So. I had some news today regarding my latest surgery. Another change in plans. My esteemed surgeon sent a letter to his patients saying he is leaving Boston to take on an Executive Medical Director job in New York.

Oh. Well, congratulations to him.

The funny thing about this surgery is that it was emergency surgery. I met this doctor in pre-op, we never had a chance beforehand to have an in-depth conversation about the situation…understandable… met in November of last year for a real visit and scheduled a visit now, close to a year from surgery…and now he’s leaving the hospital for another one. So I scrambled to make an appointment with one of the surgeons taking some of his patients. A fine doctor as well. But again…another hole in this latest surgery saga. Never got to have a real conversation with the esteemed surgeon about…me. That elusive conversation.

When life takes another tumble especially when you’re trying to stabilize a certain part of it, I usually try to fix it first. Then I usually sit down and practice my music. I guess there’s some logic in that. Ha! I usually don’t have any glitches either. Maybe concentrating so hard on fixing the latest “thing” creeps over to concentrating on the music without distraction. Makes me feel better too…calms me down quite a bit.

Music does have many health effects on us. If we study it (an instrument, etc) there are great neurological benefits. Often taking music lessons is recommended for senior citizens to prevent mental decline and to stay more mentally alert. I tell my students it’s “brain training.”

Music also makes us dream. We start thinking of perhaps places we’d love to be, beautiful places, people we love, adventures we would like to take or have already taken. Music makes us travel mentally and emotionally. I always say that the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the Choral movement, is a perfect example of this. There is an instrumental interlude where Beethoven travels harmonically so well it seems like we almost travel to Egypt, then back to the exact same place he started from. A musically scenic trip. Breathtaking as well! But imagine the wealth of different emotions one feels during this interlude.

I remember that every time I broke up with a boyfriend I would sing an aria or sit down and play piano. I always felt comforted…”at least I have my music.” Probably not a good idea to hide behind my music but at least it served an immediate purpose.

There were also times I was stuck on the highway driving in terrible crawling traffic listening to Bach. Usually it’s something complicated…a lot of music by Johann Sebastian is. But when one is sitting in annoyingly slow traffic and getting more and more annoyed, I found that listening to complicated music almost drives you crazy!!!! So…change the radio station to something else you really like. Hahaha! It’s amazing how music can make or break a situation.

When I was having radiation after my recent spinal surgery, the radiation techs put on music of your choice so you can “enjoy” your radiation visit. Ha! I asked for several composers from the beginning. I asked for music by early music composer William Byrd. He wrote a lot of beautiful church music. Well, I’m laying on the table during the session thinking…”it feels like I’m at my own funeral.” Ha! Ok. Next session…I asked for music by Verdi…opera…that’s what I sing. Ok. Here we go! So what comes on is the Verdi Requiem. Hmmm…again it feels like I’m at my own funeral. Sooo…from that time forward I asked for Mozart. And yes, the “Lacrimosa” from his Requiem came on one time but in general, everything was upbeat going forward. Haha!

Music has a way of either making or breaking our day. We usually listen to it for enjoyment but sometimes it wreaks havoc on our feelings. Music provides exhilaration during happy times like weddings, Christmas, New Year’s, Independence Day, etc. It provides comfort during funerals, hard times, moments when we’re fearful, etc. I’m trying to think of something else that has that kind of effect on us…a myriad of feelings good or bad. And of course when you are a professional musician you feel pride in the music you make and hope that it instills good feelings in your audience.

So…any thoughts you might have regarding this topic? How has music played a part in your life? When do you feel a particular need for it besides entertainment? Leave a comment if you like. I’m always listening.

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