We may wonder what real impact music has in a society that values practicality. High Note Foundation at UCLA proves that this intangible art form plays an irreplaceable role in our communities. The club president, Emily Hao, a fourth-year psychobiology student, said this student-run organization serves local communities with their performances, bringing the uplifting power of music to various audiences at retirement homes, hospitals and homeless shelters.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand the language of the music, you can still enjoy it and find connection through that,“ Hao said, “whether that’s uplifting your mood or just the joy in seeing the musician enjoy their performance.”
High Note has spread the joy of music to many communities in the area. Previously, the club has partnered with the Ronald Reagan Hospital and performed at local homeless shelters in Santa Monica. An exciting upcoming project for High Note during this winter quarter is a performance in retirement homes near Westwood.
Third-year psychology student Olivia Dansby, who also serves as the finance director and a singer for High Note, explained how the club loves interacting with the older community in Los Angeles and is always delighted to spread joy to them. She also noted that many seniors arrive appearing tired or withdrawn but are visibly rejuvenated after the performance; the audience will come up and express their appreciation, allowing Dansby to see the impact of the club’s music.
“A lot of our performers’ favorite time is after the concert when they come up to us,” Hao said, “and oftentimes they either tell us how touched they were, how special the concert was to them or they’re just complimenting the talent of the musicians.”
Dansby and Hao both said that High Note aims to target underprivileged communities which usually lack live music experience, social interaction and social engagement. Retirement homes have been their main focus, but they are looking forward to branching out in more directions and reaching a larger variety of audiences.
High Note Foundation performs a wide variety of music, including jazz, classical and pop hits. Dansby noted that audiences in the retirement home generally respond better to classical music and songs from their time, like The Beatles, or music with jazz influences, like Laufey.
The fundamental principle for deciding what to perform is whether the music resonates with the audience; emotional connection and uplifting messages are central to their song choices. This quarter, High Note will cater to the retired community, focusing on old, nostalgic comfort songs that the residents can connect with, Hao explained.
“A lot of [the patients] may have memory issues or other cognitive or physical disabilities… but music is something that can bring them joy as an audience member even if they can’t physically or mentally participate in it,” Emily Duncan, a third year molecular, cell and developmental biology student and the education outreach project/board intern of the High Note Foundation, said.
Besides spreading joy to underprivileged communities, High Note Foundation also builds a supportive community for the musicians themselves. As a classically trained violinist, the club president explained that High Note focuses on the enjoyment side of music rather than perfection, creating a less stressful environment than auditions or competitions would. Dansby mentioned how she values the deeper dialogue and connection she feels with her audiences now compared to her previous experience performing in larger venues, where she could not see the audiences’ faces. As a STEM major, Duncan said that having a creative outlet eases stress, prepares a positive mindset and makes life feel more manageable for her.
Hao said the power of music as a universal language may be larger than what we usually imagine. High Note enables people from various backgrounds to come together to play music and develop a unique experience with it, which has made her respect and appreciate music even more profoundly.
When thinking about impact, many people believe that only tremendous contributions can change the world. But Hao believes that impact starts with small, meaningful connections— connections that can be made through music. And while some may believe that science and technology impact human wellbeing more than music, future therapist Dansby asserted her belief that music can have a strong impact on one’s mental health.
“I think it’s so important to continue live music,” Dansby said. “I’ve seen in person the impacts it has… I’ve heard it and I’ve lived it, so I can vouch for that.”
