Music contributes to higher learning

Music classes in schools are usually referred to as "extracurricular" classes. However, these classes prove to be anything but "extra."These classes often give indispensable benefits to students. Performance programs enhance a student's sense of self esteem as well as their social skills. Not only do students profit socially from music programs, but they also gain academically.
        Several studies have shown that music enhances learning through increased spatial development. Math and reading are improved by learning rhythms and decoding notes and symbols which means there is cross disciplinary learning in music.
        Most teachers are often against a music pullout program (students are taken out of class to receive music instruction once or twice a week) because they fear "lost instruction" time.
        Researchers in Hamilton, Ohio, documented that students participating in a string pullout program scored higher on the reading, mathematics and citizenship portions of the Ohio Proficiency Test (OPT), than their non-music peers.  68% of string students scored at grade level or higher on all four sections of the test compared to 58% of the non-music students.
       Music is not only a gateway to personal freedom, but is also a contributor to academic success.  

art imitates life

           Music doesn't always occur spontaneously (well maybe they do) which is why musicians grab inspiration from events that have occured during their lifetime. Whether they are large scale themes, or simple tales from their childhood, music always takes a life of its own when it comes to certain events.
          In 1971, Marvin Gaye released his critically acclaimed album, What's Going On, which is a concept album by Gaye. The concept is a story told from the point of view of a Vietnam War veteran returning to the country he had been fighting for, and seeing nothing but injustice, suffering and hatred. The obvious inspiration that Gaye drew from were Vietnam veterans who had fought for their country to return things even worse than death, a country that was suffering. Many veterans who had returned home were denied benefits, compensation, and recognition for their efforts in serving their country.
         In 1989, Billy Joel released We didn't start the fire, a song that made reference to a catalogue of events that occured earlier in his life. The song's message is that his generation, the baby-boomer generation, is being blamed for all the tragedies and major events that shaped the latter half of the 20th century.
         In 1994, Nas released his critically acclaimed debut album Illmatic, which deals with tales from Queensbridge,New York of post-Reagonomics and the happening of cocaine being a major affect to cities all across America. Nas put in context how life was as a teenager in his environment, providing America one of the most extensive tours of the "Rotten Apple",as he put it,  ever in the world of entertainment.
        Musicians take their blank canvas and turn it into a musical masterpiece once they draw inspiration from life and every detail or honorable mention. Music and Life go hand in hand with each other all the time. Without Music there is no life, without life there is no music.

Mixing Peanut Butter and Chocolate

In this post I will discuss the influence artists have with on other artists.
      All musicians are universally linked together no matter what genre it may be. Whether it's Hip-Hop and House, Reggae and Metal, or R&B and Folk. They all share the common goal of reaching the listener and make them feel compelled. Which is why it would make complete sense for two great genres to mesh together and create something captivating for the listener. We are all easily influenced and so musicians are always influenced by each other.
     Take pioneering Hip-Hop group Run-DMC. Heavily influenced by Rock and Roll they sampled many drum breaks of late 1970's Rock and Heavy Metal records. Their 1985 album King of Rock uses over a hundred cut and scratched samples and incorporates them into a 9 track LP.  That album also featured the interesting track Roots, Rap, Reggae, which was one of the first rap/Jamaican Dancehall hybrids. Their next album, Raising Hell, was not so much as influenced as King of Rock was. However, the single Walk This Way was a revamp on the  1975 Aerosmith single of the same name. This famous collaborations is often credited as helping break rap into mainstream popular music as it was the first rap song to hit the Top 5 in The Billboard Hot 100, and the remake demonstrated how elements of Hip-Hop could be part of rock and pop songs, harking back to the DJing of Afrika Bambaataa, who would mix in tracks by  The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Grand Funk Railroad among the more usual funk breaks. This 1986 remix helped reboot Aerosmith's career.
      Another famous influence on an artist is the 1977 song Punky Reggae Party by Bob Marley. The song was written by Marley as a positive response to the release of a cover version of Junior Murvin's "Police and Thieves" by English punk band The Clash, on their first album.  Referring to the party of the title of the song, the lyrics mention several punk and reggae groups: "The Wailers will be there, The Damned, The Jam, The Clash-Maytals will be there, Dr.Feelgood too." The song itself influenced Punk bands to begin inserting Ska and reggae into their music. The nine minute song by Marley is by far one of his greatest recorded tracks ever. The five minute scat performance by Marley truly captures the spirit of his music.
     One final important collaboration, and the most recent, is the coming together of Hip-Hop legend Nas, and Damian Marley who is the son of Bob Marley. Their album, Distant Relatives, not only blends together musically but also lyrically. The album's central themes concern ancestry, poverty, and the plight of Africa. The title itself derives from Nas and Marley's relationship, their shared African ancestry, and the shared ancestry of the entire human race; which musically and lyrically inspired each recording. This album holds a special place for me because I was blessed with the chance of meeting these two artists.
       All in all, music is inspiring to everyone. Whether it be you or I, musicians themselves, we are all inspired by something to do great things.

Introduction

This is the very first blog post ever by David C. Andes Jr.
       This blog will teach you many things. Possibly open your eyes to something new and totally different and may spice up your (if not dull) lifestyle. What this blog will teach you is the importance of music in our lives. The importance and impact of music in the world. What so few may know is the actual influence music has on each and every one of us whether you know it or not. The influence it has had on me is incredible because I have become a straight addict to it. I'm not someone that simply says, "it as an escape for me", but I am the one that says, "it is my life and my love". I spend up to 10 hours each day listening to the music that pumps from my headphones on full blast into my cerebrum. When I'm not listening to music I'm reciting lyrics from songs and incorporating them into my dialect. I need music and without I am nothing.
       The influence of music on the world is incredible as well. Uniting so many people from all over that are probably just like you and I. Creating an escape for some, and a love and lifestyle for most. Music is the backbone to all style and swagger. Without it you might not be who you are and not even realize it. Listen to music as much as you can, because it will save your life. It has certainly saved mine.