Music has been a big part of my life. My wife’s uncle was a professional musician, both of her brother’s played instruments and her dad often played LP records on Sunday’s. I remember watching television with my mom, brother and sister on Saturday nights when I was a kid because my dad was out playing gigs. Music was played in our house more than the television. I could go on and I will. My wife and I met in high school band. Our kids took piano lessons and still play music.
The rule for our kids when they were younger and doing homework was that they could listen to music if it didn’t have words (this was my much smarter wife’s idea). For example, jazz or classical music. This gave them an appreciation of different kinds of music they may not have gotten otherwise.
There are a lot of studies that show how music benefits us physically, mentally, emotionally and socially.
No study is needed to see how music connects us socially. Anthems and upbeat music at a sporting event gets the crowd into a game or stirs them after a win. Hymns build a sense of community and spiritual connectedness in churches. Love songs help couples bond. Lullabies help parents bond with infants and put us to sleep.
Music can help memory and problem solving. In one study, people read a list of words either in silence or while listening to classical music. The group that listened to classical music remembered more words. The study also had people match numbers to geometrical shapes. The group that listened to music finished faster and more accurately.
Music can help our mental health. It has been shown that listening to music triggers the release of positive chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin.
Music can help with our mood. Many studies have shown that music can lower anxiety, specifically listening after a stressful event. One study showed that listening to music, specifically classical or jazz, had a positive effect on depression symptoms. If you don’t like classical or jazz and are more of a joiner, the same study showed that drum circles reduced depression symptoms. Studies have shown that sad songs can increase symptoms of depression. Sorry BB.
If that weren’t all enough, music can:
· Alter your breath rate
· Alter your heartrate
· Lower your blood pressure
· Reduce fatigue
· Boost exercise performance
· Help manage pain
With all the music streaming apps, it is easier than ever to listen. Put some nice music on while you eat or something without words while you read.
Comments