September 17 Affordances

Music as a whole is something that lends itself to communication. Not verbal communication but instead on a spiritual or emotional level. It allows a communication between people who would otherwise never talk and transcends boundaries we experience on a daily basis.  "[Music] provides a means by which people can share emotions, intentions, and meanings even though their spoken languages may be mutually incomprehensible" (Hargreaves, Macdonald & Miell, 2005)


Walking down the street one chilly afternoon I noticed Mathias Piano Man busking with a piano. He offered to let me play and since then we have become friends.
He recently sent me a link to the video Music, Universal Language showing a number of us busking on his piano. One song I played captured his attention and a number of months later I received a message saying "there you go.. the one you inspired me...is finally a complete song.. and... free to download :) Cheers, enjoy !!"





Music has a unique way of touching the hearts of those around us. It lends itself to solitude and company, listening to an iPod or attending a concert, it knows no bounds to how it communicates with the world around us. "It is through our activities that we…practice skills, express our feelings, experience pleasure…” (Hopkins & Smith, 1983)


From watching a Samoan RWC game at the pub with at least 80 samoan supporters all singing the anthem with harmony to attending a church service allowing you to open your soul as you blend with the voices around you, to simply sitting on a quiet balcony playing to yourself music knows no bounds. Why else would every nation have an anthem? 




Hargreaves, D.J., Macdonald, R. & Miell, D. (2005). Musical communication. Oxford University Press: UK


Hopkins, H.L., & Smith, H.D. (1983). Willard and Spackman’s occupational therapy. In Crepeau E. (2003). Analyzing occupation and activity: A way of thinking about occupational performance. In Crepeau, E., Cohn, E., & Schell, B. (Eds.),Willard and Spackman’s occupational therapy (10th ed., pp.189-198). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins