If you are like me, when you read, you do not see words merely printed on a page, but see before you a brilliant film complete with a stunning setting, sound effects, and maybe even a soundtrack or score. There is no doubt that when Atticus Finch is standing before the jury in his closing statement—we are holding our breath. When Harry challenges Voldemort in their final duel—we are nervous. When Juliet realizes she has missed her true love by mere moments—we are heartbroken. As seasoned readers, we use the author’s word choice and literary devices to transport ourselves to an entirely new world.  

 

However, there may have been a time in your life when you, too, needed a little extra encouragement to truly “see” stories as you do now. Through text only, students may not fully comprehend the extent of Atticus’s words, what a climatic moment Harry has reached in his plot, or the irony of Juliet’s last speech.  

 

But, everyone understands music. 

 

Music is powerful. This is one of the reasons why audiences remember poignant moments in film.  Jaws is nothing without the duh-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh. Without music, the battle scenes of superheroes are just a lot of "glok," "fa-thud," and "klunk." What is Rose and Jack's first kiss without the orchestra behind it? Our emotions are closely tied to that music. More amazing is how we can connect to other people over music.  

 

The creation of Music Speaks started years ago with my desire to have my students become immersed in a classroom novel's setting, feel empathy with the characters, and notice the connections that an author made with word choice and mood.