Our lives can be so complicated, demanding, stressful, and emotionally charged. Our work, families, extended families, bills, politics, and even situations on the other side of the world, all affect how we feel, think and act every day. Can something as simple and uncomplicated as music make a difference?

All of this stress also affects the future generation. While in the past many if not most mothers were able to stay at home and focus on raising children and providing a supportive home environment, today many young children spend their days in crowded daycare environments and many older children return home from school to empty, unattended homes.

What the long-term effects of this will be on this next generation remain to be seen. This lack of one-on-one adult supervision and mentorship, combined with the atmosphere of stress when parents are in the home, is already reflected in the huge numbers of juveniles and young adults confined within juvenile halls and the adult prison system.

I know that something as uncomplicated as music in the home can make a difference. I was raised in a home filled with classical music, and in addition to the actual sharing of music, music communicated in the absence of words. When you enter a home filled with beautiful music, you are immediately filled with a calm, soothing feeling of warmth, caring, joy, and peace.

With the addition of music, the home becomes a refuge, a nest, a comforting retreat, a place of safety, renewal and reconnection with family and family values. Where there is relaxing music, there is loving support for healing and rejuvenation, wellbeing and rest.

The music we here at DanielKobialka.com are giving away in our current contest is perfect for relaxation and renewal for the whole family. Afternoon of a Fawn takes the listener to a quiet dreamy forest afternoon,  imagining the sun’s rays filtering through a green canopy overhead, birds dancing through the treetops, wildlife darting from tree trunk to tree trunk, lazily drifting off again into dreamland in the cool shade.

Harmony of Mind and Body: a MARI Experience gives you two options: listen to the soft voice of Dr. Susan Mandel as she reads her poetry with my music in the background, and/or simply listen to the 2nd CD with only Dvorak’s Going Home Medley, Bach’s Air on a G-String, and my own composition, Mystique.

One of Dr. Mandel’s cardiac rehabilitation patients commented on these CDs:

“Mr. Kobialka’s music soothes my soul. If only everyone could understand what a wonderful part music can play in one’s life. My body just seems to unwind as I listen.”

A customer who recently purchased “Afternoon of a Fawn” wrote:

“when i found your site… i saw that there were many newer collections but i was literally praying that you all would get the early works up, and lo and behold i just was browsing the other day, and BINGO! Afternoon of a Fawn.. i ALMOST fell off my chair, i was so glad…Daniel’s interpretations are truly heavenly, and I am so fortunate that long ago I happened to stumble on his music on WQXR, which led me down my own path of intensely enjoying how he has almost ‘re-invented the wheel’… so-to-speak…i hardly if ever take the time to write a recording artist, but herein we have a very special and talented musician.”

So please, remember that something as seemingly small and almost too easy to do as listening to music can make a huge difference in your life, your home, and through you, in the world. And it is so heartwarming to hear of your experiences with music, so I encourage you to share.

What role does listening to music in your home play? How does your family enjoy music together?