Music & the Soul

The Sound of the Soul: Music, the Emotions, and Docility towards Learning

by Paul Grimes

Aristotle, famously, noted that all arts imitate nature. Yet, among the arts, music holds a unique and sovereign place. While a painting imitates the form of a tree or a statue captures the likeness of a hero, music possesses an intrinsic likeness to the human emotions it imitates.
We see this in the very way we speak. We do not often say, “This music seems sad”; we say, “This music is sad.” This is because music moves us without the need for an intermediary. Consider the difference between the Pieta and a simple lullaby. While Michelangelo’s masterpiece moves us to profound pity, it does so through our intellectual understanding of the figures depicted. A lullaby, however, has a direct, soporific effect on a restless infant. The child does not need to “understand” the music to be calmed by it; the harmony itself resonates directly with the soul.

The Power of Resonant Harmony

Because music bypasses the intellect to speak directly to the heart, it carries a profound responsibility in the education of a child. This “imitative” nature of music has three vital implications:

• Direct Emotional Impact: The music our children consume does more than occupy background noise; it shapes their internal climate. Music characterized by rebellion or disorder will inevitably amplify those same feelings within a child. Conversely, music that is well-ordered and noble fosters a spirit of docility and peace.
• The Foundation of Character: Virtue is not built in a day, but through habituation. Frequent exposure to beautiful, harmonious sounds contributes to a stable emotional foundation, “tuning” the passions before the child is even old enough to speak of them.
• An Inclination Toward the Divine: In the context of worship, music serves a sacramental purpose. It inclines the listener toward piety, preparing the soil of the heart to receive the seeds of faith.

Music at Saint Ann

In light of this, the study of music at Saint Ann is ordered toward habituating students to what is true, good, and beautiful.
A Heritage of Greatness: Following the classical tradition, we expose our students to the greatest masters of music throughout history. From the pure simplicity of Gregorian Chant to the polyphonic complexity of the Renaissance, and the structural perfection of the Classical era, our students are introduced to the very best that music has to offer.
The Instrument of the Voice: We also place a high priority on developing the student’s own voice. Through the habit of singing both sacred hymns and traditional folk music, children learn to internalize melody and rhythm. This does more than foster a love for song; it strengthens the brain, enabling it to recognize the intricate movements and architecture of sound and music.

A Gift for the Home

At this age, the most important and fundamental skill to develop with regards to music is the habit of listening to good music. As with all learning, this starts most of all at home. We invite and encourage you to consider listening to a playlist of classical music in the car rides to and from school, at home, and throughout the day.

Children are the world’s greatest imitators; if they see their parents listening thoughtfully to beautiful music, they will naturally follow suit. In the spirit of Psalm 51:12, “A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit,” we recognize that beautiful music cleanses the emotions and orders the passions. It creates a docile heart, one that is truly receptive to the cleansing Graces of our Lord.