"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts"

We often hear that ‘music is a language in itself’. Some examples of this are songs going viral in various countries that are not of their own such as Gangnam Style or Despacito. While the lyrics of these songs are not always understood, they are still appreciated by all due to sound, melody and rhythm. Furthermore, in our modern world, plenty of translation sites exist that have the capacity to convey any song’s message if one wishes. Perhaps music is so well appreciated because since the dawn of time, it has existed in every form in practically every culture. While it can oftentimes be difficult to comprehend cultures that aren’t our own, the power of a simple tune resonating can increase our understanding of others. Many cultures have passed down traditions and tales of ancestors through songs. It served as a method of communication before writing’s existence. Music’s unique ability to connect people of all cultures and backgrounds is one that is still being studied. And it continues to exist and thrive in nearly every setting. Just listen at night to the crickets in your backyard chirping. Or the next time you’re in class, take note of the way your peers may drum against the desk with their pencils. Make sure to recognize the way when you stretch and release a rubber band, it emits a ‘twang’ sound. Next time you find yourself bored and curious, search up the comforting sounds of the guqin, an ancient Chinese string instrument. Or perhaps observe the complexity it takes to drum on the tabla (from the Indian subcontinent) which shares similarities with the bongo, another drum-like instrument that originated in Cuba. There is still much to be learned about how to connect with cultures that are not of our own. But learning to appreciate the sounds of them points us one step closer in the right direction.