Whether you consider music an overarching soundtrack to life or a set of specific playlists by occasion, music is a choice we all take upon ourselves as a reflection of who we are. It’s an act of self-expression to play the songs we play on our iPods, even if no one is listening but us.

So when we are also the creators of our own music, we’ve got an interesting role to fill. Is it that no other music in existence can express what we feel inside? Perhaps for some, it is. Or is it that we simply enjoy the process of writing songs as a creative outlet? For many of us, that may be the case. Often, it’s a combination of roles that we see music filling, as we create tracks to accompany our karaoke sessions, our songwriting endeavors, and our passion for music.

Whatever the purpose of music in your life, it’s important to realize that it’s also a universal trait of human cultures to use music as a tool for self-expression, identity, and communication. Even listening to music in isolation somehow connects us to a wider community – whether it’s to the artist who wrote that song, or to the other people we know who listen to it, or to things in our past that remind us of the power of music as a barrier-breaker.

It’s also important to step back and realize that music is never as isolated as some may perceive it to be. It’s a collective pursuit, a passion among millions of people, all over the world.

It’s encouraging to know that we’re never on our own when it comes to music … even if we listen to it through a single set of headphones, alone in our rooms.

Happy musicking, everyone.

Madeline, we are so proud and excited for you, as you set an example not only for our community but for everyone with their own voice to share. Watch the “Making Of” right now:

It may sound cheesy, but music has been my entire life since I was little. I’ve been in choirs since elementary school. I sang in competitions, took private lessons, and even did a National Honor Choir a few years back.  I started playing violin in 5th grade as well, but singing has always been and always will be my first love. It doesn’t matter if I’ve had a bad day or a bad week, singing something or just getting lost in the music changes everything. It’s really hard to put into words just how much music means to me. If I was to go deaf, I would get rid of my other four senses if it meant I could keep my hearing. I’m not only a music nerd, but I’m also a video game nerd. The music of a game plays a huge role in whether or not I’ll like the game to the same intensity. Music is everything – it sets the mood, the tension, the environment, emotions … Besides Assassin’s Creed, I also love Splinter Cell, the Mass Effect series, The Longest Journey, Kingdom Hearts, and the Legend of Zelda series. A fun fact about me? I was in chess tournaments when I was little and won a couple trophies.

Whether it’s on your computer, in a studio, in a concert hall, or in an outdoor auditorium, music has the ability to overwhelm the senses. You can be creating a track on your own, remixing a track with your friends, or listening to concert by your favorite band, and completely lose track of time. Because music doesn’t just hit the internet and decay; a rock guitarist doesn’t just play a chord that disappears; a studio musician doesn’t sing in silence – the music continues, from you to the person next to you, to the person next to them, on and on. It’s a communal experience, a passing of the baton, a composition that continues to be composed as its sound reverberates.

What do you use music for? Everyone has a story, and we love hearing them. So keep sharing the stories and the music – we’re listening!

Leave us your thoughts here – it’s a great way to keep the discussion going.

See Deborah’s UJAM page here.