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Carla Villanueva
Professor Kane
English 115 mw
1 December 2016
E2.3: The Power of Music
As music penetrates almost every aspect of our lives, it certainly affects the quality of the
life we live. because it transcends beyond their differences and develops their shared interest. A
specific band to represent this is a capella group, Pentatonix, which they represent five very
different vocal ranges and personalities that come together to make music. Through their unity as
a group, they are also able to create unity amongst their fans as they go to their concerts to
experience what they have created together. Though people do have different perceptions of
reality, people are able to create a composite reality through music in which they can interact
productively
In such a diverse world where different perceptions of reality often clash, music goes past
language barriers and unites people of all cultural backgrounds. Through music, people come
together to make the world a more harmonious place to live in. As Steven Pinker says in
Defense of Dangerous Ideas, We contribute to our communities...because we feel them in our
bones. We contribute to our musical communities because we are attracted to things that make
us feel good about ourselves. As humans, we are always eager to be a part of something and a
musical community is what does that justice. Generally speaking, people are able to get along
better if they are in a pleasant mood and music contributes to this state of mind: Listening to
pleasurable music triggers the release of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter associated with
feelings of ecstasy and satisfaction(Harborough Mail). Nobody can deny the scientific aspect of

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how music affects our minds and that makes it have such a profound influence on us. It is such a
universal experience that a study by the University of Exeter and Tokyo University of the Arts
has found that songs from around the world tend to share features that promote bonding and
coordination amongst social groups. With the growing numbers of musical artists around the
world, people are able to listen to whomever they choose.
A capella group, Pentatonix, show this unity with themselves as they use their differences
to make music. This group consists of five very different people with various personalities,
cultural backgrounds, and perceptions of reality. Before eventually coming together to become
who they are today, they started off with only three members, finding it difficult to find their
sound because they didnt have a bass or vocal percussion. They recruited Avi Kaplan, as their
bass lead and Kevin Olusola as their lead vocal percussion in 2010 before entering in a televised
singing competition, The Sing-Off, which they ended up winning in 2011. With each member
bringing a unique sound to the table, Pentatonix is able to create invigorating music different
than any other artist, as the only instrument they use are their vocals. Their music is defined by
their own arrangement style and a diverse range of vocal percussions and bass lines. Their
various vocal ranges coming together in such a harmonious way has certainly proven to have
been a catalyst for their extremely successful career. With creating unity amongst themselves,
they have also created a community with other a capella groups. Arai and Pedlar (2003) said that
...the coming together of people around meaningful leisure is a potent illustration of community
community of celebration (192). Pentatonix collaborates often with other artists to strengthen
their community and to further enjoy their love for music. Utilizing their different vocal ranges,
they are able to unite and accomplish their one goalto make music.

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Fans of Pentatonix also can use a performer's persona to interpret their lives and relate it
to their own experience, which also brings diversity amongst their audience. Baritone lead, Scott
Hoying, and tenor lead, Mitch Grassi, both identify as gay, which many LGBTQ fans can
identify with. They have both been very outspoken about it and during their time in the Sing-Off,
they visited the offices of The Trevor Project which is a non-profit organization that focuses
on suicide prevention amongst LGBTQ youth. Kirstin Maldonado, the mezzo-soprano lead and
the only female in the group, is a Latina and is very proud of her family for creating a solid
platform for her to grow up in. She shows her roots often in her performances, especially in the
Sing-Off where she sang in Spanish. Avi Kaplan, who is the lead vocal bass in the group, talks
about how he was bullied for being Jewish, but is still very connected to his roots and celebrates
the the holidays as much as he can. The group does sing a lot of Christmas music during the
holidays and he says that he enjoys this type of music nevertheless. The fifth member of the
group, Kevin Olusola, the lead vocal percussionist, is an African-American and says that he
always feels accepted because he is a part of this group. The success of Pentatonix has helped
him positively influence fans all over the world. These differences bring together such a diverse
audience around the globe to share their love for Pentatonix.
Through this music that is created by their unity, they also create unity with their fans.
When fans go to a Pentatonix concert, they are all there to enjoy what the group has created and
form a community amongst themselves and as fans become more deeply immersed in the
subculture surrounding their favorite group, they can come to form meaningful relationships with
one another, oftentimes referred to as community(Justin Tyler Harmon 31). By being
surrounded by what they love, their bond with each other grows more as their connection with
the musical group grows. Pentatonixs lineup arrangements include mashups, covers, and even

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some of their original material, all of which their fans know word for word. The unity amongst
these fans is evident as they all sing together along with their favorite artists to show their
devoutness to this band. These fans are attracted to the music Pentatonix creates and as Jorn K.
Bramann states from Descartes: The Solitary Self, Through Newtons abstract
conceptualization, however, apples, oceans, and heavenly bodies all became essentially the
same: masses attracted by masses that move according to the same laws of gravitation (5).
Music affects every aspect of our lives no matter where we are. Despite having different
perceptions of reality, people find unity through their favorite musical artists and they share
passion in their songs. Pentatonix is an example of that passion and they also bring unity to their
own little group to positively influence their fans to gain unity as a community to enjoy music
altogether. Fans are able to put aside their differences as they can relate to an artists persona and
relate it to their own experience.

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Works Cited
Bramann, Jorn K. Descartes: The Solitary Self. The Educating Rita Workbook. Faculty.
Frostburg.edu. 2004 Web. 4 January 2016
Harmon, Justin T. Sound Affects: The Role of Music in Affecting Quality of Life., Texas
A&M University, Ann Arbor, 2015. pp. 31. ProQuest, doi: http://libproxy.csun.edu/l
login?url=http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.csun.edu/docview/1731911837?accountid
7285.
"Musical Medication: The Science Behind Music's Emotional Power." Harborough Mail. Sep 23
, Market Harborough (UK), 2013.http://libproxy.csun.edu/login?url=http://search. P
proquest.com.libproxy.csun.edu/docview/1434869127?accountid=7285.
Pinker, Steven. In Defense of Dangerous Ideas. Preface to Dangerous Ideas. Edge.org. Edge
Foundation. 29 April 2011. Web. 24. Aug. 2016. http://www.edge.org/conversations /
steven_ pinker-preface-to-dangerous-ideas