Purposes of Music

1. Purposes of Music Why do people create music?

2. Ceremonial • Music created or performed for rituals or celebrations. • Patriotic Music • Religious Music

3. Examples of Ceremonial music • Bridal Chorus • Hail to the Chief (entrance of the President) • Funerals • Commemorative ceremonies • Graduations • Political events • Holidays • Religious rituals

4. Recreational • Music for entertainment or fun. • Game Songs • Dance or Social Events • For Physical Activities • As a Hobby

5. Recreational • Recreation comes from Latin root “recreatio”, or to restore health • Music therapy used with all age groups • Music therapy is used to help those with mental health needs, learning abilities, Alzheimer’s disease, substance abuse, brian injuries, chronic pain, etc. • Recreational music unites people of all age groups, ethnicities, ability, or prior experience

6. Recreational Music History • During WWI and WWII, musicians visited veteran hospitals to perform for those with physical and emotional trauma • Doctors and nurses praised the effects of the music on the patients’ healing process • Do you listen to certain types of music when you feel different emotions, or when you are sick?

7. Why we want recreational music? • Focuses on the enjoyment and well being of the musician and those who listen • Does not rely on any artistic outcome • Purely focused on entertainment, being social, enjoying music as a hobby, or incorporating music into a game • Participants are not required to have any training – an outstanding performance is not the purpose, but rather fun and relaxation are key drivers

8. Examples of Recreational music • Most of what we listen to daily • System of a Down • Lil’ Wayne • Weezer • Journey • CCR • NIRVANA • ….country music….maybe

9. Artistic Expression • Music created with the intent to express or communicate one’s emotions, feelings, ideas, or experiences. • Music performed in a concert setting in front of an audience.

10. Artistic Expression • Unlike recreational, artists of this type are typically classically trained musicians or groups of musicians • Use their study of music as a vehicle to demonstrate perfection of presentation of music • Specifically express or communicate emotions, feelings, ideas, or experiences

11. Artistic Expression • Typically composed music • The performers breathe life into the notes the composer has put onto paper • The artistry is determined by the degree of musical perfection that is achieved by the performer • The performer uses all of the elements of music to recreate the composition while maintaining a minimum of mistakes in notes, pitch, etc. • Perfection is always the goal in music performed for artistic expression

12. Examples of music for artistic expression • Bach • Beethoven • Tchaikovsky • Handel • Haydn • Mozart • Wagner • Though most of you frown on Classical, can you think of any time that it works well in something you may enjoy?

13. All together • Though there are three main purposes for creating music, no music is restricted to only be part of ONE of those groups • Music can be both artistic and recreational, ceremonial and artistic, etc.