Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. There’s not a single phase of my many years of living that isn’t punctuated with either a particular song or a group of songs.

The passion and tragedies of my teenage years, for example, are brought into mind instantly whenever I hear Elvis or the Beatles. Music creates moods because whatever else music is, it is pure emotion. And when I think about it, the memories that music evokes are not of events or people as much as they are of feelings.

I enjoy many kinds of music just for the pleasure of listening. But probably the most enjoyable music for me is associated with musicals, America’s version of opera. Of course, not all plays or movies with music are musicals. When I think of a “musical,” I think of stories where much of the dialogue is sung. I don’t want to begin naming them all, but “Singin’ in the Rain” comes to mind, along with “South Pacific,” “The King and I” and “Grease,” to name a few.

Many American musicals are lighthearted and downright foolish (I’m thinking of the Doris Day era.), but even if the text is less than challenging, the music is often memorable. Of course not all musicals are lighthearted. “Porgy and Bess,” “Big River,” “Oklahoma,” “West Side Story” and many others I can think of deal with serious subjects. Even “The Sound of Music,” probably one of the most loved, has a very serious theme.

The wonder of Webber

I have enjoyed every musical I’ve ever seen, but my favorite by far are any of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s. “Jesus Christ Superstar” had a powerful impact on me and, the first time I saw it performed, I felt as though the music entered my soul. Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” is my new favorite. I was aware of the story from Gaston Leroux’s novel by the same name when the kids and I went to see it performed in Boston.

But although I usually prefer stage versions, this performance in the Wang Theater was not nearly as good as the recent movie. Vanessa gave me the DVD for Mother’s Day and I’ve almost worn it out. One day, when she and I had three flats of strawberries to deal with, we put it on, turned it up full blast and went about our jam making. No need to actually watch anymore because we have it practically memorized. Donnie came in to say that he could hear the “Phantom” way down the hill over the noise of the tractor.

As much as I love music, I have never been able to make music myself, although I’ve tried all my life. When the kids were just babies, I ran a little day care and, with the money I earned, bought a piano and took lessons. It was such fun to play songs the kids could sing to. Before long, Eddie would stand at the end of the piano and pick out the same notes I was playing. He began lessons before his feet could reach the pedals. At 8, he could play three times better than I could, so I quit trying. Many memories are tied up in that now old piano. It no longer sits in the middle of our lives but downstairs in silence.

Thank you, community

Since music has also been important for my children, involvement in Oxford Hill’s music program probably kept them in school. Thank goodness, the community valued music enough to keep it in the schools when money got scarce. It is common knowledge that learning to make music increases a child’s intellectual abilities in other areas.

Music can soothe spirits and incite action, both good and bad. No wonder parents are concerned about music that riles up their hormonal teens. Nothing like coupling a contagious beat with powerful words to make a point.

I can’t quote any scientific evidence about the power of music. I only know it has filled my life with emotion and pleasure. Many people pay no attention to music. My husband is one of these. He couldn’t tap his toe to a beat if his life depended on it and doesn’t care. But I suspect music is more important to him and others than they realize.

I doubt I could produce an accurate definition of “music” or list all the times and places where music contributes unobtrusively without calling attention to itself. I only know that life without it would be very poor indeed.

Jeanette Baldridge is a writer and teacher who lives in West Paris. She may be reached by e-mail at [email protected].