I grew up in home in which music was ever-present. My mother had been in a choir in high school and would often burst into song…silly, sublime, sweet…it mattered not. She just enjoyed the ability to vocalize. About my father, I would say that what he may have lacked in talent, he made up for in enthusiasm. Fortunately, I inherited more of my mother’s musical genes than my father’s. My sister and I were treated to musicals, shows, recordings of songs ranging from Fiddler on The Roof to Carousel, from Mairzy Dotes” and “Three Little Fishies” (a.k.a Fwee Widdle Fiddies) to music from my era..Peter Paul and Mary and Pete Seeger. My father enjoyed the music of ‘the Man in Black’; Johnny Cash. By far, my favorite serenade was Nature Boy by Nat King Cole. To this day, it reminds me of my mother’s lullabying voice wafting through the air. On occasion now, I will sing it to her over the phone 1200 some miles away, but as close as memory.
A singer-songwriter friend named David Wilcox sees music as having healing properties as well. He refers to his melodious/harmonious sharings as Musical Medicine, with particular songs suggested for various needs including heartbreak, beginning a new relationship, forgiveness, getting out of depression and addiction and strength for getting out of painful experiences.
Music as medicine is restorative, needs no prescription and is blessedly habit forming
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