The connection between singing and living life

Hey my friend,

Singing together and life have sooooo much in common. Both are dynamic and full of surprises. Let's look at how music helps us navigate life more harmoniously.

Human Beings are Musical Beings

We all love some kind of music. There has never been a culture that didn't know music. Music therapy is applied at birth, in hospice and all life stages in between. Music grounds us and helps us connect to spirit at the same time.

Did you know that the Pythagorean relationships we find in the heavenly bodies and music, can be found in our own bodies? Our head is 1/8th of our body length: the same relationship between one note and an octave. Our left and right lung have a 2:3 ratio like the musical fifth. And our heart beats four times for every breath we take. No wonder 4/4 music feels so good. Desmond Tutu said "we are made to make music".

Just as music happens between the notes - life happens between people

Real music happens between the notes. Think of how rhythm and tempo depend on the time between two notes. How harmony is created by the pitch difference between two notes. Music making is all about relating: to time, to space, to the note you just played. But also to the person you're making music with, or those who listen to your creations.

Life is about relating. Esther Perel says that the quality of life depends on the quality of our relationships. How do we relate to the people we love, take care of, ask questions? How do we interact with the people who tell us what to do, piss us off and make us laugh? So many options!

In life as in improvised music we get to make choices every single moment. Singing spontaneous music together is about being present, knowing yourself, getting to know your partner, making each other sound good and creating something harmonious in that sacred moment called here and now. 

Harmony is moving between dissonance and consonance.

Harmony is not about avoiding dissonance altogether. True harmony emerges from the interplay between consonance (stability) and dissonance (instability). A piece of music that remains entirely consonant might feel static, while one that's persistently dissonant could feel chaotic. The magic happens in the balance - as we dance between the two polarities.

In life it's tempting to seek constant consonance, avoiding discomfort and conflict. Yet just as music loses its vibrancy without contrast, life becomes flat without moments of challenge and growth. Health is not the absence of illness, but the ability to bounce back from illness. There's a time and a place for both the agreement and disagreement.

Tension and Resolution

In music, tension arises from dissonance - the moments when notes clash with each other, creating a sense of unease or anticipation. Moving one note in a dissonant chord can resolve that tension to a beautiful or surprising harmony. Don't we experience the same in life? Challenges arise, relationships get complicated, uncertainties loom... Finding a resolution can be profoundly satisfying in life as well as in music.

In improvisational singing you have the freedom to create the tension, lean into it, or dissolve it; we're making it up as we go. You can explore what it feels like to be a rebel, a peacekeeper, a joker, a supporter etc. What musical element draws your attention? Do you want to highlight or contrast it? Improvisational singing is an artistic exploration of your role and your contribution. Learning to trust the flow, the process, how to play off each other, finding beauty as we journey towards harmony.

"The forces that make life work are the same forces that make music work." Jacob Collier

Trust the process

One of the most beautiful aspects of improvisational singing is its reliance on trust. Singers don't know exactly where the music will go, what their partners will do, yet we have to trust the moment and the music. In life, we're often improvising too, navigating the unknown with creativity and courage. How can we remain curious and playful in life as we are in music? Staying present and engaged is more important than getting every note or decision "right".

Improvisational singing is a powerful metaphor for life; it's a beautiful playground for every day living. Music reminds us that the magic lies in the connections we create and the life we weave together. Come sing with me. Talk to me : ) Let's compose a life you absolutely love living.

• PDX Circle Singing meets every Wednesday 7pm in SE Portland.
• Vision Workshops are held twice a month free of charge.