When I first thought of this question, I struggled to put my answer into words. So I turned to the people around me – musicians, music educators, music lovers… and asked them instead, what music meant to them. I ended up with a diverse and rich collection of answers, each of which I realised reflected parts of how I myself felt towards music, as if they all held unique individual facets that overlapped here and there to create a whole.

“It means different things to me depending on what I’m doing/my mood/situation. I think of it as the soundtrack of my life, like right now when I’m damn exhausted after work. I play a soothing instrumental music on Spotify, listen to it on my headphones and that influences the way I experience life, my surroundings, the pace of people around me.”  

– Divya

“It’s been everything to me. It’s helped me through pretty low points in my life and also celebrated the highs. Almost every landmark moment in my life, there’s a certain song/album tied to it… like a personal soundtrack of sorts.”

– Ellie

“Music is nothing short of my entire life since I started it at a very young age. I can’t see myself doing anything else and I’d do whatever it takes to pursue it.”

– Luke

“It’s an escape from my troubles and a way of connecting with like-minded people.”

– Nadine

“Music to me is something that allows me to express myself in a way that is uniquely and profoundly me (because no two musicians ever sound the same, even if they’re playing the same score) When I play or learn music I pour my heart into it, and when I hear beautiful music it takes my breath away and stirs my heart in a very special way that nothing else really can.”

– VT

“A universal language that invokes emotions and memories in an individual or group of people.”

– JT

“It’s my form of expression. I don’t have a diary so I sing songs that are relatable and can help me express my feelings. Or if I can’t find a particular one that portrays my feelings exactly, I try to write one myself.”

– Victoria

“One of God’s many precious gifts to Mankind.”

– Moses

“Music transformed me to a better person when I was a rebellious and defiant young boy in secondary secondary school. Since then, I’ve always thought music is a good thing that I should share with more people and that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing now (conducting)”

– Queenie

“It’s like someone who won’t betray you and will always love you, regardless of whether it makes you feel sad, happy, or lonely… like books.”

– Keith

“Music expresses my innermost thoughts and emotions where words fail.”

– Fabian

“The meaning of music to me has changed a lot over time. Initially it was just pure interest and my childhood dream to be a pianist. But after my music education, I realised that music means a lot more. It gives me comfort and butterflies in my tummy whenever I watch inspiring concerts. I’m motivated to work on music sometimes because I want to share my ideas and music with people around me. Music arouses strong emotions within me and I want to play these (emotions) out so other people can feel them as well. Right now, music is something that I turn to whenever I’m troubled or need some comfort.”

– JW

“Music is empathy and confidence between strangers.”

– Annaliese

“Music is a universal language, much like words and body language. For me, it’s equal parts catharsis and torment, self-expression and self-doubt, pride and shame. I love it and I hate it. It’s complicated. It’s like an erstwhile companion that’s both inescapable and infuriating, yet dependable and much needed.”

– JP

“When I’m composing or playing the piano, I forget about everything else in my life. I could just lock myself in the room for hours on end.”

– Jauhari

Finally, after listening to all these answers, I dug within me and scrambled at an attempt to verbalise my own. Though I knew that I could write an entire essay or novel with analogies and descriptions, yet still not be able to represent my opinions accurately, or do it justice.

Music feels like family to me. It’s as if I never had a say in this intense relationship that I have had with it. It’s always been there as far as I can remember and has shaped me at such a fundamental level, in both good and bad ways. The interaction we have with each other and my attitude towards it constantly changes over time. At times, it drives me so mad that the only thing I want is to get away from it but mostly and eventually, no matter how far I stray, I always come back to it, since it’s where I feel I belong. Music is understanding and supportive, yet frustrating, chaotic and inexplicable at the same time. It makes me laugh, cry and feel so deeply about being alive.
The search definitely doesn’t end here and I’m personally interested to find out more from each person’s unique perspective to share them with others. So if you’re reading this and have something to say about what music means to you, do leave a comment! 🙂

*Names changed for anonymity.