By Julia H.
There you are, restlessly sitting at your desk, tapping your foot to the beat of a song you’ve had on repeat, staring at the cursor that has yet to change position—— blink.. blink.. blink. You glance out of the window and realize the city in which you live: Boston. No more listening to Apple Music when numerous genres are right out your door. It’s time for you to take a break from the school work and hit the streets.
Boston is the hub of all things music. Quite literally, this is the city of where American tunes and the education of music all began. Way back in 1792, a composer by the name of Lowell Mason was born. He was an early advocate of music and it’s importance from a young age, conducting a choir by the age of 16. After moving to Boston in 1827, Lowell cofounded the Boston Academy of Music, the first school in America devoted to teaching music. Through Lowell’s dedication to music, he was able to shine light on its impact, allowing for his legacy to continue on, and teach those for years to come. Without him, the knowledge of music would most likely be unknown, and Boston would be without this medium of which cultures, stories, and emotions are shared.
Within two weeks of being at school, my friends and I thought it would be a good idea to check out country singer, Scotty McCreery (video), at a free show at City Hall Plaza. Upon our arrival, I was amazed to see how many people (video) were at this venue. Who would have thought so many civilians would spend their Thursday evening listening to country music? Not I. It may have been due to the mutual interest in music, or the fact that it was entirely FREE. It didn’t take long for my friends and I to start to sway back and forth to the rhythm of the southern beats. I even caught myself singing along to songs I had never heard before. In that moment, I was happy. It was as if I, and the rest of the crowd, were in our own bubble, uninfluenced by anything but the strokes of Scotty’s guitar. The point is, music is more than a background noise. It gives a glimpse of where the artist has come from, and where he or she may even be heading. It has the power to connect on a spiritual level, and be relatable to numerous demographics, bringing the listeners closer together regardless of their socioeconomic/cultural history.
From acapella groups to street artists, Boston’s music ranges from a variety of genres: rock to classical, and everything in between. It has the power to captivate those of all ages while being played by much the same. Organizations such as the Community Music Center of Boston (CMCB), and The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston (ICA), are nonprofit entities created to teach art, and transform the lives of those that view and/or listen to it. The goal is to provide access to the artistry experience at an affordable cost, or no cost at all. The CMCB, founded in 1910, exemplifies the importance of the younger generations and holds numerous FREE concerts put on by student musicians, playing several different instruments. The ICA, founded in 1936, has an exhibit called Harborwalk Sounds. As an affiliation of the Berklee College of Music, each Thursday evening throughout the summer, some of the most talented students put on a show right on the waterfront of the Boston Channel, with no additional cost, other than your time. If exhibitions aren’t your thing, you can always take a stroll down to the Fenway, to The House of Blues and listen to free music— spectating from outside, of course.
All it takes is a walk or a quick T ride to experience the purest form of sound, performed by those of different ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds than your own, yet allowing you to forget what you see and rather feel what you are hearing. These experiences are priceless, enhancing the Boston community one song at a time.
Virtual Boston 
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