The Music We Make

Music is an amazing elixir that touches all of us in some way. It creates bridges between people and can often be the first steps in connecting with others. It is so deeply woven into our lives and psyche that it can be said to define our humanness.

For many of us a song or tune can take you back to another place in time - a haunting reminder of both the good times and/or bad. In fact some psychologists suggest that music might be hardwired and have a dramatic effect on how we see and react to the world around us.

Most of us have had music introduced to us as infants, with the loving humming or singing of soothing childhood songs. As we became more socialized, singing played a key role in our early preschool experiences. As youngsters in school we began to become more discerning about types of music, or styles we found resonating; and most of us had some type of formal music education in either learning an instrument, or taking music classes. Certainly music is deeply integral to our religious experiences and it is hard to even fathom formal church services without music.

I say all this because my own music path has had a recent rejuvenation. Coming from a musical family I have always been surrounded by music. When I reached middle school I took up the clarinet and then the baritone horn. I became a part of the high school band and then joined in with some friends and we started our own group where i played the bass. These early years were great and not only did we have good times making music for others to enjoy, but we earned some decent money as kids.

In college and graduate school, however, I just did not have the time for music and pursued a path in psychology and human services. Certainly all of my musical experiences help round me out as a person, but actually making music fell by the wayside. My time was consumed by by career and then by my growing family.

Then, a childhood friend, one of the guys that had actually formed the group we had as kids, retired from a long and distinguished career as a musician and educator and returned to Pittsburgh. He called me and said, “we’re getting the band back together!” And with mostly his musical genius we formed the “DooWop Doctors,” a live 2-man band, playing the music from our youth.

This turn of events has been amazing, and now the music we are making is not only entertaining people again, but is a catalyst for raising money for charitable causes. In a way, a type of musical full circle.

So check us out at www.doowopdoctors.com . More, think about music in your life and how it has impacted you and your family. The music we make defines us and contributes to our humanness - so find time to make music, and help your life fulfill.