"If music be the food of love, play on!" ~William Shakespeare

I really enjoyed listening to On Point this week with Tom Ashbrook and his guest Robert Kapilow. Despite having very little musical background, it was fascinatinating to hear the way that Robert Kapilow was able to examine a piece of music and the experience it created for the listener. After listening to the Grammy Award winning songs listed this week, I found myself noticing for the first time the subtle variations created by the artists and their effect on me. I see now that it is the design aspect of the song that really adds to my experience.

Kapilow analysed the iconic song, "America the Beautiful" and through his analysis, listeners were able to then come to understand that the combination of each technique is greater than the sum of it's parts. The idea that “repetition creates a sense of belonging greater than us” was also discussed. I'd agree that there is a security and comfort in that lies within the same pattern. Ashbrook felt that Kapilow had an uncanny ability to "make connections between rhythm and the gymnastics of notes that turn them into templates for fundamental emotions or spiritual compass readings." I'd have to agree. Kapilow was able to articulate and identify these processes clearly.

As a teacher, I have seen the way that patterns and rhythm effect my students. While teaching behavior students, it is imperative that my classroom expectations and routines be clear. Through these patterns, my students do feel comfort and security. They are able to function better when the routines are in place and the expectations are clearly visable.

Music is such a powerful tool. We all share the same experiences and despite differences in time and place, Kapilow is right when he says we express these experiences through the universal language of our time; music. I enjoyed looking at similarities in music. For example the exploration of what beneath the surface phrases of Beethovan's 5th is the same? The idea of paring down the music and looking at the surface, but finding the core similarities, appealed to me. I think as teachers, we need to remember that each student is unique, but underneath everything, they are still kids; young and impressionable.

I also loved Kapilow's observation about the creator of valcrow. He felt that this man was open and looking for it and therefore able to visualize the possibility of such a creation. Kapilow went on to say that music therefore, is a lesson in how to pay attention. This idea translates to my teaching in numerous ways. For one, I feel that most times tachers focus on contrasting ideas instead of having students become aware of the similarities between ideas and people and the common fabric holding each of us together, despite our differences. I couldn't agree more with Kapilow who quoted Stravinsky saying that,“all of composition essentially comes down to a balance of unity and variety.”