The Gift of Music: Learning to Appreciate an Ever-Present Gift

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, the New Year…. It’s that time of year when we gather with family, friends, and sometimes even strangers to pause, to give thanks for all that we love and appreciate in life, to exchange gifts that brighten spirits and express gratitude, and to celebrate new beginnings and the promise of the gifts life has yet to bring.

Music is a gift we often forget to notice. It is so constant that we almost treat it like part of the air we breathe. Try going through a day without hearing music. It’s everywhere; in stores, on the car radio, while waiting on hold, at school rallies and sports games, even drifting across the neighborhood as a child practices for a weekly lesson.

Music is constant in nature. Nature uses rhythm constantly—waves, wind, crickets—and humans instinctively respond. Animals make and love music, too. The calls of birds, frogs, wolves, and whales are very melodic. My dogs have always had favorite songs they would “sing” along to.

Scientists have discovered that some animals change their own “songs” in response to human music. A trending internet personality has built a following by playing guitar and singing for all sorts of animals—and their calm, curious, joyful reactions show just how universal the gift of music is. They seem to thank him in their own ways for the songs he plays just for them.

Music is one of the most beautiful gifts we have been given. When we stop and notice it, we realize how extraordinary it is that humans can arrange sound in ways that move hearts, shift moods, and bring people together.

And it’s a gift we love to share. Parents sing little songs to their children. Teachers and parents use music to teach everything from words, colors, and shapes to kindness, coping, sharing, and giving. In the 70s and 80s, we made mixed tapes to give to special loved ones.

Today, we share playlists that say, “This made me think of you.”  Some of the most beautiful music is songs and compositions written especially for a special loved one. We play music at weddings, funerals, and celebrations because words alone don’t reach deep enough.

We can give music as a gift to others, but also to ourselves.

Whenever we need a lift, we can turn on a favorite song or sit down with an instrument and feel our spirits rise. Music regulates the nervous system—it can actually change our physiological state. Playing an instrument builds patience, focus, and mindfulness. Even humming or singing to ourselves can shift a mood. Music gives us a safe place to express emotions that don’t have easy words. This is especially meaningful during the darker months of winter, when people need uplifting routines. Music brings warmth to colder days.

But do we realize that the simple fact that music even exists is a gift? Do we give thanks for it? Many people believe music is part of God’s design for human beings. The Bible tells the people of Zion, “Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.” Traditional hymns are often sung after lighting the menorah during Hanukkah. The New Testament says, “…be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks to God the Father for everything….” Christmas may have the widest expanse of music written for any holiday. Music and singing are integral to Kwanzaa, from traditional African drumming and call-and-response songs to contemporary music.

Music naturally communicates a greater awareness. During a summer job playing guitar in a small band, we always closed the show with the hymn, “How Great Thou Art.” After one show, a man approached our singer and admitted that although he was an atheist, her rendition stirred something in him. Whether we believe universal gifts are given through a higher being or the vibration of the universe, music is one of those gifts we should remember to be grateful for—not only this time of year, but all year round.

So this year, as you prepare for the holidays—whether that be singing around the Christmas tree or the Menorah, ringing in the New Year with songs of hope for the new, or even saying good riddance to the old—remember that music is a gift. One you can give that will last a lifetime!

You can give a loved one (or yourself) music lessons, a new instrument, a songbook, or even a custom-written song. Or keep things old-school and make a mixtape… excuse me, a playlist 😉 of songs that will touch someone deeply.

And remember this season, and all year long, to give thanks for this most

beautiful gift! I know I will.

As the Vince Guaraldi song from A Charlie Brown Christmas says:

“Christmastime is here

Families drawing near

Oh, that we could always see

Such spirit through the year.”

Personal note: As I reflect this Thanksgiving season, I find myself especially grateful not only for the gift of music but also for my students, who bring that gift to life every day.