It wouldn’t be true to say that we’ve made the mistake of erasing music from our lives. But how we experience music has changed dramatically.

 

For millennia, music—and in particular, singing—was a public, participatory experience. But today, it’s a primarily a passive, private one. We listen in solitude while we work. As we exercise.  During our commute. 

 

We have, to a great extent, erased music and singing from public life. The same is true for stories. Instead of sitting around the campfire, we sit in front of the TV. Instead of watching and listening to a real-life storyteller, we listen to the disembodied voice of a podcast host.

 

History has shown that, in order to thrive, societies need to experience song and story in a communal setting. They need to sing together. They need to listen to, and tell, stories together. Because when they do, they experience a powerful phenomenon: resonance.

 

Acoustically speaking, resonance is what happens when one object causes another to vibrate. Colloquially, we use the term to describe particularly powerful or meaningful experiences. When a speech or performance touches us deeply or feels deeply true, we say, “That resonates.” 

 

Resonance is harmony. It’s empathy. It’s understanding. It’s a bridge that transcends race, class, or socioeconomic status. 

It is often said that music and stories bring people together. That’s resonance at work. And that’s why The Resonance Initiative exists: to bring people together and to bring healing, hope, and joy to individuals and communities.