The subject of frequency is rich and ubiquitous. In fact, everything we understand, scientifically, about universal structure hinges on the subject. Light, magnetism, electricity, sound, planetary rotation, the list goes on. (It is interesting that Albert Einstein regularly played the violin and piano, appreciating the value music gave him in his pursuit of mathematical theory.) When we practice and play music, we are interacting with the very fabric of the universe.
Frequency has been used in military application for quite some time. The Stealth Bomber was acoustically designed to avoid being tracked. It’s unique angling defies radar detection by inverting the phase of sound waves. Buildings are shaken to their core, when their resonant frequencies are found and amplified.
Our bodies uniquely function at varying frequencies. Our brains, during sleep, rest at certain frequencies at certain points in our circadian rhythms, and change to higher frequencies when awake.
So, why do we like music? Does it serve a purpose? Or, is it simply another anomaly of human culture?
I once was musing, as I looked out the window to observe a couple of squirrels playing, jumping about. I wondered why they would play with so much energy. Does it serve some purpose, to help them prepare for the day when they would have to fend for their lives, being chased by a predator? Or, did they simply find pleasure in their frolicking? Is joy a reality, even in animal life?
Why would we give our lives to the study of music, to learn how to move our fingers and arms in unique ways to cause physical response from an inanimate object, such as a piano or violin? Why do we sense emotional release within ourselves when we hear something of beauty? Why do we admire skillfulness, not just in a competitive sense, but as we admire order and discipline on a higher level of awareness? What draws us to enjoy pattern and design?
Perhaps music lures us because it is much more a part of our lives than we realize. Perhaps it touches a part of our humanity that defies immediate explanation. We hope to transfer this curiosity and awe in the beauty of frequency patterns in art and life to our students at our music school at Odessa, Texas.
Music, for ages, has been understood as melody¸harmony, and rhythm. Even ancient Biblical texts amplify this thought.
“The singers went on, the musicians after them, in the midst of the maidens beating tambourines.” (Ps. 68:25)
Each aspect of these musical components deals with a different part of our human consciousness.
Rhythm is felt in our bodies. How many times does a beat make us want to tap our foot or get up and dance? Harmony is felt in our souls. When a certain chord is played (i.e. minor or major) it causes us to feel something in our souls. Melody seems to have greater meaning when accompanied by a harmonic progression. However, melody, by itself, stays revolving in our subconscious many times surfacing when we least expect it, when we’re doing the dishes or something like that. All of a sudden, we realize the melody was rolling around in our memory, as we catch ourselves humming the tune we heard hours ago.
These three components of music correlate to the Bible’s categorical understanding of how we are made:
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thess. 5:23)
This passage delineates the parts of our human existence: spirit, soul, and body. One could perhaps say that each area of these ‘parts’ of our makeup exist in their own unique frequency range.
Interestingly, in music, the low frequencies are most often used to create rhythm. It is these frequencies around 20 – 100 Hz (Hertz = vibrations per second) that most easily relate to our desire to move our bodies.
Then, from the bass frequencies, up to the midrange areas that pianos and guitars usually play in, from around 100 – 400 Hz, we enjoy hearing harmonies and harmonic motion, through chord patterns that accompany melodies.
Usually, it is the higher-ranged instruments or voices that grace us with melodies, from 400 Hz and up, being supported by the lower-frequencies of harmony and rhythm, to create a full-spectrum musical experience. Of course, these are generalities for which there are other examples that deviate from this pattern. However, this is a generally accepted framework to portray our experience of music. An awareness of frequency ranges is taught at our music school Odessa Texas.
Going back to the Bible passage, the frequencies of melody seem to correlate to our spirit, the frequencies of harmony seem to correlate to our soul (or emotions), and the frequencies of rhythm seem to correlate to our bodies.
There have been a number of studies on a phenomena called, “The Mozart Effect,” in which students who have been immersed in listening to Mozart, as well as other Classical pieces, particularly Bach, seem to do better in their tests at school. The compositions of these Classical composers are predominantly focused on melody, and contrapuntal harmony.
Is it possible that these carefully crafted musical works uniquely influence the frequencies of our souls (lit. mind, will, and emotions) and spiritual perception in ways that bring benefits to our human awareness? We believe students at our music school Odessa Texas will be enriched in every aspect of their lives, as they participate in the creation of frequencies.
Conversely, it has been studied that the effects of music predominantly rhythmic in nature, many times correlates to acts of aggression.
When using music to control crowds, psychologists have found that soothing melodic music keeps people calmer. Is this by accident, or does it have something to do with how frequency uniquely hits the various parts of our human perception?
Most people are not aware of the power of music in our lives. Perhaps it has greater influence than we realize. Although, we use music in ways that are common to us, in everyday life. Our students in our music school Odessa Texas will become aware of the power music has to offer.
When a mother is trying to get her infant to go to sleep, she sings a soothing lullaby melody. When soldiers are preparing for war, the drum cadence pounds as they march. Or the marching band at a football game rallies the energies of the teams.
I can personally attest that when I need clarity of thought, sitting down and playing some Bach on the piano seems to bring order and a sense of heightened awareness.
Gathering together to play music with others, even in rehearsal, many times has lifted me out of ‘the doldrums’ into a better overall mental and emotional attitude. This is why we place an emphasis on playing together in ensembles at our music school Odessa Texas.
Worship gatherings usually start with singing and participatory worship to prepare and focus a congregation to receive a message prepared by those who teach.
We live in a world of frequencies all around us. We might do well to pay attention to which of those we give heed.
All of this is foundational information we share with our students at our music school Odessa Texas.