Our group went and observed the Wednesday night chapel service at High Point University. Carefully, we took notes and observed the spiritual community that was present. Upon arriving, I immediately observed elements which are common in worship culture. I assumed there was a central culture since I’ve noticed everyone doing the same motions with their hands, morally they were also standing up. Everyone was singing the same words, and honestly I had recognized those words since I had attended Christian high school. If there was one word to describe the elations of the people in worship, I would say it was safe or relaxed. I noticed everyone had a sense of peace in their faces but also motivated as they sing in unison. Since mostly everyone’s eyes were closed it was kind of difficult to assume that this was a single community, but given that they were all searching for sanctuary following the same mannerisms assuming community. There was a wide variety of emotions dispersed throughout the room and one girls face I saw tears, yet another boys face I saw smiles. It’s safe to say all these emotions were positive, but that’s quite interesting given that most communities always consist of happy members and sad members, yet in this room it was a common sense of happiness yet different interpretations of it. Since people both sitting and standing, knew the words to the song, and I feel like they were together on another level per se. Perhaps the lyrics brought them back to a nostalgic moment, or perhaps the lyrics made them feel closer by reciting it, kind of like when we recite the national anthem. Or another example is like when you do the Pledge of Allegiance in elementary school and notice that if you don’t follow along with the rest of the crowd, you’ll stand out. Though there had to be something more, all of this puzzled me. It was just kind of confusing to try to decipher why people would come to our location every week and sing the same songs over and over again just to wait for the next week to do the same thing over and over again. This is a question that still puzzles my brain, but all though all of my questions were answered during just this one visit, it is safe to say that High Point experienced many people in peace, which could be their safe haven or their scape for the week. I am not trying to make direct links to this as to a psychologist through therapy, but I feel that people and their body language and in their repetitive singing come to find a certain relief from external tensions.

Our group had the opportunity to interview a few weekly chapel attendees. The girls we met described themselves as musical people, who have been singing and enjoying music for their entire lives, so they find music within church services to be very beneficial to their lives and spirituality. At the service, the attendees feel that it is an engaging and relaxing environment with the music, while helping them to reflect on what message has been shared at the service. The music can help people to feel powerful enough to go out and spread the message to others. The people we interviewed told us that they had grown up and always loved Christian music, with a good percentage of chapel attendees coming from Southern Baptist backgrounds, where a lot of hymns are sung. However, a lot of the younger generations that attend chapel now are trying to incorporate their loves of Contemporary Christian music, which adds notes and lyrics that just hit those different vibes of heart strings for them in their souls. Since they have started their involvement within the chapel community here at High Point University, the HPU musical leaders in the community have provided large varieties of music like hymns and contemporary, while still finding and creating music that relates to the message being shared at any service. As for the environment, it is worshipful and peaceful when music is played and sung. The chapel attendees all sing along with the worship team, close their eyes, and take in the lyrics, maximizing their intake of spirituality. The people we interviewed left us with the notion that chapel services are beautiful times to listen and reflect on what they are singing about, which is the Savior.

Music overall has a different effect on anyone. No matter what you're feeling at a particular time, a song will most likely be able to change that. Music creates an atmosphere for its listeners and can make people act a certain way also. This has been something we have focused on during our class time, but also something that became extremely evident to us after attending the Wednesday night chapel.

Churches are known as spiritual places that are considered sacred for many people. In church everyone in the audience seems to forget about their outside lives and come together as one for a specific cause. The music played at this church event opened so many emotions for the audience, and it was amazing to see something like that. We were able to watch people gather their emotions of sadness, empowerment, and others just in awe of something they feel so deeply about. The music was able to help us feel connected to everyone there and was able to bring everyone together. Although we all entered the event coming from different places an hour before, and different areas of life, this chapel event brought us together as a community would.

After attending the event, our group had gotten together to discuss the experience we had all just shared collectively. Some of us are more religious than others, and had attended events like this prior, but we all agreed that it was an amazing time. We’ve shared with each other how the event affected one another, and in conclusion we realized just how important music is in the everyday world. We had also brought up how music has the ability to set a particular mood for an environment. An event like this was really able to emphasize the different emotions music brings out in humans by displaying a wide range. This event was a huge eye opener for our group and an experience we definitely will never forget.

Our group had a wonderful opportunity to visit the John and Bobbie Wolfe concert series in the Botanical Gardens in Kernersville. As soon as we stepped foot in the atmosphere, there was an immediate sense of vibrancy. The event lasted from about 6:30-8:30pm. This musical group has hosted many bands in the gardens of Kernersville. It was a very well prepared and planned event due to it starting on time and finishing on time. We arrived there about fifteen minutes early and noticed the place already packed. The audience was mostly of elderly couples and families currently living in the area. Folks would arrive early to meet some neighbors and have a conversation. The concert happened in a big and beautiful garden, with lots of grassy land. It was evident that they set aside some of the garden space for this night. Displayed at the front was a small stage surrounded by plants and flowers. The provided space gives a neutral setting. Guests were sitting in lawn chairs. Posters were displayed on stage for advertising. It was evident that this event was a blending of community and organization.

As we entered the event, we were welcomed immediately. The workers at the front shared how happy they were to see us there that night. We were also offered chairs for free if we wanted. It was a great feeling to feel welcomed and a part of their community, even though we aren't technically from here. After attending the event, one of the best parts was honestly the atmosphere the concert was able to create. The event was informal and consisted of lawn chairs and everyday attire. Our group felt a little out of place at first, because the crowd was mostly elderly couples. Everybody also seemed to have already known each other. We soon got comfortable when we realized just how friendly everybody truly was. It was enjoyable to watch so many smiles forming and the couple showing love to one another. The couples held hands and bopped their heads as the music played on. Laughter flooded the air as the event went on, and everybody seemed to really enjoy the band. It was an amazing experience, and we all really enjoyed watching the atmosphere shift as the band performed.

We got the opportunity to interview some locals, some of whom shared the event information with us, interesting us to attend. They have been attending the event for about five years, and they are very well-known in the community of Kernersville, greeting everyone around. The people we interviewed enjoy listening to Bluegrass music, and said, “the events expose citizen to different forms of music,” and they like to support the events held at the Botanical Garden venue. The community and setting are a great place to socialize and meet new people, and the community looks forward to these events. Live music concerts like this bring people in the community together. Members in the local community that attend these events grew up in the area and know pretty much everyone. People get excited about these events and love attending them all. Community is very important to the attendees, and the many couples at the concert together seem to be country-loving, laid-back people. The specific qualities of music that encourage this environment seem to consist of face-paced and welcoming for the audience. There is a friendly feel in the atmosphere.