Music is Medicine for Camille Johnson

Article by · January 1, 2018

Music is one of the best medicines for your mind, proven to help develop productivity, mood, and mental health. This is especially true for orchestral music, which is used to alter moods and improve brain activity.

Camille Johnson, a cello player in the Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts orchestra, takes this information to a whole other level. From the oldies until now she is influenced by all types of music, and seeing others her age working to do great themselves inspires her to work harder on her cello skills.

Camille says health to her is a free mind and a free spirit. A free mind is the ability to believe in yourself and what you do. For example, she says, “As a black musician there’s always going to be negativity and some type of tribulations. But if you remember that what you’re doing is beautiful and keep your mind and spirit free and full of hope you’re bound to succeed.” She says this because throughout her career many people told her to stop playing in the orchestra because she would never make it. So, Camille took it upon herself to believe in what she was doing, and that gave her purpose and a reason to carry on. To see others smile because of what she’s apart of–no matter if she knows them or not–keeps her mind clear from all the negativity and hardships.

Through all of her musical career’s trials and tribulations she says what helps her maintain her healthy relationship with her music and passion is remembering where and when she started. Camille began playing the cello in middle school when she auditioned for the magnet program at M.D. Roberts Middle School. She says she had no idea what the cello was and that learning it was a gradual process for her. But she knew the moment she heard the beauty of the instrument that

they would have a long relationship. When she’s down and out she says being around people who also love music as much as she does keeps it fresh, fun, and exciting. It always brings her back to the love she has for it.

As stated before, music can be a major key in one’s health. Orchestral music helps alter someone’s mood for a calmer more happier state, which is linked to more productivity. This is because when you are in a positive mood you are willing to do more. Practicing for at least two or three hours a day after homework, Camille relieves herself from the day’s hardships. The soothing and beautiful sound of her cello helps her think and keep calm after work and pressure from school. Overall, Camille is extremely skilled in the musical arts and knows how to use it.


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