Though I’ve mostly stopped playing music, I find that my body seems to remember how to play better than I do. The last time I played the violin on stage was about 5 years ago, yet my fingers almost snap in place when I pick up the instrument. Certain scales and exercises are embedded in…
Earworms: The Soundtrack of a Wandering Mind
Every day before I leave my room, I put on my headphones and play the song that was stuck in my head from the night before. Between classes, while doing work, and getting ready, I listen to music. Music is always in my head. Since I’m always listening to music, it may make sense that…
Baile Inolvidable: Remembering with Every Step
“No, no te puedo olvidar…” – those five words trigger my body into dance mode. Bad Bunny’s album has been on loop, on repeat, and stuck in my head. I’ve grown up dancing bachata while getting ready and learning salsa from my mom in the kitchen. For me Latin dance has always been culture and joy,…
Art Therapy on the Brain
During this period of stress from finishing midterms and beginning finals, there is no shortage of stress being passed around within and between individuals. Me personally, with 3 dance performances this weekend as well as 4 finals exams and 2 final projects, I’m definitely feeling the stress. Have you ever felt a calming feeling from…
The Art of Earworms
Have you guys ever had a specific yet extremely random song that would continuously loop in your head while doing everyday tasks? Figure 1: My constant repeats from an artist, Bruno Major Well, me too! Spotify has told me in the past about which artists I have looped the most, as shown here. Whether I’m…
Why Some Songs Hit Harder Than Others
I’ve always felt like music connects to something deeper in me. Not just in a “this song is good” way but in a “this song just opened a memory I didn’t know I still had” kind of way. For example, hearing “Scream and Shout” by WILL.I.AM immediately brings me back to my elementary school days…
Music: The All Natural Power Booster
For those among us who enjoy going to the gym or participating in any other type of physical exercise, many times we listen to or play music aloud. This may just be because we like to hear our favorite songs as we put that work in, but there is actually evidence that the music we…
Syncopation and Movement: Why We Feel the Urge to Dance
Dancing is a fun activity that most people partake in. Whether it’s a quick shimmy of the shoulder or a full, choreographed dance, it is an enjoyable experience for everyone. While dancing can be a fun activity, it is not something that you can do to every tune. Some songs make you want to dance…
Feeling Blue: Color and its Effect on our Emotions
Artists carefully choose the palette of colors for their art to create a specific mood for the viewer. Whether certain colors are painted on canvas or used in costume design for a show, artists utilize specific color choices to elicit a response from the audience. Sometimes, these colors mimic natural occurrences in the world. In…
How are we Connected Through Music?
Since I was 8 years old, I have always found music to be my creative outlet. It was not until I started taking music classes in high school when I realized that music had so much more to offer in a group setting. Making music with my friends was like nothing else, and there was…