Laura Kessler is a well-renown Creative Career Coach, Music Director, Teacher, Writer and Performer based in Chicago. She works with students in combining performing arts with business and education.
Q: Why is freedom of music/speech an important part of society?
A: "Music is the universal language of emotions. While there certainly are academics that may relegate music to a technical left-brain study, in reality the masses understand music as a meaningful emotional form of communication. Music comforts, soothes, energizes and inspires us to action. It can be nationalistic, confrontational, sad, religious, narrative or celebratory. Music and artifacts are what historically survive from every culture, even more so than political manifestos of each time period. The fact that it is voluntarily experienced by the receiver, rather than coerced is what makes it so powerful. From Plato, to Scott Joplin, to Elvis, Michael Jackson and Hip Hop, the subtle power of music to lead masses of people to cross social boundaries should never be underestimated – or restricted." - Laura Kessler
She also told me that I will find more information on the topic on her website, which is a great reliable source!
The website link is: http://www.laurakessler.com/articles.html#July07
Here is a quote that she writes on the question, "How influential are we as artists?"
"Musically speaking – before we ever evolved into media- frenzied debates regarding the justification of the word "ho" in the vernacular – there was a time not too long ago when the very notes, chords, keys and intervals composers used were actually very strictly monitored. The 3rd interval – now the most basic and essential unit of modern harmony – was still considered a forbidden fruit in the 13th Century. Renegade composers who dared compose with the hedonistic, forbidden chord did so only within secret societies who, according to legend, sometimes met in caves."
The entire article is truly compelling, and it really opens your eyes to just how important artists are in our society today.
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