Sam Jansons has always placed a high value on music. He became inspired to perform the drums at the age of 16 after hearing the Led Zeppelin song “Kashmir” with its drums. Since then, he has added songwriting, performing the guitar, and even dabbling with his daughter’s piano.
Music is a significant release for Jansons’ emotions and a component of his social life. Josie Jansons of RadioActive shared this narrative about how her father believed that music is medicine.
Josie Janson and how his love for music started
My dad developed a passion for percussion when he was 16 years old, which is roughly my current age. He used two-dollar drumsticks to practice playing on a comfortable recliner for years.
Then, his friends gave him a really inexpensive drum kit for his 18th birthday, which was a really wonderful present.
But he didn’t begin performing in bands until he was 22 years old.
My father said, “I created a flyer, like a lot of drummers did. Additionally, it had a small cutout area at the bottom where individuals could call me. Even now, I still possess a duplicate of that flyer.
A phone call from his flyer resulted in a gathering with several other musicians.
And even today, nearly 25 years later, I still engage with some of those individuals, he added.
Since then, my dad has played in numerous ensembles, some of which have disbanded. But he continues to perform with many of his former colleagues. Even while putting in extra hours at his employment as a mail carrier, he continued to listen to music.
“I don’t get as much slumber as I ought to,” he admitted. “As a result, I usually begin practice at 8:30 or 9 o’clock in the evening. I also get to work at 7 a.m.
But what about music makes it worthwhile to skip sleep?
He stated, “I believe that music is medicine. Since I was a teenager, I’ve used music as a coping mechanism for my sadness and rage. I’ll start off by saying that I always listened to it with headphones on. I had music playing in my hearing all the time. Drums were also fantastic because they allow me to express my anger without harming anyone or creating any issues. And because it’s physical, it’s an excellent way to lift my spirits if I’m feeling down.
A year or so before the epidemic, my dad’s mother passed away. Additionally, his aunt and uncle perished from COVID-19 during the epidemic.
He explained, “Drumming is acceptable for sad feelings. I was dealing with a lot of them. Singing and playing the instrument are also effective treatments for that kind of sadness.”
My father was unable to continue playing the drums in his ensemble when quarantine began. He began to perform the piano, write songs, and play the guitar frequently on his own. Through the pandemic, his artistic development followed him.
He wishes that everyone would have the opportunity to perform an instrument at least once.
“You’re not required to enjoy it”, he said. “And I hope that those who play an instrument never really quit, and keep doing it for enjoyment and socializing, because some of your best friendships will arise when you enter a room and engage in conversation by singing or playing songs together.”
DO’H! – A Final Thought
As someone who values music so deeply, it’s inspiring to witness Sam Jansons’ journey with music and how it affects him. This article speaks to the power of music as an emotional healer and connector. How about you? Do you also think that music is medicine?
