Music and Mood

July 31, 2020 / Source: The Bizz USA
By Elizabeth Insuasti; Edited by Haarika Kalahasti and Pallavi Vemuri

        Have you ever felt down and thought that there was absolutely nothing that could better your mood? Then, a particular song plays, perhaps your childhood favorite, lifting your spirits. This behavior raises the question: is there a connection between music and mood?

       A hidden beauty lies inside the depths of music. In every lyric, melody, tune, and beat, music's harmony brings life when being played or listened to. Music is a great companion to many people, especially those suffering from depression, stress, and anxiety. Thanks to its therapeutic nature, music naturally improves the quality of life and is known to be a critical factor in improving one's happiness.

Here are the reasons why music can improve happiness:

1. Lyrics create a connection through relatable experiences
   1. ​Most songs today are quite popular not only because of the beat and tune but also due to the lyrics and emotions the piece conveys. Many people find comfort and security in these words and verses, and it can make it's like someone who knows what you truly feel inside. Typically speaking, people who feel secure and understood are freer and happier.
2. It can alleviate your pain.
   1. In addition to being understood, listening to music is believed to alleviate most pain in your body, mind, and soul. Based on certain studies' results, it was found that music has a significant effect on the brain and hormones, which naturally decreases the feeling of being in pain.
3. Music keeps your brain healthy
   1. Music, in general, naturally improves the brain and strengthens "brain wires," blocking the neurons from burning. Because of all the wonders music is said to bring upon, many parents send their kids to attend music lessons to benefit their thinking of mental health, capacities, analysis, and problem-solving skills.
      
      
4.  Music improves your mood. 
   1. When you listen to music, it increases dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and other hormones, which can significantly affect your mood. Many specialists and therapists recommend music therapies to people suffering from different psychological conditions due to the idea that music can lift one's mood, sentiments, spirits, and emotions. 
5. Reduces stress​
   1. Furthermore, music has been found to reduce stress, as it can calm and relax one's mind, body, and soul. In particular, classical or slower tempo music can quiet your mind and guide you to relaxing your muscles. Music is a therapy of its own, and like yoga, it calms the soul. 
6. Develop a higher IQ & better communication skills
   1. The fact that music can improve one's communication skills and IQ is proven through many psychological studies. Since music is found to have amazing benefits to the brain, along with its functions, this only goes to show that music is beneficial, especially when you start to study it seriously, and has an uplifting effect on those listening and playing it. After hearing this discovery, many kids are subjected to learning musical instruments and continuously listen to classical music at a very young age. 
7. Improves socializing skills
   1. Socializing may be one of the essential life skills a person should have to survive life. As many know, being around other people creates a sense of fulfillment and enjoyment, which can play a role in decreasing the risk of evoking sadness or facing depression. 
      Often, especially in today's society, people can connect and relate with others through the music, whether it may be favorite collective artists or an interest in a particular genre.
      Either way, music can be an excellent tool for trying to improve social skills. ​

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        The neurological studies of music indicate why sometimes we interpret and react emotionally to a piece of music. One study in which babies, as young as five months old, responded to happy songs, and by the time the same babies were nine months, they were able to evoke sadness from sad songs [source: LiveScience]. Physiological states brought on by music only intensify as we grow. Happy music, usually featuring a fast tempo, can cause a person to breathe faster, a physical sign of happiness [source: Leutwyler]. Similarly, sad music, which tends to be in the minor keys and very slow, causes a slowing of the pulse and a rise in blood pressure. 
       Music can make us feel uplifted, content, and play a role in improving our health. Whether you're performing or listening, music can uplift your spirits (as well as those around you.) As we listen, music works on the autonomic nervous system (responsible for controlling blood pressure and heartbeat) and the limbic system( responsible for feelings and emotions). In a review of 23 studies in 2009 by Bradt and Dileo, involving almost 1,500 people, they found music helped reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety in heart disease patients.

TEST IT OUT:
· Listen to music every day. Just twenty-five minutes every day for at least ten days will help with stress relief and possibly make you sleep better. Keep up the habit beyond ten days if you can.
· Play music while working out. Experts from Hampden-Sydney College say that listening to music during exercise can help release endorphins to increase your endurance, boost mood, and distract you from the discomfort you may feel during your exercise session.
· Pick music to suit the situation. Any type of classical music, such as pieces by Mozart or Beethoven, can help relieve muscle pain. For a practical, beneficial workout, researchers say the best music is high-energy, high-tempo music such as hip hop or dance.
· Listen to music while working or studying. If you're trying hard to crack that difficult report or struggling with the final touches of a final project, music could help get your brain in gear.