The Power and Benefits of Music 🎵

Music holds the power to lift us, soothe our souls, and transport us to new places

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Listening to music, a behavior deeply ingrained in human nature has been the subject of numerous scientific studies. These studies have consistently revealed the profound benefits of music on our mental and physical health. Music acts as a balm for the heart during life's dull moments when everything seems to be painted in shades of gray and when our hopes and dreams are dashed. It offers a respite from the monotony of everyday life, a liberating force that helps us navigate life's challenges and find peace and happiness.

Emotions

The power of music transcends mere entertainment, serving as a conduit for our deepest feelings and innermost thoughts. It can uplift and enlighten us, guiding us toward a greater understanding of ourselves. From intense amusement to overwhelming eroticism, from pure joy to heart-wrenching sadness,

the music evokes a range of emotions that pierce through our souls. With each note, we are transported into a world of beauty and vulnerability, where we confront our truths and achieve ultimate self-awareness. But beware, for music can also awaken dormant anxieties and fears, leaving us in heightened defiance and pumped-up aggression. Indeed, music is a force to be reckoned with, shaping our perceptions and emotions in ways we never thought possible.

I bob my head and dance in my seat most of the time. Now. Yes. As I am writing this. Often, I have no specific memories tied to the song in question. If you ask me why the music affects me, I might point to a particular guitar or vocal inflection, but mostly anything bass. Bass simulates heartbeat. It brings the music to life with the vibration it creates to feel physically and deep in the soul. I like hearing the overtone sequence for the bass notes, the sympathetic harmonic frequencies that give a sound its character and texture. I like the feeling of my brain filling in the root.

Bass defines music as a roadmap that keeps us informed about what is happening and what’s about to happen inside a musical composition. It adds structure, the binding agent for every part of a song. Turns chaos into melodic overtures, helping to make sense of the rest of the instruments.

The benefits

Music can also benefit psychological well-being. Research from the University of Missouri published in The Journal of Positive Psychology found for the first time that upbeat music can positively affect our well-being.

I am a binge listener. When I love a song or track, I listen to it on a loop for days or weeks, at home, in my ears, in my truck. My truck has surround sound — nineteen speakers, one in the back of my head, an enclosed subwoofer, which run on fourteen amplifier channels. No amount of traffic can cause me discomfort while playing music at a high volume.

As I delve into the world of my novel or any other written work, my trusty headphones and curated playlist become my loyal companions. Without them, my brain quickly becomes restless and refuses to cooperate. Even during my workouts, music is a must. According to experts from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, USA, listening to music while exercising can trigger the release of endorphins - those feel-good chemicals that increase endurance and boost mood.

The rhythmic beats and melodies serve as a pleasant distraction from the physical discomfort of pushing oneself during a workout. After all, who hasn't found themselves running just a little bit further or working a little bit harder when the tempo of their favorite song picks up?

Melodiousness as discourse and connection

Music helps forge social bonding and solidity. If we think about dance and ritual in general, it creates group coherence, and music stimulates that. When the world went into lockdown in March 2020, many people were surprised to see apartment dwellers on balconies playing music with one another. To me, it made perfect sense: A discourse through music. We need sociality, bonding, and compassion in our lives, and music is one of the best avenues for getting at this need.

The concept of music as discourse originally stemmed from the realization that music stimulates the organs in the ear. In this regard, it fits the definition of discourse because it conveys information to a discerning listener. Music’s ability to enhance emotional states like serenity, regret, or exuberance has led some researchers to title musical discourse as the “music of the emotions.”

Most experts relate music to a highly subjective discourse and interpreted by culture, quality, and personal emotional composition. For example, if a class of students listens to Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, one may find it melancholy, be moved to tears of joy, and still, another can be compassionate. Studies also show that some people have a significant lack of musical listening ability, which, by all accounts, renders them deaf to music as discourse, as a blind person would be to the written word.

Music as therapy

The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) reports that music therapy programs can be designed to achieve goals such as managing stress, enhancing memory, and alleviating pain.

Years ago, I was diagnosed with immunity misfunction, which causes my external extremities to contract during winter, resulting in frozen fingers. This diagnosis is called Raynaud disease. My doctor stressed that I should do three things: breathe properly and elevate my body temperature, listen to music, and obliterate stress from my life. I am a good student. Having been mindful of my mind and body for over thirty years, I eat the right food, lift weights, and don’t take medication.

Music is a great part of my day. I can’t imagine a life without music because it brings joy and helps me communicate differently. The earbuds are in my ears as I sit here now and write, and I am listening to an elevated playlist that promotes happy feelings, the type of feeling that expands my heart and helps my creativity.

Our bodies' responses to our favorite songs tell us something about ourselves. So, where does music stand in your life? Which types of music trigger emotions for you? Do your feelings and the kinds of music you listen to match?