Essay About Music

PART I - MUSIC SURVEY RESULTS and STATISTICS

High School students and music tastesBefore submitting their essay, everyone was asked to complete a short survey about their attitudes towards music. 456 people answered the Stage of Life music survey, of which, 413 were ages 13-19. Because of the overwhelming amount of teen responses, the below survey data was filtered to include just the teen results.

Key music statistics from the teens taking the survey revealed that...

34% of teens like the music their parents listen to.

10% of teens state their parents have no clue about what type of music they listen to while 83% claim that their parents like all or some of their music.

Nearly 1 in 2 teens (49.2%) spend $0 (zero) per month on music as they either download it for free or burn it from friends' music collections.

38.7% of teens buy 1 album a month (spending $10-$15 per month), and only 2% of teens report spending more than $50 per month on music.

41% of teens bought a CD or paid to download a song/album WITHOUT having first heard the music simply because of a good review or it was recommended to them.

Stage of Life Teens and Music Survey Results35% of teens rank "Friends" as the #1 source to find out about new bands or music. Also ranked high as sources for music are internet/blogs (22.3%) and the radio (19.4%).

Interested to know what songs teens most recently downloaded or want played at their funeral? Check out our full StageofLife.com poll results and music statistics by clicking on the PDF to download and/or print our teens and music survey results

PART II - MUSIC ESSAY THEMES - TEENS

Music and Teens - StageofLife.com reportAfter taking the music survey, people submitted their music essay to the StageofLife.com writing contest. From the scores of qualifying essay submissions from students (high school and college), several universal themes and trends emerged about how young people, in particular, feel about music:

Music is Life: Without music, these teens agreed that they would be “lost.” Their lives would be a lot quieter and a lot less special.

Music is Helpful: Music was there to help these teens through particularly troubling or difficult moments of their lives: death, depression, self-harm, and break-up were all soothed thanks to the lyrical inspiration of their favorite, meaningful songs.

Music is Strength: On the same token, music gave these teens strength to persevere through the tough moments in life. Some of these songs saved these teens’ lives; others reminded them that they mattered.

Music is Memories: Songs hold specific memories—sometimes more than one. These teens were flooded with fond and sometimes bittersweet memories when listening to these songs.

READ THE MUSIC ESSAYS

Immediately below, you'll find the links to the StageofLife.com winning essay, our runners-up, semi-finalists and scores of other essays from a wide range of people (teens to Boomers) about music. Please take a few moments to read an essay or two. If you have the time, make a comment on the responses you enjoyed the most. We know the writers will love hearing your positive input (they'll get an email notifying them if you comment on their writing contest entry).

Music Essay Winners:Writing Contest Winners - Music Essays

1st Place: My Song: “I Wonder” by Kellie Pickler made me think about the mother I never had by lpd811 (This teen writes letters to her birth mother)

2nd Place: My Song: “You’ll Be in My Heart” gave me the strength to accept what cannot be changed by suddenfury (This song helped me cope when her father suffered a traumatic injury)

3rd Place: My Song: “Us Against the World” by Coldplay gives me hope after my soul mate’s passing by charleytagg (She is never without his love)

4th Place (tie): My Song: “After the Storm” Understands Why I Hold by abigailmumm (Her father received a devastating double diagnosis)

4th Place (tie): My Song: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bob Marley gave me the strength to overcome life’s struggles by jpeschard (His parents discovered his most well-guarded secret) STAGE OF LIFE EDITORS NOTE: The song, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" performed by Bobby McFerrin, not Bob Marley. Bob Marley died seven years before the release of "Don't Worry, Be Happy."

Runners-Up:

Writing Contest Runners Up - StageofLife.comMy Song: “Eyes Open” Helped Me Fight the Night by minito50 (This teen was inspired to get to work)

My Song: “Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore” by Joyce Hager (A love story in song form)

My Song: “Both of Us” by B.O.B. feat. Taylor Swift is the story of my life by livisan (This song accurately describes her struggles)

My Song: “Hammers and Strings” by Jack’s Mannequin made me worth something to myself by Writer Selbe (She found reassurance in a song that sounds like it was written for her)

My Song: “I’ll Be There For You” showed me that high school friendships weren’t going anywhere by KL94 (High school graduations brought bittersweet feelings)

My Song: “I Will Wait For You” by Connie Francis reminds me of my childhood promise by ShaunaMarieJ (She made an important promise to her grandmother)

My Song: “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz by iJulestheWorld (A Yale rejection made this teen stumble over her “life plan”)

My Song: “Shattered” (by Trading Yesterday), just like my amnesiac ex-best friend’s memory by KuronoxShizaya (Her friend suffered a terrible accident and was left with few memories)

My Song: The album “Tennessee” saved me from myself by amanda.tucker (She turned to bad decisions after an unexpected breakup)

My Song: “Till I Collapse” by Eminem was my lifeline in tenth grade by thocho23 (He struggled with adapting to a new school 10,000 miles from home)

My Song: My love song made by the universe by AlyRose (This song can’t be accurately described)

Music and Life - StageofLife.com writing contestSemi-Finalists (in no particular order):

My Song: “The Christmas Song”, sung by Nat King Cole, fills my mind with wonderful family memories and life lessons by momaloft (She hopes to share life lesson with her children and grandchildren)

My Song: “Taking You Home” by Don Henley was the perfect wedding song for Sue and I by Tom_Leskiw (He searched for the perfect song for a second marriage)

My Song: “Citizen Soldier” by 3 Doors Down: It’s Me by derrick.jayska (This song calmed him down when he was deploying overseas)

My Song: “Can’t You See”

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