The Impact of Music

Running head: THE IMPACT OF MUSIC ON MY LIFE

The Impact of Music on My Life

Rodric Johnson

Kaplan University

January 29, 2012

Abstract

This paper will explore the impact of music associated with my childhood, adolescence, comfort, and happiness throughout my life experiences. The total intent of this paper will clearly show the connection between music and its direct association with my life.

The Impact of Music on My Life

The music closest associated with my childhood would be of the pop music genre. I was a huge Micheal Jackson fan. I found this music to have a high energy level and was formed around having fun. On average, American youth listen to music and watch music videos four to five hours a day, which is more than they spend with their friends outside of school or watching television(Connors, 2009). At the time I couldn't tell you the difference between pop rock and medal. It was just the sound of the music that attracted me to the music itself. This leads me to say that music is central to the youth culture. I associated good times with this music in my childhood just as well as I do now as an adult. These were the times of no worries and concerns. It was all about just having fun. I can remember a birthday party my parents through for me at the age of eight just like it was yesterday. I can recall every friend that attended this party and the activities that took place. This clearly brings back fun memories of my childhood.

Through my adolescence years rap music was beginning to surface and it became one of my favorite types of music. I was raised in the inner city of Shreveport, Louisiana during a time of the uprising of gang activity and crime. During this time in my life I was beginning to spend more time away from my parents. Being able to go to sleep over's at my friends and attending sporting events allowed me to listen to more mainstream music. Hip Hop had become a way of life for me(Arnett, 2007). Being able to express myself in ways that in my childhood I would have never dreamed of doing attracted me to this new bold form of music. This form of music altered and intensified my moods, furnished much of my slang, dominated my conversations and provided the ambiance at my social gatherings. This music style defined the crowds and cliques I ran in. My music personality provided a model for how I acted and dressed. I used music mostly to control my moods and enhance my emotional states. Music can make a good mood better and allow you to escape or work through a bad one. But it can also be used to enhance bad moods, which has led some to believe music lyrics about suicide and violence against women have occasionally led troubled youth to commit suicide or violent crimes. Today as I look back at this time in my life I used music to gain information about the adult world, to withdraw