The Sound of Music

When Maria from the ever popular movie ‘Sound of Music’ brought the hills alive with her melodious voice and soulful tunes, it was very much a part of a movie. Fess up – you and I live in the real world and things are different.

Have you realised in what poor taste it is to stuff music or worse still, videos in people’s face and ears against their wishes?

Does your office/showroom/factory and the reception play music and have a screen installed? What gets aired on each of them and how loud are they?

When you have visitors over at your place, do you switch on both the TV and the radio?

When you offer someone a ride in your car, is it impossible for them to have conversations with you?

Do all the passers by mandatorily have to listen to your stereo when you stop by the roadside or even at a traffic light?

Do you listen to music or watch videos on your phone without using a headset while commuting by train or bus?

Do the wonderful tunes that you listen to through your headset, airpods or beats have to be heard by your neighbour in office?

It is the same when you get onboard a bus or a train in Sri Lanka; they force you to listen to their choice of songs at sound levels audible to outer space. The would be singers who hop on, have the nerve to think that someone would pay them to sing when in reality, we as passengers should be paid for listening to them. If I want a live musical performance, I will buy a ticket and immerse myself in a musical extravaganza – not subject myself to this misery.

There are places where loud sounds are acceptable such as at parties, concerts, festivals and the like. There is neither sophistication nor pleasure in having loud sounds, music or dramas being played against one’s will in spaces and places that are to be used and enjoyed by multiple people. The trick is to keep the music at a soothing level (pipe music that plays in the background to ward off the deafening silences that can otherwise prevail) and ensure that no one’s conversations or activities are disturbed by it. Let it bring relaxation and happiness to those who visit your home or office, those who take the bus and let it never be heard by those who need not hear it.
The sounds and melodies you create must be only for the ears that need and appreciate it and not the ears that you think should appreciate it.

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/chords-sheet-on-piano-tiles-210764/