What is music? For musicologists, it is an artistic discipline. For composers, it is a real thought that is reflected through a melody. For music lovers and musicians, it is a unique language that allows them to express their emotions.
The 4th art can have multiple definitions. But that discovered in the writings of Aristotle, Pythagoras and Plato seems to win unanimity. Music is described as a real healing tool. It must be said that the 4th art has many benefits.
Discover the good reasons to listen to it.
To have fun
Listening to music is a real source of pleasure. It’s a simple activity, but one that boosts the release of dopamine, the hormone of happiness and well-being. When your morale is low or when you are sad, just listen to a beautiful song to find a good mood.
To overcome stress
Stress causes many annoying symptoms that can ruin your day and expose you to many dangers. These include fatigue, irritability, fear, increased heart rate and high blood pressure. According to numerous scientific studies, listening to music can reduce them.
How? In fact, music has a soothing and relaxing effect. It can practically act as an anxiolytic. This was proven in a study conducted with patients who were to undergo surgery. By listening to music 30 minutes before the procedure, they were less anxious and more relaxed.
For pregnant women, listening to music is a way to bring a sense of serenity to the baby and calm him down. It even happens that at birth, the infant is able to recognize the songs listened to by his mother during pregnancy. It gives him a feeling of security.
To reduce pain
Music is considered the best painkiller there is. According to a study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing , listening to one hour of music a day helped people with chronic pain find peace of mind. Indeed, it reduced pain sensation by up to 21%.
To treat his patients, the French researcher Fabien Maman opted for the diffusion of musical frequencies which, according to him, have a relaxing effect. In fact, listening to music slows down the rhythms of the brain and reduces the functioning of the neurotransmitters found in the areas of pain. We can therefore say that we can heal ourselves through music.
To stimulate cognitive abilities and brain cells
A study conducted by specialists at the California Neurobiology Center revealed the positive effects of music on cognitive development in children 3 to 4 years old. The study participants were divided into three groups.
The first brought together children who took singing and piano lessons. Those belonging to the second group have taken computer courses and those of the third have not taken any training. All the children then underwent spatial perception tests. Those who have taken music lessons have recorded excellent results. The researchers concluded that the music practically boosted their cognitive abilities.
To boost creativity and concentration
Music can also serve as an excellent source of inspiration. Scientific studies have proven that it helps boost creativity. In addition, many people listen to music when they work or study. This allows them to gain motivation and creativity and to complete their task quickly.
Music is also able to stimulate brain cells and also optimize concentration. It is a source of a feeling of well-being and its beneficial effects last a long time. For example, many people work while listening to music. One could imagine that it could bother them, it is quite the opposite.
To improve the quality of sleep
When you have trouble falling asleep, listening to soft music is an effective solution. We must not forget that it is a way to evacuate stress and reduce anxiety. However, they are the ones that prevent you from falling asleep and having a restful sleep. Thus, do not hesitate to listen to music if you have an insomnia disorder.
To optimize your physical performance
Listening to music is also very beneficial for athletes. Indeed, music hasa doping effect(in the figurative sense as well as in the literal sense precisely because it is considered as such in certain disciplines, which is why listening to music for professional athletes is prohibited). It prevents you from feeling tired and thus boosts your endurance. Listening to music increases the heart rate. Besides, it can also boost your performance.
A study conducted among obese young people revealed that they were able to run for a long time while listening to music. Indeed, they have forgotten the suffering generated by the fact of carrying out a physical exercise which requires a lot of endurance.
To improve your state of mind
When things go wrong, it’s easy to give in to depression (especially in these times of COVID!). However, this causes other problems such as loss of concentration, headaches and a feeling of constant fatigue. If you are suffering from this malaise, listening to music can significantly improve your state of mind.
For example, just listening to a playful song or a melody that reminds you of happy times will make you smile again. You can then increase your optimism and self-confidence.
To fight against cardiovascular disorders
It turns out that music is a great ally in the fight against various cardiovascular disorders such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Indeed, listening to soothing music is a way to reduce blood pressure and heart rate.
To stimulate memory
Music is currently a healing tool used in the treatment of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Indeed, it is able to stimulate auditory memory. Patients are able to hum the melody after listening to it. Some of them even manage to retain the word. Thus, if you want to boost your memory, it is advisable to listen to music regularly.
To alleviate the suffering of cancer patients
People with cancer must undergo heavy treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. They have unpleasant effects like nausea and even vomiting. To relieve patients, music therapy is the ideal weapon. Indeed, it is enough to make them listen to music so that they find a feeling of well-being and that their suffering appeases.
To make you more apathetic
Music softens morals and it is a reality. A study in the Journal of Family Communication found that it can dramatically improve the relationship between parents and teens. It must be said that the latter often have an aggressive behavior and they do not hesitate to enter into conflict with those around them, including their parents. The only way to solve problems with them is to establish communication.
However, this is not easy, because most of the time, they are not open to discussion. A musical exchange is therefore a good idea. Indeed, to appease their anger or anxiety, it is enough to play good music.
A tour on choosing the music to listen to
Listening to music is a source of many benefits provided you choose the melody or song well. When you are sad, for example, listening to a sad song can only accentuate your sadness. You need music that can soothe you, make you happier and bring you comfort.
Likewise, when you are going to practice a sports exercise that requires intense effort, you need to listen to rhythmic music. It will have a doping effect, which will allow you to resist fatigue.
On the other hand, if you want to fight pain, stress or anxiety, you need soft music. The same is true when you have trouble falling asleep. Your playlist must consist of classical, Indian or Celtic music. Finally, to relax and have fun, you must above all listen to your favorite songs.
