Music is emotion- the interpretation of emotion, the representation of emotion, the simulator of emotion. How many times have you heard a song, that completely changes your whole demeanor? It can greatly influence behavior, thought, and creativity- all stemming from the emotions and feelings it creates. Listening in itself, has helped me to get through some of the toughest of mental places. The ability to play an instrument, any given one- can be an indescribable experience. To be at one with something of the physical world, that is the key to the intangible is an amazing feeling.
Lastly, music is a universal concept. A well composed piece, even in a foreign language, can convey the innermost feelings of the composer. One can determine the purpose/message of a piece without any prior knowledge of the man who wrote it, the culture, or the language in which it is performed. Language barriers do not exist. Neither do cultural ones. The strings, keys, horns, and sound of a voice can overcome this all. Music overcomes our differences. Music is life.