world. Music is everywhere you go, there is no career that you want to go for that you won't need music. Even music is use for advertising, entertainment.

         Music is all about sound, sound can either be regular or irregular. The way you combine the regular and irregular sound together is what we call music. 

        Therefore,  music may be define as an art of creating, making, combining of sounds or arranging of tones in a way that is pleasant and exciting to listen to. It can also be define as an art form and cultural activity whose medium is sound organized in time. Music is also a form of art; an expression of emotions through harmonic frequencies.

        Music is the combination of regular and irregular sounds in a manner that is pleasant or agreeable to hearing. While noise is the opposite of music, noise is the combination of sound in a manner that is unpleasant to the ear.

                       Types of Music

Church/Sacred Music: This is the music used mainly for religious worship. Examples are hymns, organ music, anthems, chants etc.

Popular Music: This is the present day or contemporary music purposely for entertainment and pleasure. It is also called secular music. Examples are Fuji, juju, reggae, apala, afro – beat, high-life, hip pop etc.

Folk Music: This is the local or traditional music of people which is based on their culture and values e.g. Folktale, moonlight etc.

Military Music: It is the music played during government official functions and during war by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police e.g. Parade song, Brigade and marching songs.

 Art Music: It is a musical arrangement or composition of trained composers or musicologists with artistic perfection. 

Instrumental Music: This is a music for instruments only which does not take the forms of singing and dancing e.g instrumental ensembles.

Dance Music: This is the type of music for body expression and movement in steps e.g. Masquerade dancing.

   Significance and Function of Music to the                                         Society

- Music is used to give signal or alarm the community when there is danger e.g. the town crier and the gong.

- Music document the way of life of a society or people e.g. Folk, worship of deities

- Music teaches survival and occupation e.g. hunting, farming etc. 

- Music serves the function of teaching and sustaining our cultural heritage e.g. National Anthem festival songs.

          Relevance and Advantages of Music

Improves memory: Research has shown that the repetitive elements of rhythm and melody help our brains form patterns that enhance memory.

Provides comfort: Music therapy has also been used to help enhance communication, coping, and expression of feelings such as fear, loneliness, and anger in patients who have a serious illness, and who are in end-of-life care.

Soothes babies: Live music and lullabies may impact vital signs, improve feeding behaviors and sucking patterns in premature infants, and may increase prolonged periods of quiet.

Reduces stress: Listening to ‘relaxing’ music (generally considered to have slow tempo, low pitch, and no lyrics) has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety.

Music makes us creative: There is a proven fact that music has the ability to improve your listening as well as your understanding ability.