This online discussion is open for comments September 3-9. Make sure that you email your WordPress user name to music.drjones@gmail.com so that I can give you credit for participating. An overview of these assignments is available here.

The most effective comments in an online forum are short — think about how you skim past others’ comments if they’re more than a couple lines long instead of engaging closely with that person’s ideas! If everyone involved in these weekly conversations only posts a single long comment, it won’t be a conversation, and we won’t all benefit from opportunity to learn from each other. Rather than dropping in on the blog once during the week and adding a single long comment, think of this forum as an opportunity to have a conversation with your fellow classmates. A conversation, whether online or in person, involves back-and-forth contributions from everyone involved: adding something new based on your own experiences or ideas, asking questions, responding to the ideas of others. The best way to get the most out of this learning experience is to share your single best idea, give room for others to respond, and then build on each others’ contributions later in the week.

A very good place to start

We’re starting by thinking about thinking—how does music affect how people think?

Every activity, experience, and piece of information you come across in your life changes your brain. The brain is a system of neurons and synapses that constantly rewires itself to adapt to your life. The more often you do something (like recall a piece of information or perform an activity), the better your brain gets at accessing and doing it. This is why studying a little bit every day is effective: you’re reinforcing your brain’s ability to recall or associate bits of information. And, this is also why habits can be hard to break—you train your brain to do something by doing it over and over—and unlearning a habit requires both making totally new connections between different parts of your brain and also forgetting old ones.

There are a couple of good books on this subject if you want to keep reading:

brain music 3

So, what does this have to do with music?

Making music changes your brain in ways that other activities don’t. Learning to play a musical instrument can be a great benefit to the brain: its development, improved long-term memory, language skills, faster reaction times. A lot of research in this field specifically studies the effect of musical study on young children (and here and here), but the effects are true at all stages of life—it’s never too late!

Below is a short (5′) TedTalk that scratches the surface of this idea by showing the many mental processes and parts of the brain that are engaged when someone plays a musical instrument.

 

Singing affects the brain in fascinating ways, too!

Listening—the task of Mu 101

Special things happen to our brains—and our bodies!—when we listen to music, too.

“Physiology” (pronounced fizzy-all-oh-gee) is the study of how our bodies normally function: how our cells, biochemicals, and bodily systems all work together, react to the world around us, and keep us alive.

Physiology comes into play with music when we start thinking about how our bodies react to music: things happen when we like the sounds we’re hearing (our eyes dilate, our pulse changes, our body releases dopamine)—we have a physiological reaction to the music that’s involuntary, exciting, sometimes unexpected, and often enjoyable. Our bodies’ reactions help us understand if we want to hear something again (even if we don’t directly say to ourselves, “Wow, my cerebellum became quite active during that song; I’d better listen to it again!”) because we enjoy the way they feel, and we know that listening to music might be one of the only ways to feel those particular (enjoyable) feelings again.

Below is a link to a short (19′) video presentation given by musician/researcher Deanna Choi at TEDxQueensU in 2012 (Canada) that explains what happens to our bodies when we listen to music. You might be a person that learns more easily from reading than listening, or if you may be interested in reading another short, accessible introduction to the study of music and physiology, so I’m including a link to one here. There are hundreds of similar articles out there—this has been a popular topic of research for the last several decades.

 

Final thoughts

Engaging with the materials of this class (and every class you take!) will change who you are—by changing how you think and listen, reinforcing new neural pathways in your brain, and helping you acquire new skills that will give you something to build upon, a bundle of neurons ready to link to whatever skills and information you encounter in the future. What a way to start the semester!

-Dr. J.

 

91 thoughts on “Music and the brain (Sep 3-9)”

  1. In my personal experience, my brain tends to link songs to certain times in my life. For example, every time I hear “Don’t Stop the Music” by Rihanna, I immediately think about my freshmen year of high school or when I listen to “Animals” by Martin Garrix, I think about my times at a friends house during the summer. Some songs I won’t mention, but have a negative thought response when I listen to them because I was either in an uncomfortable or traumatic situation while the song was playing or it was a time where I heavily rotated the song in my playlist. Basically, my brain connects a song with a memory or experience which comes back to me when I listen to that certain song. Sometimes, I wish it didn’t! Haha.

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    1. Wow, this is something that’s absolutely true, and somehow I managed to forget it. Even with songs we’ve never heard before. If you hear a song with similar qualities, you might even stop and say “Hmm this sounds like…..”. For instance, if you hear a song with a bell that sounds similar to the Church bell that goes off at 12pm you may say “This beat reminds me of Sunday afternoon when I’m in church with Grandma.”. Also, even with a lullaby or a famous song your parents used to sing to you, you may think of your child hood. Music triggers a lot of our thought process, however this is by far one of the most relating one (in my opinion).

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    2. You’re right but it’s not always about lyrics which makes you remind your experience or something but I thing music is also about what makes you feel good I personally listen despasito song too many time just because it makes me feel good even I don’t even understand Spanish

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    3. I loved this article and how deep it goes into how our body’s react when we listen to music. I know when I listen to a certain song I get goosebumps!

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    4. Absolutely! Music has that sort of impact where it stirs us emotionally in a way and take us back to when we initially heard it and what we are going through. I feel like our mood definitely influences what we listen to sometimes. Like if I’m feeling angry I would listen to something heavy or when I don’t feel right I would play something uplifting and inspiring. Music is so interesting and I really wonder how it travels to the brain to invoke those sorts of emotions.

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      1. Exactly. Sometimes commuting to home from work late at night, I’m just really tired and I can’t even deal with fist-pumping music. I can deal with a slow tempo, like R&B.

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    5. @ebonemilton20 and @davidwittone Music definitely has power over us!! A few years ago, I was a part of a Steel Orchestra. Whenever we went out to perform and am on stage, I could remember myself being in a totally different space, the enjoyment and the feelings that I got from just being on the stage performing was amazing. I don’t know if it’s the rhythm, the melody or what causes it, but the players would literally be jumping behind their instruments while performing. It was so satisfying. Hearing the sweet sound of steel makes you just want to get on your feet and dance. I can tell even by how the audience responded to the music – young as well as elder people – everyone would just be on their feet dancing and having a good time. A very powerful influence indeed!

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      1. That’s beautiful. Performing on stage can be like an out-of-body experience making you feel like a part of something bigger than yourself.

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    6. Example, I was at the store today shopping and absent-mindedly I was bathing in the sound of the music playing in the background, singing and jamming to the beat. I also read in one of Aaron Copland’s writing on Music that someone may be sitting in a room reading a book, and suddenly one note struck on the piano, that one note would be enough to immediately change the atmosphere of the room.

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      1. It’s very true. That’s me in the mornings, right when I get on the train and the ding dong as the doors close sounds so loud, it gets me so mad! Lol

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    7. I absolutely agree when it comes to remembering a certain event based on what kind of music is played. Most of the time it would be the genre of the music that would trigger that specific memory like going back to high school, adventure with friends even then bad times growing up. however that one specific song can be attached to a certain memory that can not be replaced.

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  2. Music is definitely very beneficial to the human mind and body. Most people listen to music because it is able to bring them to a time or place that is very memorable to them. For example, when i listen to “Life of the party” by Shawn Mendes, it reminds me of my first crush in High school. Music is like a time machine. If you want to go to a certain time and place, all you have to do is listen to a certain song to bring you back to that certain time. Music is a stress reliever, it calms down peoples nerves and relaxes them but it can also be a mood changer. It depends on the situation that the person is in. Music is a way of life, and people know how to use Music to it’s advantage and others don’t.

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    1. I agree! Music is like a time machine! I always listen to EDM when I work out because it makes me feel like I’m at a music festival again jumping and getting some type of exercise when dancing haha! If I were to listen to music with slow tempos, I’d get nothing nothing done at the gym lol.

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    2. I strongly agree. In a research conducted for my English 101 course, I not only discovered but also strengthened my understanding that Music has a very powerful effect on the mind and can influence our thoughts and actions, as well as alter our moods and emotions. In an article written by Karen Niven, it was cited that a research proved “listening to music with prosocial lyrics about helping others can reduce people’s aggression.” The same research says music creates an “effect or arousal, readying people to act” and claims that “exposure to emotive words can shape people’s feelings and actions, even when the words have not been consciously recognized.” Music has the power to stimulate people’s responses and can compel us to react in certain ways.

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    3. @raphaelirizarry I definitely believe that Music is a stress reliever too. Aaron Copland said in one of his writings ‘What to listen for in Music’, that people basically “go to concerts in order to lose themselves. They use music as a consolation or an escape. They enter an ideal world where one doesn’t have to think of the realities of everyday life. This is true. I know of many people who use music in this way. Personally, I use music as a stress reliever. When am down and frustrated with studies and the pressures of life I listen to music. It soothes me and helps take me back to that peaceful frame of mind. Also, when am sad and bored, listening to my favorite songs uplifts my mood. Soca Music, for example, the rhythm puts me in such a happy place. When I am out or at a party and Soca music comes on, I can’t help but to dance. The rhythm takes me over.

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    4. I definitely believe that it is a breath taking it connected you to some of your pass ed and present experience you have in life when you hear some of these music . It feels as though it just happened. It really eases your minds and souls it’s put you in a joy able moo if you sad or depressed. It connects you that special person.

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  3. Music is one of those things that bring a variety of benefits without even knowing it. At times I start singing, humming or start tapping my ID on my desk to create music without realizing I’m doing it. Once I realize I’m doing it, I dont recall where I heard the music but yet here I am singing or humming to it. Once I focus I realize it was either a place I was recently at such as an elevator and I heard the music or a person who was next to me who was singing or listening to music. My brain picked up on it without me realizing it. I guess whichever way I felt at thet moment, the music stuck in my head and when I needed to feel that way again my brain redirects back to that moment. I find this amazing because my brain links music to a feeling which it knew I needed at that moment.

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    1. Right! Just like when you’re sad and all of a sudden sad songs playing anywhere can just soothe you and it’s cathartic. I don’t like going there, but that’s how the universe works sometimes.

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    2. For example, when listening to the song “Heal the World” by Michael Jackson it triggers emotions of sadness, pity, pain, worry and fear within me. I believe many others share similar experiences. This then compels us to show love, empathy, and compassion to the vulnerable and suffering. It somewhat opens us up and makes us receptive, wanting to do certain things to make our world a better place.

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      1. I so agree with you that song brings out so many different emotions it’s unbelievable i sometimes wonder the mood of the writer when writing that song.

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  4. Music is insane when you come to think about it how all the beats connect and come together to make a sound so attracting to the ear that makes you wanna keep listening . It is almost like your in your own world sometimes when listening to music and it keeps you focused on it . There are so many variteites of music and the more you discover the more you wanna hear .

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    2. @joshuapena10 Right! Interesting! Just like laughter, I think music in itself is like a medicine. I don’t know how the world would be or what we will do without it!

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  5. I agree with @pringles7 i believe music is linked to specific memories,and times in ones life. In her presentation Deanna Choi explained the connection between Alzheimer’s and Her Grandmother. Even though her grandmother was comatose when Deanna played recordings of her and sister playing violin her grandmother showed a small response to what she was hearing. This reminded me of another video i watched where the person also suffered from Alzheimer’s. You can see a significant change in behavior once he was given the music to listen too (https://youtu.be/fyZQf0p73QM)

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    1. This blows my mind every time. It’s amazing how music was one of the earliest forms of communication even before language and we instinctively respond to it, even when it’s involuntary.

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  6. When I listen to music, my mind is put in the artist perspective and what he/she wants us to see in their eyes. Either it being relaxing and soothing or aggressive and energetic music puts you in a place that no other sounds can. The creation of music is absolutely brilliant and how these people can create beautiful rhythms is fantastic. Music composers are very intelligent being able to make art pieces unique to themselves. This amazes me and makes me wanna keep coming back to the artist I love.

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    1. Great point, writers do have an intended message they try to convey through their art. I concur with with your response on a personal level because as a songwriter and artist I usually start off with a topic I intend on addressing before I actually orchestrate all my thoughts into a collective message in the form of a song.

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  7. When listening to music I usually feel tranquil and I am able to enter this state of serenity. Also, when doing homework I tried putting on classical music and I was able to focus more efficiently than doing homework regularly. It’s a form of expression or even a desired feeling you want to feel.

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    1. I relate to this too. It’s like music distracts you from the excruciating pain of homework xD therefore making it a lot easier to do than without music.

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  8. I agree with both @pringles7 and @soloera23 due to the fact that hearing music is kind of like the using the 5 sense expect it’s pretty much all in your brain, if that makes sense lol. Like a certain song/ beat can really trigger a moment in your life which is pretty Fascinating, because you can really be back in the moment and hear, see, and smell everything from that moment. What is even more crazy is the fact that you can really just feel everything in a song and it can make you feel and react a way. Like today I was listening to Beyoncé dangerous in love 2, brought me back to a time and I was just tearing on the train when she said “Cause im dangerously in love with you I’ll never leave” and it just ugh touched me.

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  9. Throughout my day, I mainly listen to Rap and R&B. In rap, artists tend to talk about their struggles, whether it be past or present. Many times, you may or may not be able to relate to their story. When I listen to rap, its almost as if I’ve been through what the artist has and can almost imagine a scenario just off the words and tone the artist chose to portray. For this reason, I’ll listen to certain music depending on my mood, as it makes me feel a certain way. For instance, when I’m driving in the daytime or walking to school or in the gym, I’ll mostly listen to rap as it gives me an upbeat feeling to help continue whatever i’m doing and in some sense gives me energy to be able to keep going. While driving at night or laying in bed, I’ll mostly listen to R&B to help give me a soothing and relaxing vibe.

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  10. It is amazing how well the brain gets trained to do a lot of things and strengthens while learning how to play an instruments. The the different functions of the brain are being used and this makes the brain much stronger and discipline. This is also great because it increases your memory. Now i know why musicians remember everything in detail an so well.

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  11. I personally think listening to music is one of the greatest way of creating your own world. I like listening to music when I do not want to get bothered by someone such as when I am doing homework, walking on the street and on my way to work on train.When I go home after work when I am shutting down all the sounds, It feels like brain is getting relaxed. Some of the comments above already mentioned that some of music brings memories of specific moments. I strongly agree with this because whenever I listen to specific music after work. I get good memories and get over with all the struggles at work.

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    2. I agree with you we can create our own world by listening to music or planning a future or we can say that day dreaming with the people we love which makes us positive about future

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  12. Come through with the reply lol! You’re so right! I always listen to new music and I’ll stop and think it’s a remix to a certain song but it’s actually a different song and it will still get me to react the same way I would to the song I had in mind.

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  13. I agree with pringles7. I tend to link most of the songs I listen to on a daily bases and connect those songs to a certain moment I experienced in my life. I find music very therapeutic for me, actually I believe theirs always a certain song that can apply or relate to a person and help them get through whatever situation their going through

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    1. Exactly! Sometimes when I’m with friends and we listen to music, we talk about the lyrics and our interpretations are always different and end the same, but it’s always great to see an artist create something so specific yet ambiguous that opens to so many interpretations and it affects us all the same. It’s a true gift. These guys are the real therapists here and free! Lol.

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  14. I found the first video to be extremely informative. I hadn’t been made aware that music had such a favourable effect on the brain. The music in the background, had me turning up my volume! And I certainly agree with the second video in which, the Dr. mentioned that music is a form of “Natural Therapy”. When I listen to Jazz music, specifically David Benoit, I always feel good and relaxed. Though when I listen to rock music, for example, the Arctic Monkeys I feel ready to dance, and just jump up and down. If I am correct, I believe that the first video spoke of how people who play music increases activity in the bridge between the two hemispheres. I”m not a neuroscientist, though I find myself agreeing with the research. Often when I listen to music when studying, I find I retain the information better. Overall great videos, and interesting discussion from my peers. I will revisit the video’s before the week has finished, so that I may contribute more.

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    1. @wjwallace47, I also agree that music increases the activity of the two hemispheres. The right part of the brain is responsible for creativity also increase intuition, art awareness, left-hand control and the left part helps control the right hand, also is involved in logical thinking. Some hospitals use music to bring patients back from a stroke because they believe that music is going to change the future of healthcare and neuro-rehab which I totally agree with. There are more details here, check it out if you are interested. http://medrhythmstherapy.com/

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  15. When I wake up every morning, I have a playlist that I listen to because it wakes me up and gets me ready for the day. Some people use coffee and other stuff to be awake. I listen to music. Whenever I need to be fully concentrated on something, I play music because I think it helps me canalize my thoughts on whatever I am working on.

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    1. I agree with you. I can’t do homework in complete silence. I can really focus with some background music because it also serves like a white noise limiting the amount of distracting sounds around me. I use music played by a guitar and it really helps. Funny thing is now I associate acoustic guitar songs with writing papers and studying haha.

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      1. I do not know if this is relevant but there is a song from a french singer Johnny Hallyday “allumer le feu”, hearing it always give me the envy to do math or to solve problems. Hahaha

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    2. it’s true what you say, it’s like me every morning I have to listen to some kind of music to start my day like Bob Marley “Positive Vibration” it’s been over two years that I listen to this song every morning.

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      1. That’s a great way to start your day! I’m pretty sure there’s science behind that song and songs that amp us up in the morning with the types of frequencies and actual vibrations being sent to our brains.

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      2. Plato considered that music played in different modes would create different emotions, and I believe this is true. As an example major chords as we learnt are perceived to be cheerful, happier than the minor ones which are perceived to be sad, dark. I believe music is a language of feeling. You playing the same song for two years is very interesting. I might say you developed a special connection with that song over the months.

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  16. I found the first video incredibly informative and fascinating! I completely understand how musicians are more likely to have executive functions because they have to understand emotion within the song. I actually listen to music based off my mood because I am such empathetic person that I can truly relate to and feel what the artist must have been going through to express/write/play/sing it in a song.

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  17. Won’t lie when I say I already knew music greatly enhanced the human intellect, but what I didn’t specifically know was how it made it better. These videos provided the detailed explanations I personally never bothered looking into because I was satisfied simply with knowing that music helped and that I–much like everyone here in the discussion/out in the world use it for many emotional reasons (joy, sadness, anger, confusion, etc). Now that the veil has been lifted it’s safe to assume I’ll have a hard time not dissecting music rather than actually listening to it anymore because I’ll be too hellbent on figuring out why I’m obsessed with certain rhythms over others. Thanks Dr.J.

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  18. That’s absolutely true music has great benefits for our mental health.That makes us feel positive depends on the kind of music you are listening to or makes me as my personal experience feel like someone is there for me in my sad days even if nobody is there but music makes me feel there is someone and that makes me clam and relaxed.The ability of someone is there for me makes me to show empty that’s what I think and we are happy and listen to some fun songs or the song we love as positivity for our mind and that makes us to love people is the thing. Also music is a great way to calm a aggressive person to calm.The great thing I like about the music is that it can change our mood like how we feel can change it whether listening to sad song or any other song. Listening music can take you to the other world depends on the type of music it will take you to heaven or place you where somebody is making me calm and showing empthy towards me that’s all the brain game.That’s my own experience towards music. Now i am taking music classes my interest towards the music and brain is increasing day by day.

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  19. I got to the gym regularly and one day I realized that depending on the song genre and it’s tempo, it determines how energetic I was during my intensity training (ie. cardio). So, of course I couldn’t listen to Lady Gaga’s “Joanne” album, but instead I can listen to EDM and my performance was definitely enhanced. I read an article the other day about a study that music works as a stimulus which in exercising helps increase stamina, energy, and overall performance while reducing fatigue simultaneously. Music basically distracts us from our bodies focusing on the negative sensations such as pain while we work out so we can continue on. Music is such a benefit and really promotes a healthier, happier you. 🙂 Check out the article! https://www.psypost.org/2018/08/listening-to-music-while-exercising-activates-specific-brain-region-and-could-help-stave-off-fatigue-52035

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    1. Wow, this was such a great read! Very informative but fun to read at the same time especially since I am a person that needs music to keep me motivated during a workout.

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  20. Music has always been a tool I use to connect with people. From trying to explain or understand myself to trying to understand someone else, music has brought me to different worlds. It has shown me culture through words and sounds. Some countries use certain interments to explain there culture. For example, some say the native sounds of Puerto Rico are different types of guitars which are requinto, tiple, and cuatro.
    I always knew that music can make you happy but to understand which part of your brain is comprehending it is amazing. I also considered music being a “Natural Therapy” because its something that anyone can use at any point of time to change their feelings, distract, or just to comfort themselves.

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    1. Music is comfort I thik when you are sad or when you’re happy it feels like it’s your friend or companion. We as humans relates our selves to our situations whether it’s for now or for previous situations and that makes us feel good.

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  21. The fact that just by playing music you are giving your brain a workout is something I never knew before. Though listening showed that multiple parts of the brain was lighting up it still didn’t compare to players, which now by thinking about it makes a lot sense to what I already knew. I always thought that only the front part of the brain on one side would be responsible for something “simple” as playing music, but it basically strengthens a “bridge” also known as the corpus callosum between the two parts of our brain helping information get processed faster and threw more diverse routes.

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  22. I am a guitar player, so the first video is very interesting. I did not know that playing an instrument would improve the brain so positively. With that being said, everybody should learn how to play an instrument! 🙂

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  23. The music that I listen to varies on how I’m feeling and what’s going on in my life. When I listen to sad music I often think about the struggles I have faced in life which I can relate to a song and the message it portrays. Often times I try not to listen to those kinds of music because they put me in a funk. However music in general makes one feel emotions and can lift a persons mood as well. I did not know that it works 9 areas of the brain. Music has always had an impact on me. For example; I noticed that I focus and concentrate more on my homework when I listen to music. I feel without music in the world it would be a boring place.

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    1. You’re definitely right about that! I can relate as well as when I listen to music while doing certain work I have more motivation and I feel more relaxed to be in a concentrated state of mind. Music is very influential without it certainly would be quite boring.

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  24. Sometimes when I think about music having an effect on me it is increasingly apparent when I have my nerves calmed down by melodies, or when I reminisce on memories I have on the past when emotions invoked with a song in particular. It’s no denying that music can typically be very therapeutic in some instances and definitely has an effect on your state of mind and how you’re feeling. For example when I listen to heavier rock music my adrenaline starts to run wild or when I listen to soundtracks from video games or movies its like I’m immersed into those environment. Additionally when I listen to Alternative Rock or Christian music it’s also very soothing and takes me back to memories in middle school and high school with where I was in those instances while listening. Music definitely travels to the brain immediately which is why we all have those feelings for sure.

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  25. Reading this article and watching the videos I’ve learned so much more about music ! What surprised me the most is that hearing music is like working out the brain this made me think of there’s a different effect if you hear a different type of music will your brain react different to different subjects of music

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  26. Music can have an effect on a person in multiple ways. Uplifting music can bring a person into a better mood as well as other songs that can effect someone’s mood in a variety of ways. When I listen to a song, it reminds me of moments I had when listening too it. Other times I listen to songs that have lyrics that I could relate too. I strongly agree with the videos, music could definitely have an effect on a persons mood. The videos were also very informative, I found it interesting how the brain reacts to different sounds

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  27. Honestly this has opened my eyes! I have always said that a certain song can bring me back to a person place or thing. Sometimes I just have to close my eyes and hear a song and suddenly I find my self somewhere else. Music has always shifted my moods. As well as anyone elses! Totally agree!

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  28. In the video ‘how playing a musical instrument benefits the brain,’ the narrator described the experience for musicians as though they are fireworks going off everywhere inside their brains. I’ve been wondering why is it that music, unlike other activities, activates every part of the brain. Is it because music interacts with and engages almost all our senses – what we feel (connected to our emotions), the way we touch (when playing an instrument), what we see (when reading music) and what we hear? From my experience playing the steel pan I do know that playing music requires a high level of concentration, but I never knew it worked the brain so much. Interesting!!

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  29. I defiantly agree with what this article is saying about people and our deeper connection to music. I say this not only cause I’ve experienced some of the methods said here but I’ve seen it happens to a variety of friends that listen to different genres of music too. As said in the text “we have a physiological reaction to the music that’s involuntary, exciting, sometimes unexpected, and often enjoyable”. This is something I understand we do cause it doesn’t happen to me with all songs, just ones that I like or that the particular listener likes. I’m also very interested about the way that our brain decides which song appeals and then want to play it over before we even think about replaying it. This article also addresses the mood that music could put you in depending on what kind of music your listening to. If you have a upbeat with major chords that could be a happy uplifting song, while playing the same song in a minor could make the song more sad and emotional. I Defiantly Agree with this text and want to converse more !

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  30. I agree with all of you! Especially when I’m at the gym EDM music Techno as much as anything helps me get through my workouts and makes me just want to kill the workout that much more! Also, like when I’m down or depressed I really like R&B to get me threw tough times like Ne-Yo was great and XXX before he passed.

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  31. For me personally music is a language of feelings, most time it all depends on the mood you are in for instance I grew up in a small Caribbean island St. Vincent and the Grenadines the Caribbean is mostly know for reggae, steel pan and calypso music, for instance on Saturdays while cleaning and doing house work for some reason first thing I do is to start playing some calypso because it gives me a boot of energy and it tends to make the work feel lighter because your brain is not focus on the amount of work you have, music works as a motivator whether you want to exercise or you don’t want to do a specific chore because it’s boring. This can be done by playing upbeat music to keep you hyped and distracted while you keep on working.
    There are other times when you are feeling sad you tend to lean more to music that is slow, mellow and calming. Music can often make or break a day. It can change your mood, amp you up for the present situation.
    Listening to Steelpan is also one of my favorite I cannot even begin to explain how I feel when listening to steelpan it’s like my brain takes over and you feel a sense of release

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  32. I honestly agree with the video ‘How playing a musical instrument benefits the brain’ because when I first started to learn to play the violin it did fell like fireworks were going on my brain and still does.So much is going on when you learn to play an instrument.Personally it has help me think more creative as well help me feel and see in different ways towards certain situations.

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  33. For me personally music is something that can make me forget about the world. When I listen to Spanish trap, bachata, or even rap music I feel like I don’t have no worries in life. Music is an escape but also something that keeps me concentrated. For some people music can be a distraction when studying or doing homework, but for me its different. If you ever see me anywhere you will always see me listening to music because its something that fascinates me. Music is something I believe I have in my blood because whether I know how to sing or not I love to sing and love to move to the beats of the songs. Every song can be transformed in someones brain to make them feel any type of mood depending on the music thats another thing that fascinates me about music. One can be sad at one point then listen to a song that they love and it will make them happy and it goes in reverse also.

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  34. I agree with the last video, because I think it is true, because you choose the music you want to hear, according how you feel, making you better or making you think about everything you have done. I think music helps you in many ways.

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  35. I can agree with the information given about the brain and how it responds when we sing. When i sing i can tell that my brain is releasing chemicals just based of the emotion I feel. It starts off with me feeling anxious but when I am on stage and I get into the grove of things, I start to begin to feel good and its like I become a whole new person. I become even happier when I do a riff or run that I’ve never done before.

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  36. With my experience with music, I can see how this is true. When I listen to music, I feel something that I cant neccesarliy feel when im listen to something else. I can listen to music to feel emotion, or to forget everthing that is around me. Music and dance is something that help the brain out, or at lest in my case.

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  37. Wow, I wouldn’t have never expected that music had such a huge impact on my up bringing. I can see now that it helped shape me to the person I am today. Finding out that music is so powerful to a point where change your mood by our brain releasing dopamine, is astonishing in its self.

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  38. I believe music helps people’s mental, physical or social health, and these articles provide many researches of the relationship between music and the human brain. Also, I agree with Prigle 7 “songs connect to a certain moment.” Sometimes people listen to music; it brings happy, sad moments in their lives. However, I have questions about music. Good or sounds good music (people feel happy when they listen to music); that is benefit for the brain. How about bad music? (everyone has his or her opinion, for example, other language music or bad reproduction of severely over-processed music.) My personal believe music has both positive and negative effects because it depends on what music we listen/ how long/how to listen.

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  39. I’ve never thought that music has such a huge impact on the brain. Just listening to music can change your mood that quick. What I found to be astonishing was that when listening to music it can release dopamine and improve our long-term memory, our language skills and much more. music does bring us many emotions. For everyone listening to music, playing an instrument is beneficially for our brains in many ways especially young children, and I find it to be interesting because my major, education, which goes in hand to hand. Reading that music, the brain and young children benefit them in their development for there stages in life. Music is extremely beneficial to our minds and body.

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  40. It all makes sense now! I always wondered why when listening to certain songs I got goosebumps or chills, it was giving me a certain high. And why every musician I know is very intelligent because they were constantly working out their brain. Maybe this is why people say watch what type of music you listen to. It can either have a good or bad affect on you.

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  41. i agree with both the reading and the video. For me, music has always been my way out. If I’m just realizing, I will listen to music to keep me in that zone. If im feeling down, I will listen to some ‘turn up’ music to jumpstart a better mood. I would consider music a huge part of my everyday life. I have also played several instrument during my school years and found that I did do significantly better with my schoolwork during those periods. Music has such a strong impact on me, just hearing the bass in a song would have me replaying the song just so i can hear it again. Its not only about the lyrics for me, but also the music itself. I love everything about music, I would even go so far as to consider it my escape from everything. Its a release for me, which has everything to do with the brain. I truly enjoyed this weeks reading.

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    1. I agree with everything you stated. Especially the part about bass. I would literally replay the song if I enjoyed the bass, or even the beat itself.

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  42. I feel that this is completely true! Music does have a way of conveying feelings to the listener. It sets the mood for an occasion, or it might even cheer you up when you’re feeling down. Our brains have a way of getting accustomed to the type of music we listen to and in different times of our lives, it can be a good and bad thing. I mean good because it keeps us entertained while on a trip or even while doing homework. It can also be a bad thing because in times where we need something to calm us down, I personally believe that we turn to different styles and genres of music! Music is helpful in many ways that we don’t notice of until we come across such article, or discussion. Music can help an individual recuperate from a divorce or even help celebrate an achievement in life.

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  43. http://blogs.einstein.yu.edu/how-loneliness-affects-the-mind-and-body/
    I’ve used music therapy to remedy the setbacks of being an introvert. I’ve come to enjoy listening Jazz and symphonies because of the mental stimulus that comes with listening to them. Instead of wallowing in self pity, music, as Deanna Choi stated, was an emotional catharsis for me. Music has definitely helped me grow these last 2 years as it helped to take away unnecessary stress, boost up my self-confidence, and encouraged me to live a more satisfying lifestyle.

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  44. When I listen to music I personally feel a sense of relaxation. No matter what genre I am listening to I typically feel the same sense of joy. I personally believe that all music is good in its own right. even if there is only one person who listens to one song by one no name band or group or composer it was still able to reach somebody on a deeper. For all anybody knows that song could have steered that person onto a path they didn’t even know they were going on to and whether or not this was a positive or negative change you can never know because as we all know, everybody interprets music differently.

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  45. I agree that music has a large impact on the brain. When I listen to music I feel calm as if I am in a whole different atmosphere. Music has a way of broadcasting feelings that people have and also sets the mood of an event that is taking place. Music is a lot of people’s way out of reality, for me it definitely zones me out and takes away some of my problem for a slight moment. These articles show the power of music and how much it can influence someone’s emotions. In my opinion music can have both an positive and negative affect on someone, it depends on the person and how they decide to interpret what they are listening to.

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  46. An escape, a passion, and a release is what music exudes in our lives. Like many others in this discussion, I completely agree with the impact that music has on the brain. For me, it’s not necessarily about the lyrics. Its mostly about the background music. Call me weird but from an Indian descendant, I enjoy music from all cultures even though I have no idea what they are saying. It’s that distinct background music that really gets to me. It’s that beat that takes me into another life when I close my eyes. At times it gets scary of how much of an impact music has on me. One time I almost blacked out from the impact a particular song had on me. My brain started to pound, I started to get dizzy, but then I saw the light. I saw things on the other side. I can’t explain it, but it was truly amazing of the place the song had taken me too.

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    1. You absolutely nailed it. Love the way you wrote that. It’s not weird at all to love other forms of music from other nations. Aside from listening to Jazz, symphonies and podcasts, I tune into k-pop, j-rock, 70’s funk, heck even celtic music or EDM from time to time. That hypnotic Hispanic beat, That soulful beat in African music, that graceful sound of European instruments, and that emotional depth heard in Eastern songs. Each nation brings its own flare, and each leaves its own distinct impression in all of us. Music, whether sung or through sounds, transcends language barriers. That’s just one of the great things about music. it can be enjoyed on our own, but also helps to connect us with others.

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  47. It’s amazing how music can have a major impact on an individuals mood. When i listen to a specific song, it tends to change the way i feel in the moment because it makes me think back to a specific memory in my life. Sometimes my music jogs my memory about things i had forgotten and depending on whether it was good or bad, I tend to feel a certain way whether it be happy or sad. Music is truly a wonderful thing.

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  48. Music has such a huge impact on your brain, it can completely transform your feelings with the lyrics, the beat, and the background it comes from. I love listening to all different genres of music and music in different languages because it makes me feel how I want to feel at that moment. If I need something uplifting, a song to relieve my stress, a distraction, there’s always a song out there for every emotion/feeling you go through.

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  49. I’ve always believed the thought that the type of music you listen to influences your personality, and can provide support in your everyday tasks. For example when I’m working out at the gym, I definitely prefer to listen to Rap because I think it’s an adrenaline booster than a more “relaxed” genre like jazz. I just believe that my brain responds better to different forms of music when I am doing different activities.

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  50. Pingback: Musical educations and the education of music – Dr. Jones' Music Classes

  51. I agree with music being able to trigger certain emotions. Even if its an emotion that you are trying to suppress, a certain song will always trigger that emotion out of you. Often times when I hear a certain song, I think of the first time I heard it and begin to reminisce. I can remember the smallest details of that moment such as the exact location I was in or the smallest action I was doing. I can’t go a day without listening to music.

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