We Can All Make Music.
No more need
Perhaps the original function of music is redundant
It
seems at least probable that our earliest ancestors used the making music
together as their way of learning to become, and to enjoy being, social
creatures.
Some sceptics
argue that, even though this may have once been true, we have moved on since
those times and no longer require this capacity for the purposes of
socialisation (having developed more sophisticated ways of socialising
ourselves).
The
main factor referred-to is the use of language (which appears to have emerged
in human development much later than our musical capacities) and to the
development of cultural traditions which ensure the continuation of
collaborative behaviour.
The
problem with this perspective is that none of these “new” ways of
promoting social bonding bring with them the pleasures and benefits that
community singing does. Indeed, the
opposite is the case - most of the ways the “social contract” is
described points to the coercive and punitive basis of maintaining our capacity
to live together.
Yes, we
have become very good at forcing ourselves to live together (after all, what
choice do we have?) but we seem less and less able to actually enjoy this
phenomenon.
Our
capacity to collaborate, and certainly to enjoy
collaboration, seems to be diminishing, so much so that when we manage to
collaborate in times of crisis, it is always reported as remarkable. This, in
particular contrast to the constantly reported fragmentation of our communities,
is a constant concern.
From a
biological perspective, we know that survival behaviours require rewards in
order for them to become a normal part of what we do. Being able to collaborate was essential to
the survival of our ancestors, and is no less important today, but our
forebears were able to indulge in a collaborative process which provided
instant gratification in various forms.
This musical collaboration, and the gratifying rewards collaborating
musically brought with it, is strangely absent in modern human society.
Yes,
parents still sing lullabies to their children, Olympic Medalists still stand
to attention while their national anthems are played, fans still sing their
club songs, lovers still of their love for each other, soldiers still march to
brass bands, kids still identify with the music of “their”
generation and Gods still receive our musical praise.
New
functions of music have also emerged, not least of which is music's
contribution to advertising, its function as a symbol of excellent civilisation,
and perhaps most importantly, music's commercial role; music is now challenging
pornography as the major commodity on
the internet, and is the source of staggering wealth for many individuals and
organisations associated with its production.
Surely
this implies music continues to fulfil our needs, the way it always has?
Unfortunately,
these other forms of musicking have caused us to forget the psychological and
physical benefits music makes available to us, not to mention the
community-building and strengthening effects making music together brings with it.
These “new” ways of music making and consumption don't offer
the community-wide buzz which was once integral to the art of making music, nor
is the essential need for this buzz (community creation, building and
strengthening for the purposes of continued, harmonious species survival)
any-longer acknowledged. Our
“new” methods of achieving socialisation don’t offer an
equivalent reward either.
Therefore,
if we want to live in a society whose members feel socially
connected, and who revel in
their connectedness, then we better get back to singing together a lot.
Without
it, we will continue to fragment.
No more
need? What tosh. We need to sing together now more than ever
before!
CMV - making a
sound world together.
©
Community Music Victoria Inc.