While walking down the hallways of Roosevelt Intermediate School, you won’t just hear chatter and conversation, you’ll hear a wide variety of different newly released songs. Up-beat, top charting songs are very popular throughout Roosevelt, and it comes as no surprise that students across all grades have a somewhat similar taste in music. You may be wondering why, why doesn’t that come as a surprise? The reason for that is largely because music is something students can use to express themselves.
Teenagers can use music to share their emotions and feelings with others, and it is an easy way for them to do so. Research done by PhyscologyToday.com states, “We are discovering music on our own for the first time when we’re young,’ he told me, ‘often through our friends. We listen to the music they listen to as a badge, as a way of belonging to a certain social group. That melds the music to our sense of identity.” Since the teenage brain is undergoing so many changes, music tends to be one of the most significant parts of a teenagers life. The music they listen to can help them find out so much about themselves, and can help them discover who they enjoy hanging out with.
This truth about music was revealed when students in all grades at Roosevelt were interviewed about their music taste. It was concluded that most girls have a similar taste in music throughout all grades, listening to mostly pop music, with a common favorite artist. After interviewing 6th graders Riley Meo and Emma Paterson, it was discovered that they both really enjoy listening to hip-pop music, and they share a favorite artist, Tate McRae. When asked if she and her friends have a similar taste in music Riley said, “Yes, we all listen to mostly the same songs, and almost all my friends love Tate McRae.” Along with this, 8th grader Vanessa Norton also shared that her favorite artist is Tate McRae. Vanessa expresses how she feels about music in general, she stated, “Music can really help you bond with people, and it can help you make new friends.” With all this information, it was obvious that Tate McRae is a common favorite among middle school girls, and students believe that their love for her music is something that plays a big role in their social life.
Although most teenage girls listen to the same music, do teenage boys have similar tastes in music too? Teenage boys at Roosevelt shared that they mostly listen to music when they’re with their friends. Across all grades, rap music was the most popular answer when boys were asked what their favorite genre of music is. 6th graders Brooks Murphy and Finn Carolan stated that they love to listen to Travis Scott, and really like rap music. They also expressed that since they love listening to music with their friends, it’s something they use to connect, making music a central part of their hangouts. Another student who loves listening to music, 7th grader Gio Dipietro, feels that listening to music helps him to stay in touch with others around him. Whether it’s high energy rap, or more laid back songs, music is a way Gio can relate to his classmates.
Among all teenagers at Roosevelt, everyone has something in common, and that’s music. Music is more than just lyrics and beats. Music is a way to form relationships and a way to connect with others. From hip-pop to rap, these genres are more than just what students at Roosevelt are listening to. They are tools that students are using to express themselves, and using to find new friendships. The music that teenagers are listening to can tell you so much about their character and who they fit in with.