Why Do You Create Music?

Why do you play, sing, or create music?  Is it an outlet?  Is it your best way of communicating with others?  Is it your safe place?  Does it bring you joy?  Does it bring you relief through sorrow or pain?

For myself, it is my best way of expressing myself.  I’m not so good at articulating my thoughts.  Or, even writing them down, although I do enjoy blogging.  But, with music, it is something for everyone to enjoy.  But I guess that I am more self-centered.  To me, it is therapeutic.  When my kids were little, I would practice the piano starting at 10:00 pm.  They were already used to me playing Classical music on cassette tapes when they were babies at bedtime.  So, playing the piano was my own time of solitude.  It was my “me” time.  I could play Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Chopin, Hymns, Gospel, and improvise on my favorite tunes.  Usually after practicing for an hour and a half I would get some really neat improvisation going on with my playing.  That’s when I’d write down my ideas on manuscript paper.  I’d also record it on cassette tapes.  Nowadays, I use my voice memos on my iPhone to record musical ideas.  I also record my improvisations into my Ableton Live DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).  I just need to find a cassette tape player that actually works at my house.  (or purchase one on Amazon.).

Being an introvert at parties, I would always gravitate to the keyboard or piano.  Sitting down and playing put me at ease.  When sitting at a piano, I was able to talk with others more easily, especially when I didn’t know people that well.  Playing the piano was my safe space. 

Also, during times in my life when I was upset, I could sit down at my piano and simply play.  It was a release of emotions and cathartic.  It was almost as if I was exercising my soul, the inside of myself that no one else can see.  I guess that you could say that playing the piano is the place where I can be my most authentic self. 

I remember playing a grand piano for several banquets at Kansas State Universities dining facilities.  It was easy for me to sit down and play Mozart, Haydn, or whatever I was currently working on with my teacher, Dr. Robert Edwards.  This brought me a lot of joy, although I only got paid $3.75 per hour.  It was a way for me to connect with others.

I’ve also played at banquets with the piano.  This particular gig was in a big, banquet hall, and it was quite lonely to sit up there on stage to play my heart out while people ate, talked, and laughed.  Throughout my playing, I felt like I wasn’t being heard.  But afterwards, the band who followed me expressed their appreciation for my playing, and that meant a lot. 

Speaking of churches, through the years, I’ve played for many different types of worship services, from Liturgical to Pentecostal.  This was all due to growing up as a military kid, an Army brat, to be exact.  I enjoyed learning how to play the organ and playing Bach Preludes, Fugues, and Inventions.  I also remember playing for a Southern Baptist Church.  I really enjoyed playing with a band, especially for a black, gospel service in Germany.  At the time, I was fresh out of college.  I would play the basic chords while brother Cox played the syncopated rhythms on the keyboard.  We had the drums, saxophone, two choir directors, and a choir.  We even traveled to Bavaria to sing and play.  I really enjoyed the music, prayer, and fellowship.  The choir director would hand me a CD and tell me which songs we would sing for the following rehearsal.  Then I would transcribe the notes (the accompaniment and SATB) from CDs to manuscript paper for the choir rehearsals.  We didn’t have DAWs then, which I am still learning how to use.  Nevertheless, it was good ear training. 

So, why do I enjoy playing the piano?  For all of the reasons listed above.  Music has helped me through hard times, and brought me joy.  I wake up with new tunes.  I hear tunes throughout my day.  I go to bed with music in my head.  I enjoy sitting on the piano bench at church, praying and asking the Holy Spirit to help me lead the congregation in worship.  I ask God to use me, despite myself.  I pray that my playing is acceptable in God’s sight.  And I make myself available to be used by God in worship.  It’s a way for me to communicate with others and to worship God. 

Why do you play, sing, and create music?