The Influence of Music on the Brain Essay Example

Could listening to music have an effect on your brain and body? Many studies have shown that there are countless benefits that come with listening to music or playing a musical instrument. For example, in a learning environment, making an 80 on a test is good for most students. In a musical scenario, playing 80% of the correct notes is below average for music students. If someone was listening to a song where 20% of the notes were off key, it would not be enjoyable to listen to. Learning how to perform well and consistently is what makes musicians great, and can lead to improvement in other aspects of their life. Playing an instrument is not the only way to influence the brain, just listening to music can have positive effects toward mental and physical health, memory, and learning.

Firstly, music can have various effects on the brain ranging from negative to positive. Depending on what genre of music someone is listening to can determine the mood that person is in. An individual listening to classical music may not be in the same mood as someone listening to rock. The classical genre can allow for relaxation and a clear mind for studying. Rock music is directed more toward hyperactiveness, however, some people may find this better for studying since it keeps the brain alert. Many people have stated that music highly affects their mental state. When dealing with depression, music acts as an escape for a lot of society. Song lyrics let people relate their struggles to others, which takes away a great deal of the pain they are feeling. Dopamine and serotonin are released into the brain while listening to certain songs, or even frequencies. These chemicals are what act as an antidepressant and make us feel happy. Songs like “Dancing Queen” by Abba, and “You Make My Dreams” by Hall and Oates are popular examples of these types of songs. Not only can music affect us mentally, but it can also affect our physical body as well. Since music can release chemicals to boost a person’s mood, it can also prevent self-harm. Countless people suffering from depression and anxiety turn to self-harm as a sense of relief. Examples of this could include anything from biting nails, to cutting. Finding types of music that evoke positive emotions is proven to help tremendously with mental disorders.

Next, music students are believed to have better memory than those who do not practice a musical instrument. Learning notes and having to memorize what key to press, what string to strum, or what drum to hit are great ways of improving memory. Repetition in practicing builds muscle memory and improves playing ability. Sight reading is an exercise musicians use to activate that memory. When sight reading a piece, the individual typically has 1 minute to look over the piece upon flipping over the page. In the minute of time, the player is not allowed to play any notes. They may only practice finger mechanisms and look over key and time signatures, accidentals, and what else lies within the piece. After the minute has passed, the player has one chance to play the piece to the best of their ability. Sight reading is a fantastic way to improve memory among music students. Listening to various types of music everyday will soon show that there are a lot of songs with similar melodies, or even the same melodies. It is not uncommon for artists to sample other songs. An example of song sampling includes Aha’s “Take on Me” which was sampled by the artist Pitbull. Sampling music is taking a rhythm from one song, and using it in an area of another song. If someone listens to music a lot, they will begin to notice recurring patterns in different songs they never noticed before.

Lastly, music can have a major impact on learning. Going back to memorization, when an individual begins to notice more similarities in notes and rhythmic patterns in music, it can improve how the brain processes smaller details in other things as well. With enough repetition, analyzing factors that others may not catch, will eventually cause the brain to process things at a faster rate. This will enable hasty learning. Being a quick learner can be crucial depending on what the situation is, but no matter what, it is always useful. Music not only affects the speed at which we learn, but it also can affect how we carry out a task. Like I stated earlier, many students prefer listening to music while studying or working. I personally work better if there is some type of music playing in the background of the area I am working in. Complete silence hurts my head and sticks out like a sore thumb, which only distracts me from what I am doing. I feel like I have spoiled myself by listening to music so often, that it is hard to do anything without it. I keep the music I am listening to at a low volume. This works best for me because I am still feeling the positive effects of the song, but it is not so loud that it is the only thing I can focus on.

Altogether, music is a great tool for improving health, recollection, and overall cognitive ability. Consistently listening to music will enable people to learn what kind of music works best for them.  The pop genre is most heavily associated with happier tunes, and therefore is the most listened to genre. Scientists have shown that the genre of music an individual listens to around the age of 14, is usually the type of music they will listen to for the rest of their life. Taking time to learn more in-depth about music can truly improve how the brain functions.