Aphelion

When writing, I have to have instrumentals, generally soundtracks. If there are vocals, I can't write because a part of my brain I need focuses on the words I'm hearing instead of the words I'm writing.

When it comes to understanding the effects of music on our moods or temper, I can
honestly say music does stimulate us!

Years ago I played in the Amy Band, first in the 101st Airborne Division Band in Viet-Nam at Camp Eagle, then for two years at Ft. Monmouth, N.J. I really loved Ft. Monmouth. My instrument was French Horn.

Most of our music was not the classics, marching music, concert marches, and we had a Jazz ensemble. However, I did listen to the classics since a French Horn is one of the major instruments with symphony orchestras, and my private Horn teacher played in one.

Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, are some of the best when it comes to background music or aides in studying. Also, a few years ago Super-Learning music was popular, and I think some present day composers have written compositions along that theme.

Mozart is fantastic, no doubt about that, and if I’m in a bad mood or feeling down about something, a half-hour with Mozart always cheers me up!! And I mean that!!

I love Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor for organ and can listen to it for hours on end. It excites me, motivates me, gets my mind wandering, and gives me energy!! I don’t know why, but it has that special effect in stimulating some area of my brain! It was played in The Phantom of the Opera and can usually be heard in the older horror movies from the thirties, forties and fifties! Listen to it---I’m sure you’ll like it!!!

This is just a brief exposition of what music can do, and my suggestion it to listen to all types of music---The Beach Boys and even the group Warrant with their ‘Sweet Cherry Pie’ that came out in the Eighties has altered my thinking when hearing them.

Many composers wrote in Mozart’s style, many followed the others, and believe me, their music is very good also. Mozart’s running scales or Bach’s polyphonic style should excite most listeners---- it must because it is always being played somewhere!!

Good classical music has a lasting effect: The more you listen to it, the better you like it, and the more you want to hear it. And when I talk mood music, I’m also talking modern ‘Rock and Roll’ that can have the same effect, depending on one’s tastes.

To find music that stimulates one must listen to all genres---even Indian music since the Sitar--- predominantly used in Hindustani classical music--- can produce quarter-tones the lay half-way between a natural note and that same note played with a sharp or flat sign. Like all good music, the more you listen to it, the more you like it!!

I loved Jazz during my stint with the Army Band and hated Country Music, similar to what Buddy Rich, the great jazz drummer always said. But--- and this next statement should show how some songs can transcend genre--- my best loved song since I first heard it is “Ghost Riders in the Sky!!” Imagine that!


Thanks to the internet all music is just a click away now!

Yes, Rick, the lyrics are important too. Everything connected with the production of music
is helpful. When you think about Bach for an example, one can see how he intertwined math and sound!! And most of the others also accomplished a 'forced relation' for want of a better expression, in writing their great musical composition!

With Mozart, it is so easy to imagine sports at play! With Wagner, war!

Yes, music rules supreme!

Love that! Middle C. How many octaves? Down to the last vibration, but remember vibration is also related to temperature. That is a very good question?

Love that!!!

WOW! I'm going to study that!

I can't multitask -- I only do one thing at a time. About the only time I listen to music is when I'm driving.