Some Special Features of Music

  Music has some special features. These include :
1. Music as a universal language.
2. Music as an emotion act.
3. Music as an aspect of culture
4. Music as a performing art.
5. Music as a social art.
6. Music as an intellectual art.

Music as a universal language

    Music is the language of the soul. It is the language everybody understands , both young and old. That is why babies appreciate lullaby songs will lull them to sleep. Besides, people sing and enjoy songs written in languages other than their own, though they do not understand the language the meaning of the songs.

   Can you sing any song in another language? Because music is a universal language, the Igbo's can sing and enjoy songs in Hausa, Yoruba and efik languages. Similarly the Hausa's, Yoruba, efiks and so on, sing and enjoy music written or sung in languages other than their own. People sing in foreign languages, such as Latin, French, German, and so forth. Do you enjoy some radio music programmes in other languages than your own?

   Why is it that you like such music? In these instances, the emphasis is not on that meaning of the texts (words) but on the music which provides enjoyment. Music , therefore, has no language barrier since everybody appreciates its effects.

Music as an emotional act

    Music  is an emotional in the sense that it controls people's feeling. The way people react to music at a point in time depends on the type of music that is playing. Music can make someone to March or dance, to feel sleepy or to pray, to be sad or happy, to desire to fight or make peace, to make love or hate, and so on.

    Dangerous animals and reptiles are also controlled by music. Sometimes wall geckos and snakes are often founding around a musical scene. Mad people are always found dancing to music. Crying babies can easily be sent to sleep with lullabies. During a funeral ceremony be a good funeral dirge can  easily send people to tears. Music can as well be a source of comfort to bereaved people. So you now see how music controls people's peoples moods, feelings and behaviours.

Music is an aspect of culture

      Music is a very important means of expressing culture. Remember that culture refers to how people do hings. These include their language , beliefs , arts , occupation, dressing, building and so on culture includes people's learned behaviours.

    Music is produced in accordance with people's cultural patterns. Music can also reshape peoples culture. That is why music is produced according to patterns that ate socially accepted to a given culture.

    It is common knowledge that all aspects of Human activities involve music making in one way or other. Music , therefore , is part and parcel of culture, and a means of expressing culture..

Music as a performing art

   Generally music is designed for performances. We often song songs , hymns and anthems. Sometimes we play musical instruments or dance to music. Traditional music always combines all these aspects.

   Whether we are singing, dancing or playing musical instruments we are performing with a view to attracting some audience to listen to or watch our performance.

Music as a social art

   Music as a performing art is geared towards bringing people together. Excepting solo performance, music is performed in groups of two, three , four or more people. In this way , it encourages interpersonal relationship among people.

   When people learn music together or perform together, they work as a team for their success. This team spirit fosters their unity of purpose , it establishes their love for one another, and thus it socializes them. This is even greater when different groups meet for a public performance. They are bound to make friends among themselves. This friendliness is carried into the community, and thereby brings about social reforms.

Music as an intellectual art

   Music involves a lot of calculation which help to develop mental powers. To calculate the quantity of speed of sound (frequency) and write it down needs presence of mind.

   Like a poet, when a composer is writing his music , he  is deeply involved in serious thinking to achieve success in his composition. The standard of his work depends largely on his mental ability, coupled with his competence in music composition.

    Playing of instruments and dancing  need accurate calculations to bring everything to agreement. Constructing and repair of musical instruments involves alertness. As a matter of fact, every aspect of music makes use of the brain, and this fosters mental development.