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Sep 2, 2021 04:06pm
By Steve Eulberg
Under subscriber news, practice, linda ratcliff & power of music
3 min read

The Blessings of Music

linda-playing-dulcimer
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind,
flight to the imagination and life to everything.”
- Plato

The Blessings of Music


I’ve been around music all my life, for as long as I can remember. In fact, I don’t think there’s ever been a time when I didn’t have a tune in my head or a piece of music (or instrument) in my hands.

Music runs in our family. My grandmother was a concert pianist and traveled all over Europe – even playing for the queen of England. We always had a piano in our home, and I spent many hours on that piano bench practicing, as a child and into adulthood.

I believe music is a gift from the Lord, meant for everyone. Here are some of the blessings I have seen in my own life because music has been an integral part since day one.
  • Music puts us on a team. There’s nothing more fun than playing with others in a performance or at a jam session.
  • Music expands our horizons. I’ll never forget the day I first heard a dulcimer being played in our restaurant. I had never even heard of the instrument, and it has broadened my entire world since that day.
  • Music gives voice to our feelings. If we can’t say it with words, we can express ourselves in our music. Hans Christian Anderson once said, “Where words fail, music speaks.”
  • Music reduces stress and anxiety. Sometimes it’s the only thing that can get our minds off our problems.
     

     
  • Music is medicine for the soul. Some of you, knowing this, have taken your music to nursing homes and hospitals, to share with the elderly or sick. Music therapy is music performance without the ego. It’s all about sharing your music to give others comfort.
  • Music brings new people into our lives. I am amazed when I start counting the number of people I never would have met (in person and online) if I didn’t play the dulcimer.
  • Music taught me self-discipline. I’m a bit OCD (ok, a lot), but the self-discipline I exercised to practice faithfully as a child has served me well as an adult and employee.
  • Godly music inspires us in hard times. It gives us joy and lifts us up as we focus on our blessings instead of our troubles. Colossians 3:16 encourages us to … “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
  • Music brings back sweet memories. Have you ever heard an old tune and remembered the day you met your spouse? Or the night of your senior-year high school prom?

I know I have surely forgotten to mention other blessings. Let me know … how has music been a blessing in your life? I’d love to hear from you.
 
Happy dulcimering,
Linda
 
Bridging the Gap Between What You Know ... And Where You Want Your Music to Go
Sep 2, 2021 04:06pm
By Steve Eulberg
Under subscriber news, practice, linda ratcliff & power of music
3 min read
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