Whether it’s upbeat music blasting at a party, melancholy music in our headphones after a long day, or instrumental music when we need to focus, music is everywhere we go. Music is a reflection of our personalities, needs, and emotions with a beat and lyrics — it’s something that has the power to alter our mood. This is a very interesting phenomenon that poses questions. Why does this happen? How does this happen? In order to answer these questions, we need to understand the different effects music has upon us.
When I find myself feeling stressed, I find that music is an excellent way to make me feel more at peace. Sometimes, after a long day, I find myself listening to music, and for a second, the world goes silent as I forget about my problems for a bit. On the way to school, I find myself listening to music to make myself feel calm before starting the school day. According to a study done by PsychCentral, “listening to music can lower our heart rate and cortisol levels, release endorphins, and improve our sense of well-being, distract us, reduce physical and emotional stress levels, and reduce stress-related symptoms.” This is probably why a lot of us, after stressful days, reach for our headphones.
Music can trigger memories that we’ve associated with certain songs, which can affect the emotions we feel from hearing them. Sometimes, I think back on places I’ve been or people I’ve met, whenever I hear songs that I associate with them. Whether it’s a song I listened to on a car ride a couple of years ago or a song I listened to recently with my friends, music has a way of bringing back memories. According to a study done at Durham University, “involuntary memories are more likely to come back during activities where our mind is free to wander to thoughts about our past. These activities tend to be non-demanding in terms of our attention and include things like commuting, travelling, housework, and relaxing.” Music allows our mind to wander, and when our mind wanders, we often begin reflecting on our experiences. Since a lot of us associate certain experiences with songs, those memories are very likely to replay in our minds while listening to a song.
Memories aren’t only triggered from songs that we’ve associated with them. In fact, memories can also be triggered if the song is associated with our culture. For example, whenever I listen to bachata, which is a genre of music that is both rhythmic and lively, I think back on when I went to the Dominican Republic as a kid, whether late nights with my friends with soft bachata in the background or dancing at my family member’s parties. Culture is very significant when it comes to the memories that we associate with music, as we’re surrounded with our culture every single day. Some of the songs our parents played around us when we were kids still bring back the same memories today. For example, as a kid, I used to listen to a lot of Bachata songs, and I would dance and sing along to the same songs with my mom and my uncle in the living room every day. Even today, around ten years later, when I listen to those Spanish songs, I’m still reminded of the little girl I was, singing and dancing to those songs.
Whenever we’re in a bad mood, music can help bring our mood up. Oftentimes, we listen to sad music when we’re upset, and that can be very therapeutic for us. I often find that sad songs with relatable lyrics help me process my emotions, as they allow me to listen to experiences that are similar to mine, and I end up feeling better about the situation. According to studies done at Utah State University, “Some people report listening to music that they perceive to be sad because it helps them feel connected to the music. Some identify with the lyrics and meaning of a song, which helps them get in touch with certain emotions. Sad music can help a listener identify, express, and work through their feelings to help them feel better and move forward.”
Music allows us to feel more motivated and confident. When I’m getting ready to go somewhere, whether that is school or to hang out with friends, I often find myself playing upbeat songs. These songs often have a fun, fast feel to them, and it helps me feel more ready and confident before I leave the house. Additionally, whenever I find myself getting ready for a violin recital, I find that dancing and singing along to upbeat songs allows me to shake my nerves out, which helps me focus better, since I’m not as focused on my nervousness. I’ve also noticed that basketball players often play upbeat songs in order to get themselves motivated before a big game. Even when I don’t have any motivation to do something — such as to study for a test or to clean my room — I find that turning on music helps me find the motivation to get it done. Well, why is that?
According to the Times Gazette, “Other sports such as cheerleading and gymnastics actually use music for their events. The music helps performers to remember their steps while also motivating crowds. As a cheerleader, I can tell you that music definitely makes me have more fun. This is not a coincidence or even the fact that I enjoy the music; it is because the music once again triggers a dopamine release, making any activity more enjoyable.” Additionally, “the motivation from music is powerful. That is why it has become such a huge part of our daily routines. We use it when we clean, cook, dance, exercise, and even study.” Music is used to motivate us in almost everything. Whether it’s something as small as cooking or as large as a cheer performance, music distracts us from the task at hand and makes it more enjoyable, which allows us to stay motivated and finish our task. I find that music allows me to have a distraction while completing boring, everyday tasks. No matter how boring or long a task is, I find that music makes doing them more fun, and I begin to forget that I was dreading those tasks in the first place. Music allows me to get my work done at a quicker pace.
Music is a huge part of my life and a huge part of most people’s lives. Music is there for us at our best moments, such as parties and weddings, but it is also there for us during hard times, such as after long days or after melancholy moments. Music allows us to improve our mood, whether that’s by allowing us to understand our feelings or hyping us up before we begin our day. Music allows us to have fun while we do the things we dread, and helps us stay motivated. Music allows us to bring back memories and reminisce on different aspects of our lives. Music helps us get through the days that seem impossible to get through. Music has a huge impact on not only our mood but also our identity.
Music is there for us at our best moments, such as parties and weddings, but it is also there for us during hard times, such as after long days or after melancholy moments.