the "Functions of Music"

In my thoroughly fascinating music therapy class, (cough, cough) we're reading about the functions of music as relevant to music therapy.  Strangely enough, there are some really useful nuggets of information in there and I have found it quite interesting.  

"Ethnomusicologist Alan Merriam developed a useful classification of broad categories of music's use in society...He set up categories of 10 functions of music that existed in most cultures.

1) Music as an influence on physical response

2) Music as communication

3) Music as emotional expression

4) Music as symbolic representation

5) Music to enforce conformity to social norms

6) Music to validate social institutions and religious rituals

7) Music to contribute to the continuity and stability of culture

8) Music to contribute to the integration of society

9) Music for aesthetic enjoyment

10) Music for entertainment.  "    -from An Introduction to Music Therapy, pg 53.

Following this list was a more in-depth exploration of what these terms mean, but I think that most people can surmise what was intended by the list.

Some of the other elements of the chapter are about how music uses many different parts of the brain, while requiring many different mental steps.  (attention, memory, retrieval, programming, etc)  It also discusses the emotional, extramusical associations, and other brainy consequences of music, which was equally interesting.  Rather than try to go deep into cognitive musical brain stuff, which I am ill-qualified to discuss, I'll just say that music does some spiffy things.  The concluding bits of the chapter are:  "One advantage in using music is that some type of musical enjoyment or involvement is possible for people of any age...Another aspect is that it is comprised of diverse styles and combinations of sounds from simple to very complex...Another is the many uses of music in society...Music is a pervasive art form that influences our daily lives in many domains (physical, cognition, communication, emotional, and sociocultural)."  

While this chapter doesn't say "music is important because...", it definitely gives some more objective perspectives to the function of music in society, which is exceedingly relevant.

Currently listening to: the New Animal Collective album.  (and I think my neighbors are currently having sex, so I guess I'm listening to that too, but not by choice)