I have been involved with music since the first grade, which is now seventy years! I was in choirs in the school, choirs in the church, piano lessons, voice lessons, and organ lessons. I’ve been marinated in music my whole life. And I have to say it has all been glorious in many ways! Renee Fleming, in her recent book, “Music and Mind” has written, “A compelling and growing body of research has shown music and arts therapies to be effective tools for addressing a widening array of conditions, from providing pain relief and alleviating anxiety and depression to regaining speech after stroke or traumatic brain injury, and improving mobility for people with disorders that include Parkinson’s disease and MS”.
It seems music helps our brains and psyches in at least five different ways:
- REGULATES EMOTIONS. Listening to music can help shift mood – calming anxiety, easing sadness, or lifting spirits. Slow, gentle music can lower stress hormones, while energetic music can increase motivation.
- REDUCES STRESS AND ANXIETY. Music can slow heart rate and breathing, helping the nervous system relax. This is why music therapy is often used for stress management.
- SUPPORTS EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION. Music gives people a way to process feelings that may be difficult to put into words. Playing an instrument, singing, or even choosing songs that reflect one’s mood can help release emotional tension.
- IMPROVES FOCUS AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION. Certain types of music, especially instrumental music, can enhance concentration, memory, and mental clarity during tasks like studying or reading.
- CREATES CONNECTION AND MEANING. Music can strengthen social bonds through shared listening, concerts, choirs, or group music-making. It also helps people feel understood and less alone in their experiences.
Many years ago, I had a friend who tragically lost a child to a drug overdose. She was an excellent musician, and she told me many times, that playing Bach every day on the piano for hours on end is the only thing that saved her life during that difficult time. Frederick Nietschebelieved music expresses the raw energy of existence, what he called the Dionysian force of life. It reaches a level of experience beyond language and concepts. It affirms life even when life is painful. This is why he said, “Without music, life would be a mistake”.
