Music is an integral part of our lives. We listen to it when we’re sad or happy and hum along when we don’t even know the song. But did you know there are positive benefits to listening to music? From reducing anxiety to reminding you of forgotten memories, music has powerful qualities that can enhance your life in ways you didn’t think were possible.
Let’s take a closer look.
Benefits of Listening to Music
Listening to music can provide our brains with benefits that improve our lifestyle and help us live a better quality of life. No matter how you choose to incorporate music into your life, you may be experiencing some of the benefits, you just don’t know it.
A Natural Mood Enhancer
Listening to music can help lower your stress levels and make you feel happier. That’s because when you listen to music, your brain releases dopamine, a “happy hormone” that the body needs. This happy hormone helps lift our spirits and provides us with a feeling of joy. Whenever you get chills from listening to music, that’s the happy hormones in your body responding!
Strengthens Your Memory
Have you ever remembered a memory while listening to a song? That’s because music is a memory aid that helps us remember memories we thought we had forgotten.
Research suggests that music also helps us store new memories. That’s why it’s used to help people who suffer from brain injuries or strokes. The sound of the music can help them recall old memories, store new memories and recover quicker.
Better Quality of Sleep
Remember when your mom used to sing you a lullaby before bed? Well, that’s because music is a natural remedy that helps soothe the nervous system and allow our body to relax. It also can decrease levels of cortisol, which helps individuals feel at ease and release unwanted stress before bed.
Boost Immunity
Did you know that music is a natural immune booster? Studies show that listening to music can increase the production of the antibody immunoglobulin A. This can help fight off unwanted viruses and reduce anxiety, stress, and depression.
How Music Benefits Musicians
Studies show that music also has a powerful impact on musicians’ brains. From improved auditory skills and memory, learning an instrument can provide your body with physical and mental benefits. It cultivates creativity and encourages our bodies to use almost every part of our brains.
Think of learning an instrument as a workout for your brain. As you memorize the cords of a song and learn how to play it from start to finish, your brain is working and is stimulated in new ways, which can help boost your memory and improve your motor skills. Not only that, but since musicians are often doing two things at once, it can also lead to higher-level multisensory skills.
Providing children with an opportunity to learn a new instrument at an early age can provide them with skills that will follow them into adulthood. One study shows that 90% of children that were in music lessons scored higher on verbal skills. The children also showed a high level of cognitive skills.
Not only that, but learning how to play an instrument can also boost their creativity, communication skills, reading skills, and confidence: all things that will help them improve academically and socially. Music is a skill that can change your brain structure to work in new and imaginative ways and lead to a better quality of life that will stay with them forever.
At MI, it’s our mission to help students create music and experience all the benefits. Not only will they learn a new skill they can cherish for years to come, but they’ll also be using their brains in new ways you never thought were possible.
We provide a creative and supportive environment for their creativity to flourish and for them to grow a true appreciation for music. If you are ready for them to experience everything music has to offer or to learn more about us, contact us today.