BUILDING COMMUNITIES THROUGH MUSIC

Music is the invisible string that ties us together as a society, it brings people from all corners of the world together in a unique way that nothing else can. Whether you love going to concerts or you’re a part of a choir or a group alike, music is a universal language that unites us no matter what else is happening in the world. It offers an escape from day to day life and has the ability to evoke emotions in you which you may not be able to express in any other way, creating bonds between people in both aspects of creating and listening.

Live music brings hundreds and thousands of people together at a time who share the same common interest. This creates opportunities to connect with people from all over society who you probably would’ve never met otherwise, this could be through online forums or in real life at the show. Concerts can also be seen as a way of expressing yourself and your creativity as it is common for people to dress up in outfits related to the artist. Fan projects at concerts have also been very popular too, this where the community will come together to do something visually as a collective for the artist to see - like covering your phone flash light with a colour to light up the venue or holding up signs. Take a look back at a time you’ve been to a live music event and think about how you felt, did they play your favourite song? Did you get that butterfly feeling in your stomach when you realise they are about to come on stage? Are you the person that says “I heard this live” when a song you’ve seen comes on? Live music is such an exciting experience for anyone from all corners of the world and connects people emotionally and physically, leading to strong bonds and a memory you will cherish and talk about forever.

In 2024 a study was done on how community music shapes individuals and collective well-being. The results of the study showed that going to music events gave participants joy, a sense of purpose, creative self-expression, confidence and social connection/contribution. The findings also suggested that these community music experiences can support healing and empowerment for people who are lonely or feel marginalised in society. Studies like this show that in times where everyone is torn apart by dissimilarities and differences, music brings us a sense of unity. (Heard and Brydie‐Leigh Bartleet, 2024)

Community music is a really great way to bring people together of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. These vary through choir groups, amateur theatre companies or drama groups which bring people closer together and form lifelong friendships. In these groups you learn new skills, meet new people and even do performances. Groups like these are a great way to release endorphins - your happy hormones. It can help improve your empathy, communication, teamwork, emotional expression and elevate a person's overall outlook on life, who knew music could do so much for you! Music groups where you create, such as bands, is another way to bring people together and begin emotional connections. You are collaborating with like-minded people to create music, which is a way to express and process emotions and create a strong group identity.

Amateur singing groups are really popular in society for older people who may face anxiety, loneliness or are experiencing grief. A study was conducted in 2017 to evaluate the effects of group music therapy in the form of group singing. It was conducted at St Mary’s home for the aged on 80 participants for 3 weeks led by a music therapist, all were men and women aged above 65. Over the 3 weeks each person would measure how lonely they felt each week and for every participant there was a significant improvement by the final week. They worked on singing songs together, clapping along and gradually varying the tempos of the songs. Singing as music therapy has so many benefits on your emotional well-being, it has been shown to improve symptoms of depression significantly in elderly people as it makes you feel part of a group and can have relaxing effects on the brain. (Mathew et al., 2017)

So not only does music soundtracks our lives, it gives us an escape and a place where we belong when we may feel lost. It really is fundamental to bring us together as a society when everything else around us can feel like it's crumbling apart, so go on and have a dance around to your favourite song - you won’t regret it.