As I sat all ears at a classical music concert I attended recently in Valletta, I was hit like a bolt out of the blue by the captivating beauty of the oboe. I felt as if I had never savoured this sound before. As if I were re-discovering the charm of this sirenic instrument.

The musician playing Albinoni’s concerto morphed into a magician bewitching the audience, and challenging my heart to switch to a slower beat and help me lie back even more.

It’s unreal to think that such a heavenly sound was produced by a human being. The oboe made of wood and metal keys is clear as a bell. Warm and vibrant. I had almost forgotten how alluring the notes it produced were. Going to the opening concert of the Malta International Organ Festival in Valletta triggered a flood of memories.

The experience was even better with my eyes closed. Shutting down all my senses bar hearing. Taking in the elegance and the delicacy. Which brought tears to my eyes, three times. Even though I previously been an oboist myself, I felt a new sensation.

The performance by the soloist reached its peak thanks to a wind section of the orchestra and the acoustics of the Jesuits Church in Merchants Street.

I went to this concert almost accidentally. It was a Saturday and I was still unsure what to do for the day. I ended up booking my seat on impulse. Going to a cultural event on my own could be a good idea, I thought. In fact, it turned out to be a rewarding experience.

If you’d like to hear what an oboe sounds like why not listen to Albinoni’s Oboe Concerto Op. 9 no. 2?

Not having yet discovered the joy of classical music doesn’t mean one cannot enjoy it. Music raises the curtain on joyful vistas. Not to mention spiritual emotions.

The post Student Post: The Captivating Beauty Of The Oboe appeared first on The Third Eye.

It takes us a while for us to find our true calling. Roberta is a 20-year-old student, who went from Bachelor of Laws to Bachelor of Music, after realising it is no longer her path.

Roberta has never been 100% certain of what she wanted to do when she grows up. In fact, she never truly had the urge to take up Law but going through the syllabus and units, it sparked her interest. “I had my doubts till I finished my A Levels but I thought to myself that if I got to this point, might as well take up the Law course,” Roberta said. As uncertain as she was, she never gave up and pushed through. Perseverance and determination lead her to where she is now.

Like every other student, Roberta was extremely stressed during her exams; “I started questioning whether this is what I truly wanted,” she said. We all get this – that sudden urge to just drop out and kiss University goodbye. We feel like we have too much on our plate but then, the storm passes and suddenly we calm down as if nothing happened. However, Roberta made a great reflection on her career choice during the second-semester exams and it was her wake-up call that it is time for her to look for something that she truly is passionate about.

Even though Law was not for Roberta, there were still certain aspects that she enjoyed which played a role when deciding whether to drop out or not. During her first year, she got the opportunity to shadow the work of a notary. It first started as an internship and eventually it led her to work as a secretary there. “I wanted to become a notary and the work involved really interested me however that was pretty much it,” Roberta said. The rest of the subjects were just not her cup of tea.

When Roberta dropped out, she never planned on coming back. After experiencing the subjects and the job, she felt like she already saw what the course has to offer and she wanted to start looking for her true career. And that is where the music came in.

During her gap year, Roberta continued working as a secretary and made it a point to strengthen her skills as a musician. Music was always a big part of Roberta’s life, especially piano. “I focused on my skills as a pianist and worked on music theory and piano practice. I started learning with a different teacher and worked on getting my Music A Level,” she said.

Roberta started playing at the age of 10, with a year or two breaks along the way, but eventually, she has been playing the piano for nine whole years. At the age of sixteen, Roberta decided to explore the world of music a bit more and started playing the clarinet at the local band. “I still do it till this day and it is a wonderful experience – absolutely love it!” she said.

But from where the love for music stemmed from?

Her father. Roberta’s father is her role model, the person that has been very influential when it comes to music. Being in a local band himself, Roberta found it almost natural for her to start playing an instrument and taking music as seriously as her dad does. While her dad showed her the beauty of music, concerts deepened that love even more. “I noticed that in times of stress, I always turned to music, either listening or practicing. In fact, in a concert, I like to lose myself to the music,” Roberta said.

It is always a shock to the parents when they hear their child saying; “I want to drop out.” It is a hard pill to swallow when you believe your child has potential and suddenly, they just want to throw that all away. “When I told them I wanted to drop out from the Law course, they were surprised as they knew I was good at school,” Roberta said. However, her parents never held her back and this encouraged her from doing what she wants. While they continue supporting her decision wholeheartedly, Roberta still fears that her parents worry about her career because a career in music might be difficult in Malta.

When was that point in life where you told yourself; “This is it. This is what I want to do in life”?

During exam periods, Roberta turned to music as a stress-relief. “Not only did it serve as a stress-relief but it served as good procrastination as well” she joked.  Eventually, Roberta realised that she really wants to continue playing the piano and the clarinet, eventually becoming professional at it. She started seeing that a job in music was possible AND available.

As I mentioned at the very beginning of this article, deciding what you want to do in life at the age of eighteen might seem farfetched to some. In fact, when I asked Roberta what are her plans for the future, she bluntly said “I am still unsure of everything.” Arts are definitely pushed to the side here in Malta and the music industry is so limiting here, it can easily discourage aspiring musicians. However, Roberta wishes to continue teaching privately as she loves performing and composition. When the time comes, she will simply need to explore and see what is out there.

A piece of advice…

If you are going through the same dilemma, Roberta suggests you write down the pros and cons of the situation, reflect wisely, and plan ahead. “Be realistic. I did not leave Uni and expected everything to be presented to me on a silver platter, you must work on your dreams.” Surround yourself with people that inspire you and support you, get ready to chase your goal!

The post Switching school notes to music notes: Roberta’s love for music | ATG appeared first on The Third Eye.

Written by Jade Attard

In a time of global chaos, we are thrown spiraling into a whirlwind of uncertainty and distress. Confronting the unknown and, by certainty facing loss, we strive to survive by clinging onto something that grounds us – music. Whether you enjoy the occasional radio song or boast a vinyl collection all your friends are impressed by, music is something you can turn to for a new thrill in your life. Here’s why:

Music creates a sense of belonging

As an internationally-practiced and loved art form, it can be agreed that music creates a sense of community within itself. As a result, engaging in it and sharing it with other people instills a sense of belonging. 

This is why people under lockdown in Wuhan, Spain and Italy among other countries took to their balconies to sing songs and play instruments to raise public morale together. 

Music releases feel-good hormones 

Better known as dopamine, this hormone released by the brain is associated with a state of feeling good and increases in response to other pleasurable activities such as eating chocolate and being in love. A study reported in Nature Neuroscience found an increase in dopamine transmission when its participants felt a “chill” or “musical frisson” in relation to a favourable piece of music. Music psychologist, Dr Vicky Williamson from Goldsmiths College, University of London claims that the study proves how “music is inextricably linked with our deepest reward systems.”

Music helps us exercise

The significance of exercising at a time of limited outside activity is tremendous, and so using music as a means of pushing you further towards your fitness goals should be deeply beneficial. Multiple studies show that music conditions increase the length of a workout and even helps in producing more oxygen when a musical beat is fast and in sync with bodily movement.

Music improves sleep 

Not only does music release feelings associated with happiness, but it also helps your body relax and prepare for sleep. If you’ve been in quarantine at home for weeks and are finding it difficult to establish a constant sleep schedule, tuning into some calming tunes is proven to speed up your sleep process. 

Music reduces stress

No matter your mental strength and capacities, some form of stress is surely bound to creep up on you during this pandemic. Luckily, music is found to lessen stress and decrease anxiety as, much like with sleep, it helps in relaxing the mind and body. This is something we should all benefit from. 

Being at technology’s constant disposal might not be so bad if you use it effectively. You might give learning the basics of music production a shot or you might skim through Spotify playlists outside your comfort zone. Whatever you go for, music will enrich you in many ways.

cover image: source

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When it comes to music we’re all willing to defend our favourites with all that we’ve got because this was the music that was there for us in our lowest moments and gave us solace, was there to help us celebrate, helped us pick up people at PV or just was there throughout our lives.

Thus the question that can quickly lead to a brutal family feud is – “What’s the greatest era of music?” Well, thankfully science has the answer, but it doesn’t mean that everyone agrees with it.

A study from a team at New York University quizzed 643 subjects aged between 18 and 25 on their pop song knowledge throughout the last 50 years.

In a major victory for fans of the 1960s, it seems that chart toppers from that decade proved to be a whole lot more memorable. To be fair, the results make a lot of sense.

In 1969 alone, the year Woodstock took place, there were also:

• The landmark releases from The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Jackson 5, The Kinks, Bob Dylan, Neil Young (with Crazy Horse) and The Who.
• Led Zeppelin released its first two albums after debuting in ’68.
• Releases of In the Court of the Crimson King, possibly the greatest progressive rock album of its era, along with live albums from Johnny Cash, Grateful Dead and Elvis.
• David Bowie’s Space Oddity came out in time for the Apollo 11 moon landing.
• The Stooges and MC5 laid the groundwork for punk rock.
• Creedence Clearwater Revival released three albums.

1967 and 1965 respectively also saw the releases of some of history’s greatest hits.

1967 featured The Summer of Love and The Beatles releases of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour. The Jimi Hendrix Experience also released two classics and The Velvet Underground went proto-punk with The Velvet Underground & Nico.

1965 was also a prolific year for the Beatles and Dylan, while Motown landed No.1 hits with My Girl and Stop! In the Name of Love. The Rolling Stones create “Satisfaction.” and The Who released “My Generation.”

So yeah, there’s an abundance of evidence to support the findings of this study. Nonetheless, I’ll hold strong on my love for the 1970s with 1971 being the year where rock music exploded while still loving the ’90s with its mix of rock, pop and punk.

The post 1960s music is most memorable | NYU study finds appeared first on The Third Eye.

Law student and avid musician, Matthew Cassar, did not hold back from putting his passion to play in a rendition dedicated especially to Christa. Remembering her life and their fond memories, Matthew’s choice of Ed Sheeran’s Photograph very aptly fit the sentiments he shared, depicting her as “an amazing person full of laughter, joy and happiness … always there for others, humble and kind”.

Cassar’s heartfelt accolade was met with a diversity of positive comments from sympathetic individuals to add to the many sentimental contributions from people who knew her, who only had words of praise for the young lady.

The Third Eye team would like to extend its sincere condolences to the grieving family and friends of Christa Formosa, and wish them the utmost support in this difficult time. “Goodbyes are not forever; they simply mean ‘I’ll miss you until we meet again'”.

Matthew’s video may be viewed via the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0xSQox_FQo

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