Music
For quite some time, music has been embraced by teens as an emblem of personal and communal identity and a signifier of the times. Only a few decades ago, Elvis and the Beatles were considered renegade musicians. At the same time that many welcomed these artists, others scorned them. Nevertheless, they have assumed pivotal rolls in the history of Twentieth Century music.
Nowadays, teens have developed connections with other artists, who once again draw controversy. Many parents have expressed concerns about the type of music that their children listen to. Dissonant tones, loud noise, and vulgar lyrics are common sources of such irritation. Despite such concerns, it is important to realize that music is connected to the development of a teenager’s identity and thus must be carefully considered.
Music and Teens
Music may be present in teens’ lives in several capacities. Some teens may simply listen to their favorite songs once in a while. With others, however, it appears as if they are always toting portable CD players and/or blasting their stereos. However, a majority of teens watch the Music Television Network (MTV) and similar stations such as Video Hits-1 (VH-1). Teenagers listen to music as groups and as individuals. They buy CDs and form collections and mixes. Teenagers may also become involved in making their own music. Some may work at becoming more proficient at a particular instrument while others may choose to form a band or rock group. Both listening to music and making music are excellent experiences for the developing teenager. For many, the enjoyment of music is a communal experience—be it a group of friends forming a musical group or friends discussing their affinity for a certain type of music. In all situations, it is important for parents to talk with their children and attempt to understand how and why teens feel a connection to a particular genre. Refusing to do so or proclaiming disgust for such music will only result in a barrier between parent and child.
Concerns About Music
Many parents have expressed concern over the type of music that teenagers often favor. The Federal Trade Commission has also condemned the industry for continuing to market explicit music to young Americans. The lyrics may be vulgar and/or racist and/or sexist. The music videos may be clearly sexually suggestive. In a recent study, more than eighty percent of the central personalities in music videos were unquestionably aggressors—and these aggressors were three times more likely to be male than female. Also, proper techniques of conflict resolution may not be presented in this context. Of particular concern, though, is not necessarily a specific music video or set of lyrics—but rather the gender and racial roles that may be actively or passively presented in such characterizations.
If a teenager expresses interest in songs and/or music videos with questionable themes, it is important to have a frank discussion about his or her motivations to listen to such music or watch such videos. Do his friends enjoy such music? Does the teen listen because of the taboo lyrics? Does he understand what the music suggests? Teens often listen to certain types of music when they feel like such lyrics express their own personal quandaries. In this way, the music may be able to help express the teen’s personal frustration—with his or her family, friends, and life in general or specific.
Parents are often concerned as to whether listening to such lyrics or watching such music videos results in a teen’s carrying out discouraged behavior? This topic is hotly debated, and clearly, there are supporters of each side. Some studies have suggested that that there may be a link music videos and feelings about early or risky sexual activity. And others have shown a connection between such risky behavior and teens favoring heavy metal music. Nevertheless, it is problematic to try and isolate music as a source of a teenager’s poor behavior. Rather, music must be understood in a cultural context. One should consider the life led by the teen in a holistic manner. Music is simply one factor.
Other times, teens develop a type of idolatry for a pop star. Common in younger teens, such idolatry may manifest itself in several ways—for example: poster pin-ups, online chat groups, and concert attendance. An adolescent may want to know everything about a certain star or group. And with the advent of several teenage solo pop stars and groups, such fascination is becoming more common. Some teens may also develop crushes on such artists. These crushes are normal, and there should only be concern if the crush persists for an extended period of time, and/or it interferes with the teen’s daily life.
Health and Music
A significant danger related to listening to music is the possibility of hearing loss. It is estimated that over five million American children are experiencing some form of hearing loss. Earphones must be used with extreme care, as continual use at a high volume, promotes hearing loss. Such concern extends to rock concerts and stereo usage.
In addition, many teens express interest in attending concerts of their favorite artists or groups. Concerts for certain artists may be hot beds for drug, alcohol, and tobacco use. At these events, such illegal items are widely available for purchase by teens. Also, at some concerts, rowdy crowds may present significant hazards. Such crowds have resulted in mosh pits, thick crowds of people body-slamming near the stage at a concert. Mosh pits are extremely dangerous in that people risk being trampled. With throngs of people, concertgoers sometimes decide to partake in crowd surging and stage diving. All of these activities are very dangerous, and teenagers should not engage in this risky behavior. Before the concert, parents should discuss with their teens the potential hazards of attendance.
Learning about and enjoying music is one of the pleasures of a teenager’s development of a personal identity. There should always be an open dialogue between adolescents and parents about the meaning of such music. In this way, there will be better familial, communication, and most importantly, parents will be able to understand their maturing child better.
Related topics:
Anger, clothes, crushes, independence and rebellion, peer pressure, risk-taking, violence and aggression
