Students can discuss which emotions they feel and what makes them feel that way. The meaning of an utterance is often indicated by the tone of voice as well as the words. Music can imitate these tones to produce anger, fear, happiness and other emotions. The weeping willow tree is considered to be sad because it resembles the stooped over figure of a person. In a similar way, a slow descending chromatic bass line can convey sadness.
Funeral dirges are slow because they echo the slow procession of the people at a funeral.
Marches move briskly to match the energy of soldiers going to war. Some musical patterns and timbres are used to express particular emotions so often that we immediately associate them with that emotion. For example, minor keys often convey sadness. Similarly, trombones are often associated with solemn dignity and foreboding. Some researchers believe that the energy of the song can transfer itself to our bodies through induction.