Weekly Wellbeing 

The Power and Importance of Music (Warning, I am going to show my age!!!)

Twenty one years ago, my husband and I exited the Church we were married in to ‘Walking on the Sunshine’ by Katrina and the Waves (I had never actually seen the music video until now!). This was one of my favourite songs and also the first ‘single’ that I got on ‘record’ when I was a teenager! I am transported back to both my wedding day and teenage years when this song is sometimes played over the CHPS loud speakers just before the bell goes. 

Although not from a ‘musical’ family per se, I did grow up loving listening to music. Songs like You’re the Voice by John Farnham (told you about the ‘age’ thing!) and in later years ‘This is me’ and ‘The Greatest Show’ from The Greatest Showman have not only been enjoyable to listen to, but have also sparked positive memories of different stages of my life. I distinctly remember having 3 young children sitting in the back seat and singing Roar at the top of their 6, 4, and 1-year old lungs. The one year old at the time had a cameo role, ‘roar’! I still smile when I think about it now. 

Music is powerful. It reminds us of different times in our lives, lifts our mood on hard days, gives us energy (maybe even causes us to dance!) and sometimes helps us to express how we feel when we can’t find the words. To learn more about the mental and physical health benefits of music, click here.  Maybe this weekend, play some music with your children, find out what they like, reminisce and share what music you listened to, maybe even have a dance. This could be really fun (and possibly ‘daggy’), but don’t we all need some of that right now?

On a more serious note, certain music/tunes help us to reflect on the past. Today is Remembrance Day. “The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marks the moment the guns fell silent on the Western Front after the bloodshed of World War I. Over the past century, this moment has been adopted across the globe as a time to remember those who served and sacrificed in all wars and conflicts (https://remembertoremember.com.au/)”. 

If you want to explore more about this with your children, please click on the links mentioned.  In the meantime, in case you didn’t get a chance to stop today, here is the link to the Last Post, the tune played to help us to remember the sacrifices of both our First People’s and Non Indigenous men and women who have fought and served to help us to experience the freedoms and resources that we have today. 

Until next time,

Julie Reid, on behalf of the Wellbeing Team