Home » Music » Saxophones » Why make music?

Why make music?

© Chris Mindel

In early April, I posted a message on the Saxophone Discussion Forum. Here is a section of what I wrote:

“I know this is a general and philosophical music question, but I want to know what saxophone players think. Birds sing and dogs howl - animals make music, but only for communication. Humans have developed such a strong language system that we don't have the same need for music as a sole form of communication. So why do we still do it?

I wanted saxophonists’ inputs on why we create music. Is there one reason humans create music (as well as any Art)? While the discussion still rages on, and much of it is now devoted to the creation of everything, the feedback was invaluable.

There were many discussions on music as a form of extending our verbal language, sort of supplementing it with more emotion.

“One of the things that separate lower forms from the higher forms is verbal language... verbal language has it's limits...whales, dogs, and other "higher" life forms share a language, but music and art extends those limits.” -modre
(Please note that all quotes are credited to the name of the posted user.)

“...perhaps music alone of all the art forms communicates on multiple levels, and because of this can have the greatest impact on an human being. If I remember correctly, research shows that auditory input is the one sense that has the highest degree of absorption and retention by human memory. Otherwise, why have lectures...wouldn't reading suffice?
Music toys with the emotions. Anytime you can get someone emotionally involved in something, you have that person hooked.
The prime example of this is the advertising jingle.” -MusicMan

A slight variation on the above idea:

“I think we as sax players (musicians generally)are sometimes frustrated singers - our instrument enables us to have a good voice. Music is a way to express emotion and sometimes (men especially) find that hard to do. Ever get that spine tingling moment when a song or melody hits home?” -Paul Sadotti

When I discussed this topic with by best friend, she reminded me of something Bebe Neuwirth (star of stage and screen) said when being asked about why she thinks musical theatre, and, by extension, music is important. She said it is one thing to say to someone, “I love you,” but it means so much more if you say “I love you,” sing “I love you,” and dance “I love you.” Again, music extends our emotional expression.

The copyright of the article Why make music? in Saxophones is owned by . Permission to republish Why make music? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.