“I played a Johannes Opus 230 organ. I played it
pretty well, until the moment I ended up in a coma due to a severe car
accident. When I slowly woke, I did not realise a thing, did not speak the
language which the people around me spoke, did not even know who I was, and experienced
everything around me as weird.
‘In the first half year, I am confronted with something that once was my
passion, playing the classical organ. When I am home alone and want to play an
easy melody on the instrument decorated with black and white keys, it scares me.
Something stops me from sitting on the organ bench. When I walk past the organ,
I stop and force myself to take place on the bench. The confrontation is too big for me. I decide not to yield to the temptation. Sometimes
the temptation takes over me and I take a seat. The wooden bench shines because of the
beeswax and feels smooth. I try to sit in the right posture and tap some keys.
Then I realise, what formerly was a second nature to me, was totally lost. – I lost
control – I raise my right hand to place it on top of the keys, and try to
do the same with my left hand. This seems to be even harder. Shortly after, I decide
to let it be. I now realise, my life ‘before and after’ are miles away
from each other. As a result, I decided to write a musician. I asked him to write
me a music score for a wooden Tenor flute, which I have stored in a box
somewhere.’
(A translation by me of: Bos, Paul
(2016) Herwonnen Leven. The
Netherlands: Boekenluik)
Now, years later, the Tenor flute made place for
the transverse flute. I (temporarily) considered this my life’s project. I felt
‘ingenious’ because of this! For years and to this day, I spend a lot of time on my
lessons and love to make music as well. This definitely improved my language
development!
I like listening to music a lot, but I prefer
making music as it has a bigger positive effect. There are two big benefits.
Making music also means, listening to your own music. It reduces chronical
stress by lowering the concentration of the primary stress hormone Cortisol. Music
helps me to connect to my own emotions. Furthermore, music raises the released amount
of the neurotransmitter Dopamine. Dopamine makes you feel comfortable and
happy. It is released by the reward system in the brain, which is also active
during biologically essential processes like sexuality and eating. Quite
magnificent, isn’t it?
After a long fight against
change and lost, I return in the world of music. It is an expectation game. The
teaching of new skills is exhaustive, both mentally and physically. During my repetitions,
I like to go out for a walk as well, preferably with a strong headwind. When I
am moving, I meditate. When I play the flute, I am moving too. After all, I am resetting my framework. To know the
happiness of life by new abilities, a true compensation!
To walk the road for a second
time, while you do not know the way anymore and nobody seems to be able to
guide you, has been a long road in which music played a big role. Sometimes in
minor key, a sad mood. Alternated by a major key, with lively tones.
Music gives rise to emotions. It
helps to express and amplify feelings, both to relax and gain energy. Music
is a means of communication, a translator and interpreter of emotions, that connects
people with each other.
Maybe this is, in essence, The
Power of Music. “
