Voices
When do you usually listen to music everyday?
Jeena Lim (Emma Willard School international student from South Korea): I listen to music 24/7 nonstop.
Student from Jinzhai County Mabu Experimental School: I listen to music when I’m relaxed and happy, usually at night.
Student from Anhui University of Technology: I listen to music most of the time every day—when I wake up and wash in the morning, when I shower at night, or while doing other things throughout the day.
Jane Wang (middle-aged administrator of a publicly listed company): On the way returning from the company back home, or at noon.
Cayla Liu (Texas High School student who’s from Shanghai): I don’t actually listen to music every day. I listen to music whenever I go out or when I’m in a car.
Allison Wu (Freshman at Columbia University): I listen whenever I'm studying, never really for fun. Sometimes it helps me stay awake.
Fiona Kelly (Emma Willard School student from upstate NY): I listen to music when I’m walking between classes, during homework, getting ready, and showering..
How long do you listen to music every day?
Jeena Lim (Emma Willard School international student from South Korea): I listen to music 24/7 except when I’m at school.
Student from Jinzhai County Mabu Experimental School: Normally, about an hour.
Student from Anhui University of Technology: On average, I spend about six hours a day listening to music.
Jane Wang (middle-aged administrator of a publicly listed company): About half an hour.
Cayla Liu (Texas High School student who’s from Shanghai): depends on how long the ride is.
Allison Wu (Freshman at Columbia University): Maybe 5-6 hours
Fiona Kelly (Emma Willard School student from upstate NY): Probably about two to three hours during the school week. On the weekends, probably closer to four to five hours.
How does it fit into your daily routine?
Jeena Lim (Emma Willard School international student from South Korea): I like to play music in the background when I do something else, and I also like listening to music by itself before I go to bed.
Student from Jinzhai County Mabu Experimental School: At certain moments in my life, I might suddenly recall a line of lyrics that fits the situation.
Student from Anhui University of Technology: Music has become deeply woven into my life in many ways. Besides listening to songs, I’ve also been learning to play an instrument—the piano.
Jane Wang (middle-aged administrator of a publicly listed company): I fit it into my relaxing hours.
Cayla Liu (Texas High School student who’s from Shanghai): When I’m on a subway, walking on the streets, or commuting to school, I listen to music. When there’s no one in the house, I would open a “livehouse performance”.
Allison Wu (Freshman at Columbia University): I listen to playlists while studying.
Fiona Kelly (Emma Willard School student from upstate NY): Anytime I can be, I’m listening to music. I start and end my day with it.
Have you watched live shows? If yes, what was the experience? How did it differ from listening to it on your phone?
Jeena Lim(Emma Willard School international student from South Korea): I went to the live show of my favorite artist, Noel Gallagher, a few months before their band reunited. It was really nice that he came to Korea, and I got to enjoy it.
Student from Jinzhai County Mabu Experimental School: My most unforgettable experience with music is probably actually attending a concert and seeing my favorite people step out of the screen!
Student from Anhui University of Technology: One of my most memorable experiences with music was during my piano training period. I had to listen to a lot of professional, somewhat tedious pieces—not as easy to enjoy as pop music—but that time helped me cultivate a deeper musical understanding and discipline. Though it felt a bit tough back then, it was an important stage of growth.
Jane Wang (middle-aged administrator of a publicly listed company): It is most memorable when I watched aMei (Huimei Zhang, a Chinese lady singer) singing “listen to the voice of the sea” (听海） on a life show, the song of which I almost sing every time in karaoke.
Cayla Liu (Texas High School student who’s from Shanghai): I saw a live show once. A song dedicated to the retiring first chair of the star’s band was sung. It really touched me as it resonated with my own experience of being in a band.
Allison Wu (Freshman at Columbia University): Probably learning concertos for violin because it was really tough and I had to spend a lot of time.
Fiona Kelly (Emma Willard School student from upstate NY): I have had so many it’s hard to pick. But probably just dancing with my mom and sister in the kitchen when I was little. Our house and car is always been filled with music.
Do you sing? How does it differ from listening?
Jeena Lim (Emma Willard School international student from South Korea): I don’t like to professionally sing, but I like to sing/hum/lip-sync along with the music. I feel more energized when I do that.
Student from Jinzhai County Mabu Experimental School: I usually hum a song when I'm feeling relaxed. I think the difference between singing and listening is that listening to music is about absorbing the emotions, while singing, after singing the lyrics, I can't help but think about the meaning behind the lyrics.
Student from Anhui University of Technology: I can sing and really enjoy it. Singing feels completely different from listening—I think listening lets you feel the emotions others convey, while singing lets you breathe life into a song yourself.
Jane Wang (middle-aged administrator of a publicly listed company): Yes. I could have the chance to play the role of music so as to experience the beauty of life from the other way. That is so amazing.
Cayla Liu (Texas High School student who’s from Shanghai): YES. Sometimes when I sing, I am impressed by my ability to memorize so many lyrics and rap!
Allison Wu (Freshman at Columbia University): I'm really bad at singing.
Fiona Kelly (Emma Willard School student from upstate NY): Yes, I do sing, and I think it makes listening to music a lot more personal. When I don’t have the words for how I feel, I can sing someone else’s words.
How does music reflect part of yourself (culture, feeling, relationships)?
What type of music do you usually listen to? Could you name some of your favorite songs or artists?
Jeena Lim (Emma Willard School international student from South Korea): I listen to many different types of music. I listen to pop, K-pop, rock, R&B etc.
Student from Jinzhai County Mabu Experimental School: I prefer ballads and songs with a strong rhythmic feel. (Favorite artists: David Tao, G.E.M., TNT)
Student from Anhui University of Technology: My music taste spans a wide range: pop songs, soundtracks, R&B, rap—you name it. I listen to songs in English, Korean, and Japanese as well. My favorite singer is Joker Xue (Xue Zhiqian); I love all of his songs.
Jane Wang (middle-aged administrator of a publicly listed company): Lyrical and romantic music. My favorite song is “Color of the Wind”.
Cayla Liu (Texas High School student who’s from Shanghai): I listen to KPop, Hippop, and sometimes Chinese songs. I have recently been listening to JJ Lin, Christ Brown, and a lot of other K-pop groups, such as Baekhyun.
Allison Wu (Freshman at Columbia University): I listen to pop, indie, and electronic. I like Tate McRae, Lana Del Rey, Laufey, and some K-pop. I think my favorite song right now is “Risk” by Gracie Abrams.
Fiona Kelly (Emma Willard School student from upstate NY): I listen to absolutely everything but usually rap, R&B, or rock. During homework or in the morning, I will sometimes listen to super intense rap music to keep me awake and lock in. I don’t really have favorites; they change daily.
What does music mean to you?
Comments:
Jeena Lim (Emma Willard School international student from South Korea): It is a very important factor in my life. It helps me feel better when I’m having a bad day, or it makes me even happier when I’m already happy. Music means love.
Student from Jinzhai County Mabu Experimental School: Music is a spiritual nourishment for me; it can heal me.
Student from Anhui University of Technology: To me, music is an indispensable part of life. It plays many roles—listening to music daily helps me relax, lift my mood, and heal emotionally. If I meet others who also love music, it becomes a great way to expand my social circle and connect with like-minded people.
Jane Wang (middle-aged administrator of a publicly listed company): Let me fully relax and get away from the anxiety temporarily. Sometimes music could be the other way to express myself.
Cayla Liu (Texas High School student who’s from Shanghai): I think music can switch with my mood and align with my fluctuating emotions. And sometimes lyrics motivate me to keep going, make me reflect on my life, and in some ways, mirror my life.
Allison Wu (Freshman at Columbia University): Usually, it's just for background, but sometimes it helps me relax. Also I guess I sometimes made music with violin, so music was also a hobby.
Fiona Kelly (Emma Willard School student from upstate NY): Music has always been a huge part of my family life. I also play piano and sing. I often associate music with certain times in my life or people in my life. Music is something I turn to when I feel like no one else will get what I am going through.
How has it functioned in your life? (entertainment? Therapy? Relaxing? Feeling understood? Helped prompt your study?)
Jeena Lim(Emma Willard School international student from South Korea): It functions as entertainment, therapy, relaxation, and a mood maker.
Student from Jinzhai County Mabu Experimental School: It's mostly about relaxation and healing.
Student from Anhui University of Technology: Music is a bridge that links me to others. It's a crucial connection.
Jane Wang (middle-aged administrator of a publicly listed company): Relaxing.
Cayla Liu (Texas High School student who’s from Shanghai): Entertainment for sure. It also helps me brainstorm some ways to deal with real-life issues.
Allison Wu (Freshman at Columbia University): Mostly just for studying. Sometimes I like listening to new songs for fun.
Fiona Kelly (Emma Willard School student from upstate NY): I often have headphones on when I listen to music. It feels like I can drown everything else out and solely focus on myself and what I am doing. Upbeat or aggressive music can definitely help motivate me to get stuff done. However, if I am feeling down and play sad music, it can make it even harder to get stuff done. The genre really affects my mood.
Why do you like listening to music? How has it impacted our worldview?
Jeena Lim (Emma Willard School international student from South Korea): I like to keep something on in the background, and music is an impactful way to make my life better.
Student from Jinzhai County Mabu Experimental School: For me, music is something that can heal me, so I enjoy listening to music. Because some lyrics convey different meanings, my worldview leads me to have more expectations about the world and society.
Student from Anhui University of Technology: I love music because it’s like a friend who is never late when I need them. It brings me all kinds of emotions, expands my thoughts, and quietly shapes my worldview. It teaches me that it’s okay to cry when I’m sad and to laugh loudly when I’m happy.
Jane Wang (middle-aged administrator of a publicly listed company): I don’t know exactly why, as it is a natural thing just like eating, smelling, or speaking. It is unbelievable to the day without music.
Cayla Liu (Texas High School student who’s from Shanghai): It taught me that sometimes its ok to get emotional, and the mindset I should have when I am in a relationship.
Allison Wu (Freshman at Columbia University): I mostly just like music for the sounds and harmonies. Don't really mind the lyrics or the meaning. I guess music shows me how diverse the experiences people can have are and how diff ppl process them differently.
Fiona Kelly (Emma Willard School student from upstate NY): Yes, I love it! It is just such a great way to meet new people and connect with other people. Asking someone what music they like is a great way to break the ice with someone else and get to know other people. I also think listening to a diverse range of genres has helped me learn about other cultures.
Jeena Lim (Emma Willard School international student from South Korea): I like K-pop music because I’m Korean and it’s easier to understand the lyrics better and feel more connected with the music.
Student from Jinzhai County Mabu Experimental School: I believe that because I'm a fan, music has become part of my life.
Student from Anhui University of Technology: The kinds of songs I listen to at different times reflect my current state of mind. For example, when I was listening to lots of English songs, it showed that I was working hard on improving my English. If I’ve recently been listening to Korean songs, it probably means I’ve been watching a lot of K-dramas lately.
Jane Wang (middle-aged administrator of a publicly listed company): Usually, what I listen to shapes my moods. For example, I sometimes recall someone or something or the emotion when the same song appeared in the past.
Cayla Liu (Texas High School student who’s from Shanghai): Music helped with my relationships. I listen to lyrics very closely, so the meaningful ones would make me think deeply about my own life, even conclude a new mindset. Through the idols I like, I get to get a peek of their life through their songs, so I always listen carefully to their new debuts.
Allison Wu (Freshman at Columbia University): I'd say music helps me reflect on my relationships in life. I think violin is definitely a part of myself too.
Fiona Kelly (Emma Willard School student from upstate NY): I think my music taste is a reflection of my upbringing. My parents are kinda weird and eccentric, and definitely passed that on to me, partially through music. I also think that my music taste reflects how I am open to new things since I love getting recommendations, and much of my music taste has come from other people.