I find it interesting that a New Years resolution is almost the opposite of a “resolution” in musical terms.

The New Years resolution is a commitment to a new change – a promise to do things a certain way from now on. A musical resolution is a movement of parts from dissonance into harmony. Resolution doesn’t abandon the voice that is causing tension, it shifts it into harmony, giving a sense of release.

I’ve decided to make my New Years resolutions musical this year. Instead of making commitments now to hold in place going forward, I will listen for dissonance within and once I hear those voices, bring them into harmony.

Another life lesson I’ve learned from musical resolution is that harmony is so much sweeter BECAUSE of the dissonance leading up to it.

Jage