Make
more Mozart music for masses
Our
View
The
world is full of strange and exotic sounds,
some of them pleasant, others mind-bogglingly
annoying. The day of a typical student
attending Cal State Long Beach likely
consists of the following noises: the
alarm clock, the shower, the car engine,
some honking, some cursing, some rambling
professors, some cell phone conversations,
more honking and maybe a little television
at the end of the day.
Throughout
the events there is much cacophony and
never enough harmonious sound to complement
it. This makes for a very unbalanced day.
This
is where our music department stepped
in. Years ago, a former music professor,
Bruce Miller, recorded music using a
clarion, a type of electronic keyboard.
His product took over sound waves at The Beach and was amplified throughout
the entire campus.
His work ranged from traditional melodies to modern film
score arrangements.
Such work was a positive contribution to a better overall campus experience.
Instead of hearing people chatter on cell phones, students could listen to
pleasant chime-like chords, a variation on “When You Wish Upon a Star,” or
the theme from “Gone With the Wind.”
This melodic addition to our campus should return more frequently, for the
positive effects of it are larger than most realize.
By playing pleasing music
around campus daily, CSULB can experience a sweeping new brain phenomenon popularly
known as the “Mozart Effect.”
The Mozart Effect, according to www.mozarteffect.com, “…is
an inclusive term signifying the transformational
powers of music in health, education
and
well-being.
It represents the general use of music to reduce stress, depression
or anxiety, induce relaxation or sleep, activate the body and improve memory
or awareness.
Innovative and experimental uses of music and sound can improve listening
disorders, dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, autism and other mental
and physical
disorders and injuries.
In other words, music like Mozart’s can help the brain function more
clearly. The mathematical perfection of the boy genius’ can make the
wrongs right in our brains. It can un-clutter the clutter — in theory.
Through playing Mozart or other magnificent works of music around campus,
CSULB can improve the well-being of all here.
It is an easy, cheap and effective
way to improve the university experience for everyone.
UC San Diego has been doing something similar for years. It has two
trees that talk.
Inside the trees are speakers that play various sounds ranging from Martin
Luther King and President Kennedy speeches to Beethoven and jazz.
Students strolling by may overhear King speaking about dreams, Kennedy on the
freedoms of man or catchy improv jazz.
Imagine
walking to class inspired by hearing
King’s inspirational proclamation, “Let
freedom ring from the curvaceous hilltops of California,” before
your next public speaking oration, history test or math quiz.
Imagine greater feelings of clarity after a stressful night cramming on the
way to the lecture hall, overhearing peaceful chords in the air.
CSULB should continue once again providing enjoyable music for the campus community.
Everyone,
from the students, faculty, groundskeepers
and administration can benefit.
What better addition is there to enhance the fields of grass, lines
of trees and blue skies than a little music?
Maybe
this place will be so pleasant some of
us will not want to leave. This at least
guarantees parking for the next
day.
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