Can you imagine a world without music? No songs, no tunes, no rock, no roll, no jazz, no hymns, no boogie-woogie, no country-western, no symphonies. No singing in the shower. No whistling Dixie. Lovers wouldn't have songs to romance to. There would be no such thing as "our song." Sinatra couldn't fly to the moon.
Elvis couldn't complain about people stepping on his blue suede shoes. Tony Bennett would have to write a letter about how he left his heart in San Francisco. Willie might go on the road again, but without a guitar.
And Ray Charles would look pretty strange up on stage without a piano telling us that Georgia is on his mind. Then when the wedding day arrived, what would the bride march down the isle to? A poem? Silence? Applause? And when the happy couple marched out of the church together, would they do it to the bark of neighborhood dogs, or perhaps all the wedding guests talking at once? And at the reception, what would they dance to? The Funky Chicken just isn't the same without music. Since rhythm is part of music, no drums would even be allowed. And the honeymoon I suppose would take place with radio news on, or perhaps the educational channel accompanied by the drone of an air-conditioner.
When baby arrives, do we lull her to sleep with a reading from Shakespeare? Or perhaps random readings from the dictionary or encyclopedia? Could we bore her to sleep with words? Nursery rhymes would have to be chanted or recited instead of sung. School music programs would of course be non-existent, as would school choirs and orchestras and bands. When the school football team plays, there would be no school fight song. Cheerleaders would have to cheer and dance minus any music. And when those birthdays roll around, we would have to all recite together in a monotone "happy birthday to you.
" And when duty calls, what would soldiers march to? What would take the place of music in parades, since there would be no marching bands? John Philip Sousa would have had to get a day job. And on the 4th of July there would be no patriotic songs - just speeches. At Christmas time there would be no Christmas carols. No rousing gospel music at Easter, no hymns in church. And can you imagine radio without music? Nothing but news and talk shows and bla bla bla bla.
I don't know about you, but I've had it up to here just thinking about it. I'm heading for the piano now to celebrate the fact that our Creator gave us the wonderful and inspiring and uplifting gift of music that we all take for granted. I think I'll play a nursery rhyme or two, then the wedding march, then Silent Night, then Auld Lang Syne, then Fur Elise, then the blues, then a little jazz, then.and then.
Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books, CD's & DVD's including "How To Dress Up Naked Music On The Piano!" He also is the editor of the free email newsletter "Piano Lessons Online: Piano Chords & Progressions!" which has over 63,000 current subscribers.
