Tarana is humming happily to herself. She has just heard that she has been conferred the ‘Most Popular Employee’ award at her workplace. A happy tune seems to fit her mood.

Tammy on the other hand, wants to immerse herself in sad songs. She is desolate ever since she broke up with her boyfriend. She has downloaded songs of parting, songs of betrayal, songs of unrequited love and sits for hours with the earphones on. The songs mirror her feelings and threaten to become the soundtrack of her life.

Music has become ubiquitous in today’s society. Music is what we use to define our lives. A proliferation of technology has made music available at every turn. Music is considered essential for the poignant moments and the joyous, for events both mundane and singular. Music has infiltrated our days and our nights: there seems to be a tune to complement every passing mood.

Music and the parental bond

In the unborn child, the auditory system starts functioning at16 weeks. By 26 weeks, the foetus has a functioning brain around the auditory system which is able to process rhythms and musical sounds. Many mothers say that the child in the womb starts to move vigorously when music is played. Newborn infants respond to music, and even cranky, colicky babies quieten down when a tune is played or sung. Parents can coax their children to sleep by singing a lullaby. Even the first sounds made by a child, as a response to its mother’s voice, resemble the ‘call and response’ that is seen in classical music.

Children seem to be born with an inherent sense of rhythm. How often have we seen toddlers gyrate and move their bodies as soon as music is turned on! It is obvious that the ability to appreciate and react to music is a deeply entrenched human quality.