The Power of a 30 Second Dance Party

Music, its something that speaks when words can't.  I've been fortunate enough to have had my life surrounded by music. From my mother singing me songs, to learning by song in school, church, to being FORCED to learn how to play the piano, hearing songs on the radio, and at one point writing a couple songs.

Music has been an everyday thing for me. When I'm sad, happy, or bored, there's some sort of music going on. I have been blessed with quite the array of music taste. My mother taught me the old time folk songs, classical music, and church songs. My father blessed me with some classic hard rock stuff, which is my favorite. My older brothers love Rap and Rock. Being a "90's baby" I love that crap. And my sisters, well they like pop and country. I mean I've been blessed with being exposed to just about everything. 

My mother started me out at a young age playing the piano. I hated every single day of it, well up until about my sophomore year of high school. Where I was finally released from that prison. But, I still would voluntarily wait for my turn to play the piano every day. It was just something that ended up becoming a stress reliever. Yes, even the piano recitals I had to play in were some of the most calming moments of my life. The only times I dreaded playing, were the times I had to play in sacrament meetings. I developed a weird shaking and my throat gets fuzzy. Ok, its probably just nerves. Whatever it is, one Sunday my page turner witnessed how scary it was for me to not be able to breathe or play with my left hand. She leaned over and hugged me mid song, and it stopped. I HATE HUGS, but that hug definitely saved that musical piece.

When I was in the 6th grade, I picked up a saxaphone, then 3 months later I picked up a french horn and played that the rest of my "band career." I and one other person played the french horn, it was pretty damn awesome. From bus trips to warm up songs for games, I always had a playlist. It usually consisted of 7 or 8 Classic Hard Rocks, 1 Rap, 1 Country, and 2 songs by MoTab or a Classical. Do NOT judge me. Research will back me up on the classical music. It calms one down, as well as opens up the mind. I hated listening to pre game talks. So I would sneak my ipod under my jersey and listen to it. Shhh don't tell my coaches, they really thought I was listening.

This is the one thing that grows with me and that I hope never stops. My love for music. I was playing the piano the other day at work, and a few of the kids were floored that I even knew how to play, let alone bust out some vocals to go along with it. I had a ball. One day I brought in my guitar and sang, not excellent, some songs with them. Its something that I've learned that no matter what mood, situation, or place you're in can always improve your mood. There are days I get over thinking and will just turn on any music.

I grew up in an LDS household that only listened to Church appropriate music on Sunday, and to this day, if its a Sunday its either Sounds of Sunday on the radio, or Hymns coming out my headphones. If its any other day, I tend to listen more to the music without words, weird I know. But I've always noticed something, Music tends to speak when words can't.

I've made a lot of friends from some of my craziness that is associated with music. Wether that is me dancing it out in the gym in between sets, on the bases during a softball game, or just walking around work, my dance parties come from some pretty great music. The other day I was having a pretty shitty day. Not going to sugar coat it at all, was sicker than sick and had a headache, and someone turned on some Prince and I just let loose. Sometimes the best medicine is laughter and a little booty shaking. *it didn't cure my sickness or headache but it was a nice change* The craziest thing I've noticed over the years, my 30 second dance parties, sure put people in better moods as well as myself.

So if y'all ever catch me out there shaking my rump shaker, or belting out some Spice Girls vocals, feel free to jump in or send my recording into AFV. I could use some cash. ;) If you can't tell in the moment its nice to not give a damn and that's the greatest thing about music, you can get lost in it and not care.

Get out shake it a little, bust a move, sing a note or two, kick over a drum set or keyboard or head bang a little in your car, just let loose for 30 seconds a day, you'll thank me later.

XO,
Mel