JUNE 11, 2026
This year, Healthy Teen Network’s conference theme is Made to Belong, highlighting the importance of connecting, finding community, and coming together. This April, I had the opportunity to put this theme into practice by leading an activity during our annual staff gathering that embodied that feeling. Part of the activity involved making a song together, so armed with maracas, tambourines, and egg shakers, I encouraged my coworkers to make a beat. The goal wasn’t to create the most beautiful sound in the world; it was to come together and make something unique and have fun!
We worked together as a team, made fun memories, and created something special. That’s the power of music.
As I looked around the room and saw my coworkers shaking their instruments, laughing with one another and trying their hardest to stay on beat, I could feel something shift. Did we make the next trending song of 2026? Not even close! But we made something that was ours. We worked together as a team, made fun memories, and created something special. That’s the power of music.
Music has always been a big part of my life. I first joined band and began playing various instruments in elementary school. In 4th grade, my cello was bigger than I was, and I was dedicated to lugging it around school like a champ. I have fond memories of sharing my earbuds with friends on the bus ride home from middle school. In high school, I took to the stage and sang my heart out alongside friends as we performed musicals like Into the Woods and The Wizard of Oz.
Music as connection
Even now, as an adult, music continues to play an important role in my life. It helps me connect with others and build meaningful bonds, which is especially valuable when the world around me can feel scary and uncertain.
Unsurprisingly, there is a scientific reason why music makes us feel good and draws us to one another. Researchers believe it is directly related to rhythm. Moving to a beat helps synchronize our brains and bodies. When we do that in a group, it can strengthen our sense of community, release dopamine and endorphins (the neurotransmitters responsible for pleasure and mood boosts), and create social cohesion.
One study by Idil Kokal asked two-year-olds to synchronize their dancing to a drumbeat, and the results were insightful and adorable. To keep it simple, when one child started to lose focus or drift off beat, the other would jump in to help. These children began as strangers, but dancing together transformed them into the cutest dance team you’ve ever seen. If that’s not a great example of the power of community within music, I don’t know what is!
Music as community
One of my favorite parts about music is how deeply it is woven into so many cultures. As a Black American, I find that music runs deep in my culture and has connected my people for generations. A perfect example are my family’s summer cookouts. During the summer, friends and family gather around and enjoy food, games, and of course, music! The songs that incorporate line dances are my favorite, because as soon as the first notes of a song begin to play, everyone rushes to the dance floor. It’s a magical moment. You can feel the energy in the air as everyone dances in sync. People are laughing, jumping around, and even if you get a move wrong, there’s no shame, just laughter (and maybe some light teasing!). Grandparents, uncles, teenagers, and even toddlers wiggle to the beat, performing dances that have been passed down from generation to generation. After the dance is over, we giggle, hug, and share stories, deepening our connections while music continues to play in the background.
If you are inspired to find community through music, there are so many ways to do it!
If you are inspired to find community through music, there are so many ways to do it! Concerts are an easy way to find people. I can’t count the number of times I’ve made friends while waiting in a long concert line or turned to the stranger next to me to sing along to our favorite song, instantly connected by our shared love of the same artist.
If loud concert venues aren’t your thing, consider checking out community events in your city. Many communities host a variety of music-related gatherings, from drum circles to live jazz performances. Maybe you’re like me and played an instrument in school, but it’s now tucked away in a closet. This could be the perfect time to brush up on your skills, invite some friends over for a jam session, or sit down at a public piano and see who stops to listen or chat. Music is beautiful because it transcends culture, age, and language, so you never know who you will meet and connect with.
If you’re interested in finding belonging in music with us this year, consider attending our conference in San Diego!
Photo By: Eric Prouzet
