THE POSITIVE INFLUENCE MUSIC

HAS ON SOCIETY

NAME : SOLANGE POPE

SCHOOL: TRANQUILITY SECONDARY

CENTRE NUMBER :

CANDIDATE NUMBER:
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL INTRODUCTION………………………………………………3

PREFACE……………………………………………………………………..4

REFLECTIVE PIECE………………………………………………………..5

ANALYSIS OF REFLECTIVE PIECE……………………………………..9

CONCLUSION..................................................................................................10

BIBLIOGRAPHY..............................................................................................11
 GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Music has the power to culturally, morally and emotionally influence our society. Through sound
we can create messages, movements, and moods and release them through music. Being a young
member of society, music has had a powerful influence in my life, hence the reason I have
chosen “ The Positive Influence Music has on Society “ as my theme for this portfolio.

The purpose of this portfolio is to inspire and remind the public that music is influential to us all
and the advantages that come with such influence so that we can reap the benefits and improve
our bodies, our minds and our relationships.

Being a student preparing for exams, music is an outlet that I use to help release stress and
anxiety. Growing up I’ve both heard and seen the positivity that comes from music. The
gathering of family and friends dancing and smiling together all because of a song, is why music
is so important. It has always been a dream of mine to pursue careers in the field of Food,
Nutrition and Health. I’d like to take that career path of a Dietitian Since I’ve always been
passionate about people and the ways in which they can improve their lives. Upon this career
choice, I will be encountering many people and as a dietitian I’ll be telling my patients that they
need to look at things in a holistic way. Everything plays a part in their health such as exercise,
meditation, diet and music. So there must be a balance. Therefore the information gathered in
this study would be beneficial to me as it would give me a better understanding and aid in my
career.

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 PREFACE

I want to shine a light on the positive factors music has and what effect it can have on an
individual. As such, the poem entitled, “ What is Music to you?”, written for my reflective
piece, will clearly highlight the effect music has on society and how it can help people cope with
their day to day lives.

Research has shown that blood flows more easily when music is played. Thus the intended
audience for this reflective piece is everyone in society. To show them that you can use music to
improve your well-being or the well-being of their loved ones.

I hope that my poem can be viewed by the world, read in the magazines and newspapers of
Trinidad and Tobago and be seen on social media. By it being shared by these various sources
many people can be aware of the benefits. This way a light would be shed on society of what
music can do for them. Also, anyone who is feeling sad or depressed will read my poem and
know that there is hope and that there is a way to cope.Music has no boundaries. Music goes into
our heart and soul and instantly fuels us with life. Music has the power to heal and bring us
together no matter the race, gender or age.

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 REFLECTIVE PIECE

What is music to you?

What is music to me you ask?

To me,
Music is poetry, an expression of the heart
And what the heart symbolises……Love.
Love that shows what is both real and true to someone dear to you.
Music speaks what cannot be expressed.
It heals the heart and makes it whole and flows from to the soul

To me,
Music is freedom that relentlessly exists,
Freedom of speech
Freedom of thought
Freedom of creativity
Freedom of imagination
Freedom of self
And to be yourself

“A soothing balm”. An expression that I would use to describe music.

For it can provide succour even to the sick.
It will forever be soothingly healing
A bombardment of on-going expression of feelings
It has rhythm and harmony
Sweetness that we experience by listening to the melody
It is rich
It is a cultivated craft
And also a grand and graceful art
Perfected and tried by those before us
Then passed on as a message on a public stage played before us

To me,
Music is timeless, It never grows old
 It’s brings this nostalgic feeling to you
Everytime you close your eyes, you are taken to a place back in time

Music is like a bird

Singing out from the skies as she flies

Music is magic
Performing it’s tricks
With sweet instrumental tones and lyrics

Music is love
It is lust
It is hate
It is anger
It’s an feeling derived from the human emotion of the singer
Who plays the chord of their heart strings and turns it into a song

I have listened to music since I was young

Humming and dancing to every lyric that was sung
I don’t think there’s a song that I have never heard
I even enjoy the songs that are really absurd
From “ Wishing well” to “ Back to Black”
I’ve heard it all

To me,
Music is a friend.
I’ve found a friend in music
It’s therapy I’ve found to comfort myself when I’m feeling blue
It lifts my spirits and helps me to pull through
Gives me a reason to hang on even when I’m not feeling strong
It’s the friend I need when I feel that no one seems to care.

The positive influence music has had in my life is understood.

It influenced my mind, my body and my soul.
It motivated me to reach the stars
Even when I thought they seemed too far

Music is positively distracting, it’s emotionally captivating

Music is a tool of unity
Always bringing people together as a family
Young and old, rich and poor, black or white
 Music has no boundaries
Hence the reason it can be described as a mentor of spirituality

To me,
Music is a gift from above
A gift from God himself
His gospel can not only be read but sung
And be spread about the world into the hearts of his people where it belongs

Food for the soul is what they’ll call it

Can you feel it? The rhythm of the song that feeds your soul.
The harmony
The bridge
The chorus
And the goosebumps that string along

I get lost in the music with whatever I’m feeling

Whether it be happiness, sadness or fear

And I shouldn't forget that there is music in nature

It’s in the rustling of the leaves, in the birds songs and in the changing of the tides.

Music, as powerful as water

This deep river in my soul
Flowing in and out of generations
Trapped ever so often only by its enormous power

My heart beats in time with the sound of the drums

Each note I remember, thought about and adored
I just love how it makes me feel
How it makes me move
Just gracefully on my feet

So many sounds combining together

Creating something spectacular

Giving meaning to life

Music is an alley that connects me to the deepest emotions within my soul that I wasn’t aware of.
It reels me to the times I have been aching so long to feel
It creates a parallel universe within my mind where I feel my dreams evolving into reality.
It is a remedy for my scars to mend, for my soul to heal, for my mind to rest.
It gives me a purpose on this earth
Where I know I am not alone
Music needs no explanation
Music is life.

That is what music is to me.

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 ANALYSIS OF REFLECTIVE PIECE

My reflective piece “What is Music To You” is a poem that reflects on how personal music is
to me and how helpful it has been to me in my life. Throughout the poem, it can be clearly seen
how symbolic music is through the different meanings it holds. It also shows how positive music
can be to someone. As such, the Language registers and Dialectal variation can be analysed.

Language registers is a variety of language used for a particular purpose or a particular social
setting. It possesses various levels of formality. The five identified have been given specialised
names by linguists; frozen, formal,consultative,casual and intimate. Examples of language
registers found in the reflective piece are: Formal register was used throughout the poem as a
result of the interaction between the poet and the reader, for example. “What is music to me you
ask? To me, Music is poetry, an expression of the heart, And what the heart symbolises……
Love. Love that shows what is both real and true to someone dear to you. Music speaks what
cannot be expressed. It heals the heart and makes it whole and flows from to the soul.”

Private register was also evident when the poet said “I have listened to music since I was young.
Humming and dancing to every lyric that was sung. I don’t think there’s a song that I have never
heard.I even enjoy the songs that are really absurd. From “ Wishing well” to “ Back to Black” .
I’ve heard it all”.
 Dialectical variation showcases the varieties of languages used and are divided into three main
dialectal spectrums. However, there’s only one language that is used throughout the poem and it
is Standard English. For example, “To me, Music is timeless, It never grows old. It brings this
nostalgic feeling to you. Everytime you close your eyes, you are taken to a place back in time.”
and “Music is like a bird . Singing out from the skies as she flies” are examples.

In conclusion throughout this creative piece the positive influence music can have on someone is
seen.

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 CONCLUSION

Music has the power to culturally, morally and emotionally influence our society. I sincerely
hope that the information in this portfolio will touch the hearts of the people in Trinidad and
Tobago and that it will be a great help to them. Music has the ability to deeply affect our internal
mental states. When we need it, music may provide us with energy and motivation. When we're
worried, it can soothe us; when we're weary, it can encourage us; and when we're feeling
deflated, it can re-inspire us. I believe this information can help all of us. I don’t want to see
anyone in this life suffering. Even though life gets tough sometimes there are ways to cope and
music is one of them.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Belinda Huang ( 2015, August 24 ) https://blog.sonicbids.com/what-kind-of-impact-does-our-
music-really-make-on-society

Lia Peralta ( 2021, November 3) https://www.savethemusic.org/blog/how-does-music-affect-

society/

Martin Chilton ( 2020, October 10) https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/15-inspirational-

quotes-power-music/

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