Everyone knows that music affects everyday mood, whether it’s turning on the “feels” playlist when in a bad mood or shuffling the best hype playlist in the collection.  Music is a significant way to turn on and off certain emotions, provide a certain mood for a party, or make a connection with someone, by liking similar songs.  Mr. Chism, Seattle Prep’s campus security, tells about how he used to be a broadcaster and played songs on the radio based on the time of day, or how he could change their attitude.  He had the #1 hip hop station in Philadelphia and would play music to “get people in the mood to go out” on a Friday or Saturday night.

He believes that the relationship with the music and the lyrics have significant meaning, along with the emotion and connection songs and genres portray, like jazz, R & B, hip hop, or classic soul.  He stills fells connected to the music of his past because it is “multifaceted and the relationship with the artists and sound is the most enjoyable part.”

Ava Allison ’21 says she listens to her “hype n favs 2020” playlist most of the time, a mix between EDM and rap.   When she comes across a song that brings back bad memories, or when she is in a happy mood, she skips the song, before it even starts.  She explains that the “music I listen to really depends on my mood.”  To her, music exclaims the state of mind someone is in, because “music has the words to describe what mood someone is feeling and clarifies it.”

Despite the different ways music drives people’s emotions, music shapes different standpoints in everybody’s lives and for the most part, affects them positively.  Music changes the way people perceive the world and lets people have their own preferred taste built right into their brains.  It unites people, makes them feel different emotions, and changes lives for the better.