The Music in My Life
Earlier
this week, my parents were talking about the music they played to me when I was
still in the womb (a family friend recently had a baby, which led into this
discussion). I’m not sure how big of a deal this is in American culture, but in
Korean culture, the music you play to your unborn child is deemed very important.
My parents were talking about how intentional they were about the music they
played me. My dad is a composer and conductor, so he played me pieces by his
favorite composers including Bach, Mozart, etc.
When my mom was pregnant with me,
my dad had the opportunity to conduct an orchestra composed of students from
the Curtis Institute of Music, which is one of the top music schools in the nation.
Because this was a rare opportunity, he wanted to have them play one of his
favorite pieces because he knew they would interpret it beautifully. However,
he changed his mind because he wanted to perform a piece that would be meaningful
for me. Instead of having the orchestra perform a famous masterpiece, he had
them perform a song about life and creation as a symbol of my upcoming birth.
I was
really touched when I heard this story, and I began to wonder if all this music
I’ve been surrounded with, even before being born, has had an effect on how I
perceive life. As I was thinking about this, I started noticing things in my
habits and subconscious actions that may have a correlation. Whenever I eat
something good I automatically start humming. My mom always says that she’ll
know if her cooking is really good based on whether or not I hum during dinner.
When I’m upset or stressed out, I close my eyes and calming music seeps into my
brain. Whenever I see a breathtaking image or view, grand music immediately
fills my ears. In any situation where I feel a strong emotion, music enhances my
experience, making my life feel almost like a movie. Whenever these moments
occur, I am filled with gratitude towards my parents that went out of the way
to make music a part of my life even before I was born.
You present a sweet story before your birth. I agree that music can enhance our experiences and can help us get through things. I've been told that the more I get into an activity, like reading a book, I start humming. I don't think about it, it just happens and it makes the experience better for me.
ReplyDeleteSuper interesting story Minji! I think it is a very intriguing concept that the music has made you have different reactions to certain things in life. This tradition is probably why your family is so talented musically.
ReplyDeleteThat was such a sweet thing for your father to do! Although I do not have any idea if my parents play music to me while I was in the womb, I am definitely affected by music all the time. When I am having fun or enjoying myself, I often hum or play a song in my head that goes with what I'm doing.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your post, I'm now wondering if my parents played music for me when I was in the womb as well. It's amazing how people are shaped by their experiences the most during their childhood. Your story is even more powerful because it took place when you were in the womb! Great post.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how children subconsciously absorb information when they are young. I am almost never without some form of music in my current life. In many ways listening to different music is a tool I use to change my mood or focus on something. Wondering if listening to music as a child would fundamentally shape who you are is fascinating!
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