Describe that moment when your favorite song comes on your iPod, radio, or TV. Most likely it will be a sudden, dramatic, freakish display of exuberant behavior. We all have heard that, "OOOOO THIS MY JAMMMMM!" or "AYEEEE THAT'S MYYYY SONGGGG" or "THISS MY SHITTT RIGHT HEREEE". If you're someone like me, no words or emotion are needed, just the maximization of the volume and preferably open space to account for my hood boy bounce or fake dread shake. I admit I can go nuts when music I'm extremely fond of comes on. My mom is always annoyed by all the noise and ruckus a floor up from her. When she calls me to either turn it down or calm down or for any other thing, I usually miss it when I have music playing because I either can't hear her or not in a truly conscious form to answer her.
Is music really that powerful that it can make people seem possessed by evil spirits? Yes. The power of music may be more overwhelming that that of sports honestly. There is something about lyrics, eighth notes, a beat, and some melodic harmony that transforms people. Have you ever had an extremely horrible or frustrating day and felt that nothing could change or soothe it until you pressed play? You notice how tranquil you feel? As the music travels through your ear canals, that negative energy or sadness seems to come out with the carbon dioxide as you breathe. The more you listen, the better you feel. I'm not easily frustrated or broken, but on occasion I need something to get my mind right and steady. Music does that for me and possibly you too.
It has been scientifically proven that music heals. It has positive effects on management of pain by reducing the sensation and distress of both chronic and postoperative pain. Music serves as a distraction. By taking your attention off your current issues mentally or physically (or both in some cases) and diverting them towards music, you are less likely to think about those problems. You are given more of a sense of control within yourself. Plus, music can cause your body to release endorphins to fight off that pain and frustration. If you listen to some really slow or chill music, it will relax you by slowing your heart rate and breathing rate. Not to mention, music also reduces your blood pressure, makes your heart healthier, boosts your body's immunity, and is a remedy for headaches, migraines and post stroke victims. So, it can be said that music can also raise your vitality levels.
Can music make you intelligent? No. (Sorry Peter Griffin) However, music can enhance your intelligence, learning and memory. It has been proven that your reading and literacy skills, mathematical abilities and spatial-temporal reasoning. In terms of memory, the simultaneous left and right brain action maximizes learning and retention of information. The information that is being studied activates your left brain while the music playing operates your right. Music also improves your concentration and attention. Listening to music while you are doing homework, studying or while at work makes you much more productive at doing tasks. I have a few playlists I listen to when I have a heavy workload and it makes it go by so smoothly, almost as if I had nothing to accomplish. Listening to music fights fatigue and anxiety while you are trying to be productive. The more upbeat the music is, the more energy you will find. It effectively eliminates exercise-induced fatigue and fatigue by monotonous work.
Headphones and music are almost synonymous to athletes before games. Take players such as Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and James Harden of the Houston Rockets (both with endorsement deals from Skullcandy) for example. Both are always sporting headphones listening to music on their way to arenas to play basketball games. If you follow them on Twitter, they often tweet lyrics of songs they are listening to or really like. Then when they touch the court, they search and destroy. Why? Because music enhances athletic performance. Music makes exercise more like a recreational act rather than grueling work which it can be at times. Listening to music motivates to get up and do something, go out for a run, dance, ride your bike, anything. I've been on runs or been in the gym while playing music and it makes the time go by so fast. Like, there have been times I've been working out for hours and would never notice. But then again, I pump titanium so I may not be human. On a more serious note, music reduces fatigue as explained before, increases psychological arousal, physiological relaxation and motor coordination. It reduces muscle tension and body movement. So after practice, feeling stressed or close to body failure, listening to music is a good remedy.
Ever have trouble sleeping? A little anxiety, insomnia or just a completely restless night where your mind is just racing with thoughts? I have had a few of those (I usually KO early so mine are extremely rare.) Research suggests that 45 minutes of listening to relaxation music before you go to bed can help you go to sleep better. Relaxing music reduces the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, decrease anxiety, blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate and distract you from pesky thoughts. Music relaxes tense muscles that accumulate after a stressful day, and reduce your negative energy, making you feel more optimistic and positive.
Like sports, which if you haven't figured out by now is another one of my loves, music puts you into a zone. It can bring you to an alternate universe where nothing can disturb you or touch you. It brings upon you a certain serenity close to being in a Buddhist monastery. Music heals your soul. If you've been feeling very depressed or moody, music brings those psychotherapeutic benefits that can alter your mindset and bring about a positive change in your life.
In closing, whether you're dealing with a breakup, a bad day, a big game, or just need some plain relief, look towards the melodic harmonies of music to come through in the clutch. Music may inspire something in you that alters society. Don't underestimate it.
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