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Musical/social skills: parallels

Here's a suggestion - a metaphor - that may or may not help you see what we do when we sing together, and harmonise. We humans are social beings, and music expresses this aspect of our lives directly. Some musical elements, like the elements of social situations, are immediately audible and 'on the surface'; others lie deeper, and inform the whole atmosphere. Our perceptions tend to start on the surface (for example, with the 'tune'), and reach gradually further in/down through the structure, mood, tone and so on. But the actual nature of both music and human interactions can be felt simply and directly, by our senses - all the way to the deepest and subtlest levels. And often, it is the 'untrained', or unprimed ear which responds most accurately and innocently to a song, or a situation.

A few points: everything, in music and social interactions, is contextual. The same note, words, phrase, action can be right or wrong, depending on the moment - on everything else that is going on in the moment, and has been going on up until that moment. So: listening, and awareness of what's going on around us (and within ourselves) is essential to both sets of skills.

The following is just a sketch of possible parallels between the two worlds.

Melodic/harmonic lines, or 'tunes' - correspond to what we say or do, the arc of expression - how we instigate communication, or respond to others. Questions: does it go? Does it jar? Is it pleasing/harmonious? What feelings does it evoke?

Rhythm - corresponds to the pulse or heartbeat of a situation, its mood or tone - is it humorous - sad - excited - subdued? Questions: what is appropriate in this moment? How to 'get in step'? Or can we try syncopating enjoyably, maybe humorously, with the expectations?

Chord structure - might correspond to the underlying dynamics of a situation or a group - the assumptions, motivations, atmosphere. Question: can we sense the underlying structure, recognise its movement, orientate ourselves by it, find our place within it, move along with it, in its recurrent wavelike motion?

Harmony, in music - corresponds simply (!) to social harmony. We all know how easy and delightful this feels, when it's easy, and how impossible it is to force into being. We know when it is happening, when (socially) everything's correct and natural, and working together, so that each element enhances the others, and contributes to everyone's enjoyment; and we feel it when there are discords, socially and musically. Always remembering that a lot more can work together than the 'rules' we have learned may stipulate.

©Yvonne Burgess, 2008