The Language of the Human Spirit

Posted by Scott Leamon on Jul 14, 2009 in Blog, Music, Random | 12 comments

I’m inherently terrible with words. They often fail me. From meetings to endearments of the heart, I get caught in the mental vortex of translation. The translation of ideas, emotions and visions into strings of consonants and vowels… the greatest gift to the human species can also be it’s greatest curse.

Naturally, a tongue tied weirdo like me was drawn to music. It became my voice that transcended this prison of self-expression. I could communicate through a medium that was purely subjective and void of hard-fast rules of interpretation. Yes, for one to freely express themselves through music they must learn the physicality’s of a medium (e.g. an instrument) and communicate in such a way that others understand. This is similar to spoken language… from the muscle memory of our vocal chords, tongues, breathing – but different in the fact that it is not an ability inherent to the species.

We all have an ‘inner-voice’ we use to solve conflict, rationalize our motives, etc. When this voice failed to answer problems I turned to music. Even as a young child I remember this need to use a ‘tune’ to calm myself. When I had trouble sleeping I would hum myself to slumber. As a teenager, rather than pen a love letter – I would write a love song.

I’ve always been fascinated by the human response to music. It is a need. Regardless of race, gender, intelligence, age, ethnicity, the human species requires music. I might go as far as saying we need it like we need love, oxygen, community, etc.

Sometimes we find a very literal connection through verse and lyrics, but on a subconscious level, we are moved in a metaphysical way that we cannot rationalize. Some say the connection is through the rhythm of our hearts… I tend to believe it is the language of our spirit. A part of the human condition that we cannot explain through physical sciences or philosophy. It simply is…

Over the years I have heard from students, friends and family a longing to make a personal connection with music. The cliche is often, “I’m tone deaf.” NO, you are not. If that were the case you would not be able to communicate with me! In spoken language we require ‘tone’ to express ourselves (in the way we modulate our voice). To be ‘tone deaf’ would mean an inability to communicate.

The hippy in me believes we all are in tune with the resonance of the universe.

We are simply distracted by our day-to-day existence to nurture our voice.