Is Music Really Neccessary?

Sometimes I’ll be sitting at home, just listening to my music and drifting off in my own head. Then all the sudden I’ll have an ear bud ripped out and a stern looking parent in my face nagging about how “I’m never without my music” and “I never do anything unless music is involved.” Do I get upset? Sometimes, but I understand what they mean. I don’t even drive without one of my CD’s on. And sleeping is impossible without my radio. There really is nothing I do without music unless I absolutely have to and then I have to find myself extremely busy otherwise I can’t stand the silence. This isn’t just me that feels this way, I know a bunch of my peer group that feels the same way.

This isn’t something that I have just noticed within my school either. It’s something that people have done a lot of research on, and as it seems, music can push us through the hardest of times. *During a workout the music and the fast changing auditory changes trigger alerting responses and increase physiological arousal, causing us to be able to push through the climax of the work. This same stimulation pushes us through boring work that would normally lull us to sleep.*

*It is also noted that muscle movement that is coordinated with the beat we are listening to can help us do what we are trying to do, for example someone running with a fast paced beat is able to run farther and use less oxygen than someone who isn’t paced with music*. The music seems to increase neural firing and pass certain information faster than if you weren’t listening to music. Music can also be used as a memory tool, if you’re listening to a certain thing when you study, you tend to remember what you were learning later on when listening to the same thing. Also making up songs or using a song you already know as a mnemonic device is highly recommended, because then you can remember this information better when you aren’t allowed to have music WITH you. (For example a college exam or SATs)

I’m not going to lie, at this very moment I am listening to music to help me concentrate on this blog. I normally do, and when I don’t listen to music I tend to drift from really caring to what I’m saying, into feeling like I could care less about it. It’s not the always easy to find music that will keep you interested in what you are doing, but after of plenty of trial and error you’ll realize what it is that will keep your mind focused and help you excel at whatever you’re trying to do.

Until I write again

Au revior,

~Rayne

(**These pieces of information were found on The Globe And Mail website**)

It's All About the Title

If you haven't noticed, for most pieces of art there is a title. This title then interests the public, and if the piece matches the title and the audience likes it, the title then becomes iconic. I'm assuming that many of you have created some piece of art before, or you at least know of art. (That would explain your interest in my blog) If so, then you know just how difficult it can be to come up with that perfect title or name. There isn't any reason that this should discourage you from getting your work out there though. If a title is so hard to come up with, then ask some friends for help, or you could become an ominous artist and title everything "untitled". I recommend that you only use "untitled" when you've been struggling for days on trying to come up with a name for a piece. It's a last resort of sorts.

 

Now for those who haven't even thought of naming their work, IT'S IMPORTANT!!! What if someone read a poem or saw a picture of yours and they wanted to show a friend, but didn't know what it was named? "I'm sorry Jill, I swear it was the best poem/picture I've ever had the pleasure to experience, but it has no name... It's disappointing, such talent.." that will be the things people say to one other about your work.

 

Also DON'T FORGET YOUR NAME! Unless you want to go by an alias or be unknown for life. (If you're going by an alias, don't do something like Sohn Jmith... [that's John Smith] someone might figure you out.) A lot of the time if people like something you made, they'll search your name and try to find more works by you. If your goal is to get out there, definitely include your name (it goes right after the title)

Until I write again
Au revior,
~Rayne