In today’s financial landscape, the terms “wealthy” and “rich” are often used interchangeably. However, they signify different financial states and lifestyles with distinct consequences for individuals who embody them. Understanding these differences can help guide financial decisions and long-term planning.

Defining Wealthy vs. Rich

Being “rich” typically refers to having a high income or significant financial resources. Rich individuals may earn substantial salaries, bonuses, or inheritances, and their wealth is often tied to active income. They might live luxurious lifestyles, spending heavily on cars, homes, and vacations. However, this wealth can be fleeting if not managed properly.

On the other hand, being “wealthy” involves having sustainable financial security and independence. Wealthy individuals possess assets that generate passive income, such as investments in stocks, real estate, or businesses. Their wealth is characterized by stability and the ability to maintain their lifestyle without relying solely on active income. Wealth is more about net worth and long-term financial health than short-term earnings.

Consequences of Being Rich

Rich individuals can enjoy the perks of high incomes, but they may also face significant financial stress. High expenses and lifestyle inflation can lead to a precarious financial situation if their income stream is interrupted. Furthermore, without disciplined saving and investing, they may struggle to build lasting wealth. The psychological impact of maintaining a high-spending lifestyle can also lead to burnout and dissatisfaction.

Consequences of Being Wealthy

Wealthy individuals, in contrast, benefit from financial security and peace of mind. Their diversified assets provide multiple income streams, reducing the risk associated with economic fluctuations or job loss. This financial stability allows for greater flexibility in life choices, such as early retirement or pursuing passions without the fear of financial instability.

Building Wealth: Key Strategies

Invest Wisely: Wealthy individuals often invest in appreciating assets. This can include stock markets, real estate, or owning a business. Diversification helps in managing risks.

Live Below Your Means: Controlling expenses and avoiding lifestyle inflation is crucial. Wealth is built by saving and investing excess income rather than spending it all.

Financial Education: Understanding financial principles, such as compound interest and the importance of asset allocation, can significantly enhance one’s ability to build wealth.

Long-Term Planning: Wealth is accumulated over time. Setting long-term financial goals and creating a strategic plan to achieve them is essential.

The distinction between being wealthy and rich lies in sustainability and security. While rich individuals may enjoy the trappings of a high income, wealthy individuals focus on building a stable financial foundation that provides long-term benefits. Understanding and embracing these differences can lead to more informed financial decisions and a more secure financial future.

As singers, we must know our vocal range. Basically, our vocal range is all those notes we can sing, from the lowest to the highest, and it is represented as follows: the lowest note you sing – the highest note you sing. Ex: C3-G5. 

Now, how do you know what your vocal range is? 

1. Take your guitar or piano (it can be GarageBand) and locate or play the middle C (C4), and sing the note with “ah”.

2. Play the notes until you get to the lowest note you can do and write it down on a sheet of paper. 

3. Play the notes again until you reach the highest note you can sing, and then mark it on the same sheet of paper. 

4. Put the two notes together by separating them with a dash. Ex: C3-G5.

And that’s it. You now have your vocal range. If you want to know what kind of vocal range you have, wait for the next post!

Vocal Range: How to Find Yours in 1 Minute (Or Less)!

Music and poetry have been two of the main forms of expression throughout history. From Pablo Neruda and Mario Benedetti to Freddie Mercury and Elton John, the lyrics of their poems and songs have accompanied us throughout our lives, identifying us or helping us understand our feelings. Although music and poetry are different in terms of composition and expression, they are united by the simple fact that they are timeless.

First of all, composing a poem is not the same as composing a song. Starting with the fact that poems are considered more literary and that poetry is created based on the poet’s deepest experiences, According to Olivia (2011), “Poetry is an artistic tool that uses language to make a composition that says more in a few words and has a much deeper meaning than just words” (para. 2). However, on the other hand, we have the music, which is composed thanks to the stories or experiences of the composer or someone else, and usually the song lyrics are much more direct, for the better understanding of the listener. When reading poems and listening to music, you can tell the difference, since in poems there are usually more complex words or phrases than in the lyrics of a song, which are usually more direct, common, and sometimes informal.

Moreover, the sentiments expressed in poems and in music are different in depth. As I said before, it is very common for poetry to deal with some internal experience of the author, and thus reflect it in a deeper and more complex way in the lyrics, using phrases or words that are unusual or much more formal than those that are used. What do we see when we listen to a song? When a song is composed, what is sought is that the listener understands it and identifies with its history. So many times we notice that the songs, although they also reflect the feelings and stories of the composer, are captured in a way that is easier to understand and learn, using phrases and words that we hear and use every day.

Furthermore, the most precious thing about music and poetry is that both are timeless. Years and even decades may pass, but when we talk about music and poetry, it is very difficult for us to stop enjoying them as we do now. In fact, on the Radio Art Blog, Alexia Milopoulou (2021) explains that some famous rappers today use the alliteration method used by Dickinson to write song lyrics. Thanks to the fact that we managed to unite music and poetry, they have managed to complement each other so that composers can use them to create the art that they share with us today. And I hope that as the years continue to pass, this union between music and poetry does not die, since it is something so precious and so useful for our lives that it would be a real shame if one day it lost the recognition it has today.

To summarize, we understand that despite the different ways of composing and expressing themselves in music and poetry, both will remain timeless. Music and poetry are precious arts, and I consider them the most beautiful ways to express ourselves. Let’s not let this art die.

Sources:

Milopoulou, A. (2021, July 01). Music and poetry, a timeless relationship. Radio Art. https://www.radioart.com/blog/music-and-poetry,-a-timeless-relationship

         Olivia. (2011, November 9). Difference between poetry and song. DifferenceBetween.com. https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-poetry-and-vs-song/

Whenever I ask myself if music really helps me when I need it, the answer is always yes. Music is indispensable in my daily life. It keeps me active, relaxed, and energetic, although sometimes it makes me sentimental or makes me have mixed feelings. It all depends on the type of song you listen to. That is why I firmly believe that music influences the way we think and the way we express ourselves, as well as the way we behave.

First of all, the music we listen to influences our mood and our thoughts during the day. Certainly, when we listen to a song that talks about love, we feel like we are in the clouds or thinking about our significant other, but when we listen to a song about sadness or disappointment, we quickly feel sad, even if at that moment we are not going through anything sad or disappointing. That’s how powerful music is. According to an experiment from the University of Groningen (2011), “… music turned out to have a great influence on what the subjects saw: smileys that matched the music were identified much more accurately. And even when no smiley at all was shown, the subjects often thought they recognized a happy smiley when listening to happy music and a sad one when listening to sad music” (para. 3).

         In addition, music, thanks to its lyrics, allows us to express ourselves through them when words are missing. We composers mostly write our lyrics inspired by our feelings or situations that have shaped our lives, because our goal is for the people who hear those lyrics to identify with them and perhaps express their feelings to others through our song. I always like to say that when words fail, music speaks, because it’s so true. One time, “Enchanted” by Taylor Swift helped me say exactly what I needed to, since I couldn’t get the words out. For this reason, music is magic, and when words are lacking, music will help us express ourselves in the best possible way. 

Moreover, music has an impressive influence on the way we behave. Many people think that music is just a type of entertainment that only serves to sing and dance, and that it has absolutely nothing to do with the way we behave, although the reality is that it does significantly influence our behavior. Certainly, not all songs are about love or sadness. In fact, most of today’s famous songs talk about violence, drugs, and alcohol, and even denigrate women in horrible ways. A study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (2003) showed that music with violent lyrics can incite aggressive and violent thoughts and even contribute to hostile behavior. My dad always tells me that when he went to parties when he was young, the music was about love or having fun, and thanks to that, there weren’t as many fights or arguments in the streets as there are now. Nowadays, when popular music talks about violence, drugs, and alcohol, it is very common to see fights and arguments in the streets, since those songs incite that kind of behavior. For that reason, I honestly prefer the music from before. When Michael Jackson, along with other artists, sang “We Are The World”, or The Beatles brought out “Hey Jude”, even when slow dancing with “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” by Paul Anka. If all the music of today was like before, I’m sure we would see more people united, more friendly, and we would see fewer fights in the streets.

To conclude, music certainly has the power to influence our thoughts, how we express ourselves and our behavior. I think that if we set out to make old music famous again, which speaks of love, friendship, having fun, and being at peace, we would become better people, and as a result, we would see less violence in the streets. I believe that this problem affects everyone and must be resolved in some way, but that change must begin with ourselves. Let’s bring back that music.