Music as a Universal Language

"Music is the universal language of mankind." 
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

For me, singing is more effortless than social communication.
Music has a pattern to it. Social communication may or may not have a pattern, depending on the context in which it occurs.
Music has a rhythm to it. A conversation does not have a rhythm to it.
Music is easier for me to memorize. It's easier to memorize because of the rhythm, beat, and repetition of the chorus. 
Music makes me feel free. Conversations make me feel restricted.
Music lets me block out all the noise that occurs in the world. Noise comes from many things: television, microwave, oven, computer clicks, and cars. I have control of the volume of the music I listen to. I can't control the volume of the things around me. 
​Music helps me focus. It takes a lot of work to focus on a conversation. 
Through music, I can communicate my feelings without having to put actual spoken words to what I feel. Sometimes when I'm upset a song will play in my head and that is a signal that something is wrong. 
Music allows me to express myself. Music allows my friends and me a chance to freely stim. Stimming is something people with autism use to regulate themselves. 
Music helps me accomplish tasks I struggle to do and achieve them faster. 

Pictured Left to Right: Amanda, Katie, Emily, Brian, & Katia rehearsing the opening song at Inclusive Theater rehearsal. January 2023.

Emily Wachter

Blogger

Written by Emily Wachter

​Emily Wachter is the owner and entrepreneur of Photography through Autism. She is a lifelong writer and photographer with a passion for disability rights, social justice, and psychology. She is a peer mentor with Penn-Mar Human Services. She is a college student at Carroll Community College with dreams of being a case manager. Emily has spoken on a number of disability panels on living with autism and experiences of bullying. She is involved with a number of disability groups in Maryland, including YoungLife Capernaum, Disability Express Group, and Special Olympics. In her free time, she likes spending time with family and friends, coloring, and shopping.