As cheesy and cliche as it sounds, music really does have the power to connect people. This was especially clear when we did a samba workshop on Wednesday May 21! A large part of the workshop was learning how to play different instruments, and playing music together. I have never seen our group more in sync than when we were playing together. Each person had a different part and instrument, and yet we worked together to create music.
This theme has been present in other areas of the trip, in the music we play on the beach or the songs we sing spontaneously. Music always brings groups together. I think this moment was so special because I was able to connect with people in the group that I didn’t know before this trip. I had never spoken one-on-one with some of my classmates, or ever talked to them outside of a classroom. But when we were creating music together, I could look at any one person in the group and know exactly what they were thinking, because we had this shared experience together. I played the same tambourine part as someone across the room from me, and we had to make eye contact and keep in time. I played the snare drum with another classmate, and we made sure to keep each other in time and lead when one of us fell behind. During this experience I really felt that the group connected as a whole, as one unit.
This also helped us connect with the Brazilian students, who obviously know more samba than we do. We got to experience a part of their culture that they love, and make music with our friends. I have never seen our group more energized than when we were making music together. Mistakes didn’t matter, differences didn’t matter, nothing mattered except the music we were creating together.
I could write pages and pages about the power of music, and how it brings people together, no matter their differences. That’s why I’m studying to be a music therapist after all, I know how powerful music can be. It was really wonderful that our group was able to experience it, and grow closer as a result.
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