Assertion-Jazz is the Sound of God Laughing

Jazz is the Sound of God Laughing
By: Colleen Shaddox

Music, in general, is a gift that ‘speaks’ to people. Whether you sing or play an instrument or just enjoy listening, music ‘speaks’ to you with words, and sounds, and syllables. I play many instruments; my favorite and the one I am most talented with is my trumpet. My abnormally small hands fit perfectly within the grooves of the metal; my mouth has its comfort spots on my mouthpiece. My trumpet is a familiarity in my life. Playing my instrument is a way for me to express my emotions or thoughts through an unspoken language. I often tell people I’m bilingual; I’m fluent in both English and music (I don’t really tell people that, just saying). It truly is its own language. Notes and rhythms will speak to you as you enunciate them. Legato, smooth and flowing, becomes da da da; yet, staccato, short or separated, becomes dit dit dit. Once you add rhythms and phrasing, expressions and life to the music, it becomes alien sounding. Put these new sounds into an instrument and the result is mind boggling. Sometimes I get so absorbed in my own playing I completely stop. The joy of music affects everyone’s life. Try closing your eyes and letting the sounds paint a picture in your mind. It sounds stupid but don’t hate it until you try it. Close you eyes and make a story. The music goes on a journey from the first note to the last fermata. Sometimes when I close my eyes I see colors swirling around in a cloud and they will change as the mood of the music transforms. The gift of making music and its effect on people is truly a special talent; this incredible gift will ‘speak’ to people individually and differently per person. But the effect of music is nonetheless astonishing.

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