My Students’ Blog

How Music Affects Us

By Sabrina Courtright

I think it’s safe to say that everyone enjoys music in their own way, however, I’m sure we all can relate to a song changing your mood, or playing certain music to match how you feel.  There is a lot of research behind what music does to the brain and body, and how to use it effectively to reach your goals. Here we will be discussing how music can affect the brain and body, how different genres of music affect you differently, and how music therapy can help you reach your social, mental, physical, cognitive, and spiritual goals.

Benefits of Music

Studies have shown that listening to music can help release dopamine in your brain, which is one of your “feel-good” chemicals.  Dopamine can help with motivation, sleep, mood, and other things.  Along with dopamine, endorphins are also released.  These endorphins help relieve pain and stress and can actually have a physical effect on your body.  Cortisol levels are also impacted and can be maintained by listening to music, which also helps relieve stress.  Included in physical effects of music is the stimulation of producing antibodies, which can help boost and improve your immune system.  Click here and here to learn more. 

So, why do we like the music we do?  We are all individuals with our own personalities and experiences, and we all associate different songs with different moments or moods we’ve experienced with that song.  I asked a couple people about why they enjoy the music they do, and what that music is.  Here’s what a peer of mine, Carissa, had to say: “I really enjoy listening to metal.  I find myself becoming a less angry person and more at peace in the world.  I’m just more happy after I listen to my music.  It takes my anger out for me.”  

Another friend of mine stated that, “Funky hip-hop and metal can help me get through the day.  Modern pop can make me uncomfortable; I just don’t like it.  Playing my favorite songs on the guitar can help me feel accomplished, and, even though sometimes I don’t reach my goal, I can still see the progress made.  Music can influence my mood a lot, and, when I don’t listen to much music, I get annoyed really easily.” 

Research has shown that many of society’s “happy-songs” are songs that had about 150 beats per minute and also had happy lyrics, which is one key component of most pop songs.  Classical music has been shown to calm the mind and body, including lowering blood pressure, relieving pain, reducing physical symptoms of depression, reducing stress levels, and many more effects.  Metal has also shown to have very similar effects to the mind and body as pop music does.

Metal and rock help with emotional management and can help reduce feelings of anger and depression.  These types of “aggressive” music types help bring a sense of empowerment to listeners, as well as a sense of community and belonging.  Rap and hip-hop has been shown to increase creativity, reduce effects of depression, and improve our emotions.  Even though all of these genres have their similarities and differences, we all have personal relationships to certain songs, genres, and artists, and we all have our own preferences for what fits us.

Music therapy can be used for many reasons, but some of the most popular reasons are psychological, emotional, and spiritual benefits.

Clinical Uses of Music

Music therapy is a great way to use music to your advantage.  According to clevelandclinic.org, “Music therapy is the clinical use of music to accomplish individualized goals such as reducing stress, improving mood and self-expression.”  Music therapy can be used for many reasons, but some of the most popular reasons are psychological, emotional, and spiritual benefits.  Some of these benefits can be: increasing joy and motivation, developing healthy coping mechanisms, enhancing communication, and self-regulating emotions.  

Music therapy is used with almost everyone, but some of the most prominent groups are veterans, victims of mental illnesses, disorders, or diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease or Autism Spectrum Disorder, victims of trauma, substance abusers, and those detained in a correctional setting..  Children and adolescents can also use music therapy to help maintain behavioral disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, trauma, and substance abuse disorders.

Music therapy can take place in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and many other places. Therapy can be held with an individual or in a group setting.  Before the sessions, the therapist may ask you about your physical, mental, and emotional health, trauma history and triggers, and more.  The therapist may even ask about your history with music and your preferences when it comes to genre, artists, and songs.  

There are many things that can happen in music therapy.  You may create music with your therapist, or just on your own.  You can play an instrument, even if you’re just doing it for fun and have no idea how to play it.  You may listen to music and discuss it, whether it’s the lyrics, the emotions it gives you, what you like about the song, and so much more.  Feel free to sing along to the music, and to get up and move, jump, dance, and sway with the music.  After the session is done, you will be evaluated to see the effects the session had on you and whether they helped you reach your goals.  One session may be enough, but feel free to have multiple sessions.

All in all, music can benefit us in more ways than we realize, especially if we use it in certain ways to achieve certain things.  Music is for everyone, and anyone can find their own rhythm within it, it just takes trial and error to find what works for you.