A Reflection on the Healing Power of Music
[Note: This is another collaborative post!
This time I am joined by my #SABestie, Katy Hamm—a recent Higher Education Administration Masters
graduate from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota. HIRE HER!
This is also PART ONE of a TWO-PART series. We wrote a lot.]
 |
| Pianos Become the Teeth's LP for Lack Long After. |
Disclaimer: As most people know, I like music. A lot.
If you didn’t know this, click here to check out the blog entries of my countdown of last year’s top 100 albums.
* * *
Every night when I get home, I put on a record and either
lay on my floor or my bed. In that moment, I can be alone with myself and some
relaxing tunes. I often unsheathe Caspian’s Waking Season LP, or Explosions in the Sky’s The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place LP, or even Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago LP. I just choose something that will help me
chill out after a long day of class and/or serving students.
Music is a way for me to cope with whatever is going on
around me.
Or within me.
Whether I am in good or somber spirits, I can rely on music
to accompany my heart. So, I want to share some thoughts about the power of music!
In order to do so, I do not want to be the only voice in
this conversation, so I have enlisted some support—
[Note: Katy Hamm’s
words will be in italics.]
Hello! As Craig briefly introduced me, my name is Katy Hamm. I am an alumna of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and recently received my master’s in Higher Education Administration from St. Cloud State University.
Music has been
extremely important in shaping my path into student affairs. I joined Reeve
Union Board (RUB) at UWO to help plan the music events that came to campus. In
my final year, I became the Music & Variety Chair of RUB. Connecting with
my advisor and mentor, Chelsea Redger, through our similar music interests
guided me down the path of awesome that is working in student activities.
This is the first coincidental connection Katy and I have
established through music—we both were heavily involved in the music scenes at
our undergrad institutions. I was the president of the Oregon State Musicians
Guild, which allowed me to essentially live as a booking agent for about 20
musical acts in Corvallis, Oregon over the span of two and a half years. My
buddy, Charley, and I booked and managed over 100 concerts during that time and
became synonymous with the on-campus music scene.
 |
| I used to scream in a metal band called, Of Saints and Shadows. Made many incredible friends during this experience. Metal didn't necessarily thrive in our college town. |
Our second coincidental connection is that we grew up supporting struggling music scenes. I was amid the once-thriving music scene of Salem, Oregon—where I remember seeing a young (more stripped-down) Typhoon take the stage. Katy Hamm grew up supporting music in the mean streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Well, I grew up in a
town directly in between Milwaukee and Chicago, and I went to pretty much any
show I could. When I was 16, I started going to see a band called The Killer
Apathy. After a few years, and a handful of new members, TKA has now become The Color Morale.
Through many TKA/TCM
shows and conversations, I have formed a great respect for their vocalist
Garret Rapp. He has been incredibly impactful on fans of their music,
especially with their new album, Know Hope. It has been an absolute pleasure to
see the way The Color Morale has been able to make a difference in the lives of
so many young individuals.
I know I was in complete shock the first time I saw The Color Morale live—Garret gave so much love to the crowd and the reciprocation
from the crowd was absolutely inspiring.
Garret has been an
inspiration to me in my work with students, and gives me confidence in my
ability to use my story to positively impact others.
 |
| Anthony grabbed my hand many times during this set. People in the crowd told us we were electric that night. |
A man that has been an inspiration to me—and those close to me know how much admiration I have for this man—is Anthony Green.
Anthony Green is the lead singer of Circa Survive, Saosin,
Sound of Animals Fighting, is one of my favorite vocalists and he is a great
person to follow on social media because he shares so much of his family life
and makes an effort to give an insight into his creative space. I appreciate
this level of transparency in how he lives his life and I seek to keep up with
his messages, as well as his weekly projects for fans to enrich the lives of others.
He started this #musicworship hashtag and I have become
quite fond of it because music is one of those rare elements in life that truly
gives people a reason to worship personally with song.
To me, music worship is all about discovering what music
will help you feel whatever emotion you seek at the given moment. It can also
be taken quite literally—what music do you worship?
What music truly speaks to you? What music heals you?
Emotional power of Music
 |
| This quote stems from the song "Andria," by La Dispute. Also, the flower in the middle has become their trademark. |
A band that heals me is La Dispute.
I have their flower tattooed on my wrist.
The first time I heard La Dispute, I knew I had found a band
that spoke to me. As a recovering English major, I am drawn to stories. I am
drawn to imagery. I am drawn to tone and emotion. With this, La Dispute is an
uncannily ethereal band. Jordan Dreyer is a lyricist that truly understands
storytelling.
Dreyer has the ability to weave elegant tapestries of
stories laced with song.
There are guitars—sure.
There are drums—yes.
There is bass—definitely.
But what resonates with me most are the words.
Dreyer gives a shit about the words he uses.
His vulnerability is inspiring.
The songs only truly take shape when he starts yelling and/or
screaming his words because he is so taken by the emotional build of the song.
I can’t get enough of it.
Any band do this for you, Katy Hamm?
I guess since it is
the way we met, it is only fitting that we talk about the same band.
Makes sense to me! It's our THIRD coincidental connection. Go for it!
The first time I heard
La Dispute was in my partner Jon's car. I fell in love with their passion and
Jordan's lyricism immediately. It wasn’t long before they made the list of my
top five favorite bands.
On April 4th, 2011, Jon was murdered.
The last words he
posted on Facebook were, "Heads Up, Hearts Up, Hopes Up," lyrics from
"The Last Lost Continent" by La Dispute. Because of this, La Dispute
became even more of an emotionally charged band for me. Jon and I owned a
clothing company together called Home Sweet Home Clothing, and in his memory I
designed shirts with this phrase with an image of him in the background.
These shirts became a way for his family in friends to feel supported in their time of need, and along with donations helped to create college scholarships in his name. To this day, I still see people wearing those shirts that I don’t know, and it reminds me that I need to put a smile on my face and keep moving forward.
 |
| Note: Information on the Jonathan Kwiatkowski Memorial Fund and 2014 Scholarships can be found at http://www/jkmemorialfund.org |
It took me over two years to be able to listen to La Dispute again. I saw them for the first time on April 4th of this year at The Garage in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
They were playing
nearest to me on the anniversary of Jon’s death.
I would be lying if I
said my eyes were dry for any portion of their set. Having the connection I do
with this band has allowed me to heal myself in ways I never could have
imagined without it, and for that I owe thanks to Jordan Dreyer and La Dispute.
I don’t know if I can follow that.
Thank you so much for sharing that experience, Katy.
Connections of music
There is no denying that music has the ability to create
connections.
Connections with people.
Connections with emotions.
Connections with moments in our life.
Connections with people from specific moments in our life.
Connections with emotions attached to people from specific
moments in our life.
Music is connective.
Music is connective.
Hell, anytime I listen to John Legend’s “Get Lifted” album, all I think of Chuck Palahniuk’s book, “Choke,” because I listened to that CD almost nonstop as I read through that book. These connections stick with us.
I would not have met
my skister (don’t worry—I will explain what that is in a second) Amanda if it
hadn’t been for her sister, and my best friend in high school, Emily, and I
constantly going to local shows together.
 |
| My Skister and I love adventuring in cities and trying new things. This time we were trying out Ed Debevic's diner in Chicago. |
Emily was killed by a drunk driver in July of 2008, and since then, Amanda and I have adopted each other as sisters. We call each other Skister, because that is what she and Emily called each other growing up. Amanda has been one of my biggest role models since she has come into my life, and I can’t imagine her being anything but my sister.
Music has an uncanny ability to bring people together with
the common purpose of creating an escape and a form of healing for those in
need.
I would not have met
my best friend Sam if I hadn’t gone to see The Almost at UWO. I wouldn’t have
met my roommate and close friend Ashley Andersen (who is also an #SAgrad at St.
Cloud State) if we had not had a mutual friend in a local Milwaukee band called
Mechanical Kids that led me to sending her a really weird Facebook message
asking her joining Reeve Union Board.
If it wasn’t for the metal band I was in, I wouldn’t have one
of my best friends, Dylan.
If it wasn’t for concert planning, I wouldn’t have my best
friend, Charley!
If it wasn’t for Twitter, I wouldn’t have met fellow Circa
Survive family member, Mark Delaney!
 |
| My buddy, Charley, and I have been through so much music together--planning shows, playing shows, booking bands, stage managing. Everything. We were even elected to run the OSU Memorial Union Program Council together. He now drums in a Pop Rock band in Portland, OR called, Blue Ember. Check them out! |
I wouldn’t have
succeeded in college without my love for music.
I don’t even know if I
would have made it to college without it.
I wouldn’t have found my calling as a Student Affairs
professional if I hadn’t pursued concert planning for student organizations.
Music brought me to Student Affairs.
I wouldn’t be going
into student affairs, and I wouldn’t know the incredible human being I am
writing this blog with. I owe everything important in my life to music.
And I actually feel I owe my life to music.
Specifically, “Gravity,” by A Perfect Circle, which is a
beautiful song that I clung to shortly after I survived a suicide attempt. The
song repeats the line, “I choose to live.” This line has stuck with me
throughout my life and it most definitely helped me through one of the most
difficult moments of my life. I will soon add these words to one of my tattoo
sleeves and it will serve as a reminder that music truly can save lives. And
that the opportunity to live is a beautiful thing.
* * *
That’s the end of part one of our two-part Music Worship
blog series!
Make sure to check back next week as we discuss the healing
power of live music.
And to tide you over, here is the first of two playlists we
will release for this blog series!
Let’s save the
goodbyes for tomorrow at lunch.
(Click to load the Spotify Playlist!)
1. “The Last Lost Continent” – La Dispute
2. “Tell That Mick He Just Made My List of Things to Do
Today” – Fall Out Boy
3. “I Won’t Say the
Lord’s Prayer” – The Wonder Years
4. “Strange Comfort” – The Color Morale
5. “Floorboards” – Real Friends
6. “Diva” - Beyonce
7. “Ebolorama” – Every Time I Die
8. “Why It Scares Me” – La Dispute
9. “Youth” - Daughter
10. “Don’t Let Her Pull You Down” – New Found Glory
11. “Swords and Pens” The Story So Far
12. “Level Head” – Have Mercy
13. “Bad Girls”
M.I.A.
14. “We Still Believe” – Stick to Your Guns
15. “Head Up, Kid!” – Major League
16. “Wobble” – V.I.C.
17. “Play Crack the Sky” – Brand New
18. “Shake It Out” – Manchester Orchestra
19. “Siberian Kiss” - Glassjaw
20. “Heartbreaker” – Pat Benatar
21. “GINASFS” – Fall Out Boy
22. “Snake Eyes” – Sworn In
23. “Criminal” – Fiona Apple
24. “Understatement” – New Found Glory
No comments:
Post a Comment