How Do I Use Music? How Do Music Use Me?

I use music all the time! The majority of my days revolve somehow around music.
Today for example:

• 5:30am- Woke up to music
  
• 7:00am- Drove into town, listening to music


• 7:40am- Jazz


• 9:00am- Typography (with Mr. Van der Walt playing music on his computer)
  
• 10:15am- Band


• 12:00pm- Lunch


• 1:00pm- Music Technology


• 2:15pm- Watched a video on the evolution of music


• 3:00pm- Practiced my instrument in the band room


• 4:00pm- Listened to my iPod on the bus ride home


• 6:30pm- Practiced my instrument (again!)


• 8:00pm- Writing this post! (on MUSIC!)

I listen to music to amplify how I am feeling. When I'm angry, I'll listen to music to help me vent, and then I cool down. If I'm looking forward to something or am just in a really good mood, I'll play my favourite music to make myself even happier. And even though I probably shouldn't, I listen to music that makes me feel sad. For me, music holds memories, so when I hear a certain song, it reminds me of the first time I listened to it, what was happening in my life and what I was feeling at that time.
Music helps to keep me busy when I start to over think. For example, this past Monday morning on the bus. I was quite nervous about playing the Last Post at the Remembrance Day Service at school, and that's all I could think of. So, I got out my iPod and started to listen to it, and it took my mind off it and I calmed down . This also ties in with music helping me fall asleep. Back in grade four, I wouldn't be able to fall asleep until midnight because my mind was processing so many different thoughts. My mom had told me to turn on my radio and focus on listening to the lyrics of the songs playing, so I wouldn't be worrying about falling asleep. It worked, and I've always listened to music at night since then.
I use music to learn. I like to listen to music when I study. It helps to focus when there isn't dead silence in the background. I usually only have it playing at a low volume, and that's all I need. I try to listen to songs with no singing, like movie soundtracks, so I can focus on the words that I need to study! As well, I study music. I'm taking three music courses this semester, so it's kind of unavoidable. I'm learning how play music, how to record and manipulate music, and simply how to write about music.
So now the question is, how does music use me? Or more like how advertising and corporations take advantage of me through music!
I'd say I notice this more when I'm watching TV. If a real catchy tune is playing during a commercial, I'm going to remember what that commercial is about. One example for me would be the Nano Chromatic iPod commercial. That song sticks in my head, and makes me think about iPods, and how I want to get a new one! When I watch some of my favourite shows, they'll play neat songs during it and afterwards they sometimes tell you the artists of those songs. It kind of tempts you to go onto the computer to get it. That's what how music uses me on TV, it makes me remember stuff and want to spend money!
Another way in which music uses me is probably when I'm out shopping. This is the one area where I don't feel I'm affected as much, because I don't shop as much as I watch TV. Shopping malls tend to play slower music so that you walk at a slower pace. They play Christmas music around Christmas time to get you excited and in the mood, and wanting to buy gifts. Their goal is to make money, so, they'll play music to tempt you to do just that. I usually don't pay attention to the music they play, or maybe I just think I don't notice. It's probably somehow all under the surface, all sly and what not.
Well, that's my thoughts on music and I using each other. I find it hard to talk about how music uses me when it can be considered as something that I may not even realize. Overall, I feel like I use music more than it uses me. But I could be wrong, I just may not get it right now.