There are many opinions about the presence of music in our lives. Does it make life indeed better, richer, physically and emotionally less stressful? Could it possibly lead to a life of contentment?
More and more research is being done by investigators at universities and research centers. Thankfully, we are learning much more about the restorative, positive effects of music’s involvement in the mental and physical health of people, worldwide.
A friend gave me an article that appeared in Reader’s Digest by freelance writer and editor, Michelle Crouch. Her article, entitled, 13 Incredible Ways Music Benefits You, was so compelling I decided to share many of her comments about the positive benefits of music. For years I have written about the healthful benefits of music, here in ALIVE Magazine.
Crouch wrote that in one study, researchers found that happy music in the workplace can help workers be more efficient. It takes less time to complete a task while listening to music, especially when the work is repetitive. University researchers found upbeat music helpful in making workers more corporative when arriving at decisions.
Surgeons improved their operating efficiency listening to music while performing surgery. The stress hormone, Cortisol, was found to decrease while listening to music, just as well as getting a massage. Patients with anxiety listened to music while in a dimly lit room. After three months, patients who listened to music experienced the same drop in anxiety as the patients who received massages. Also, patients listening to music before undergoing surgery experienced less anxiety and had limited need for sedatives. Pain was reduced after surgery, requiring less medication.
“Researchers from the Netherlands and Australia discovered that people come up with creative solutions when they listen to happy, upbeat music,” wrote Crouch. A possible reason is that music relaxes you and improves your brain’s flexibility so the creative juices can flow. While listening to music, moderate volume, rather than loud, is preferred.
Listening to music, causes the brain to release the neurotransmitter dopamine, sometimes associated with being in love—obviously a positive feeling. Crouch reported the dopamine can flow when one expects the best part of a song is coming.
When exercising, or working out, one can go farther if music is playing. Many times, repeated exercises can be very boring and tedious, however, when one listens to music, the boredom and tediousness can be lessened by distracting and motivating one to stay on task. When the psychological factors of music on exercise are examined, it can be termed, “a type of legal, performance – enhancing drug.”
Listening to music while exercising can produce a rush of energy that can be real. Many college age men were studied while doing squats while listening to a favorite song. The result was, they did squats more explosively and performed reps at faster speeds than a control group of similar men doing the same exercise in silence. They also found that people sprint faster and can hold heavy weights longer while listening to music.
How would you like to sleep longer, wake up fewer times during the night, and feel better and more rested in the morning? In a study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, seniors who listened to 45 minutes of soft, slow music before going to bed reported a 35 percent improvement during their sleep time and less dysfunction during the day-time hours.
The fact that music can indeed heal has been known for centuries. Although music has worked in many facets of healing, until recently we didn’t know why or how. In an analysis of 400 studies, the findings found that music enhances the body’s production of an anti-body that attacks viruses and bacteria.
Crouch reminds us that the expression “time does fly,” has new meaning when it applies to listening to music. Like waiting in a doctor’s office, for example, many judge their waiting period as shorter when music is playing.
Stores and other retailers have known this fact for many years. When music is being played, buyers stay longer, look more, and very importantly, spend more money. It is proven that in restaurants and bars, more food and drinks are sold when music, especially slow music, is played. In grocery stores, sales increase 38 percent when the background music has a slow tempo.
Even the human heart can be helped by listening to joyful music. By listening to music that brings you joy, the blood vessels expand, increasing blood flow and improving cardiovascular health, according to a study at the University of Maryland.
In a revue of studies of 1,400 heart disease patients, it was found that music reduced heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety. In our complex society, if more people listened to music, perhaps those with heart problems could be significantly reduced.
In a study of adults who focused on melodies of their childhood while being treated by safe electric shocks, pain was reduced by 17 percent. Other studies showed that pain may be reduced for fibromyalgia and even cancer patients. Children also benefited by listening to soothing, upbeat music while having an IV inserted. They had less pain, distress, and anxiety when compared to children with no music present during the procedure.
More research is being done with Alzheimer’s patients.
When a patient listens to a song from their past, they can be helped to retrieve memories, communicate more effectively, and remember who they are. Singing was found to be especially effective and powerful. When patients remembered an old favorite song, over time, it was found that it may boost their cognitive behavior and function. A study involving Parkinson’s patients also showed improvement.
Music, can and does, have a positive effect on people. It provides great joy, a sense of well-being, and comfort to the mind, body and soul.
Many thanks to Michelle Crouch for sharing her wise thoughts and words making this article possible.
Visit our website at danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band or reach me at banddirector01@comcast.net.
