Music on the Mind: Jamming out with our brains!

By ISJL Education Fellow Paige Beame
 
Beyond its power to bring someone to their feet in jubilation, music constantly stimulates the brain. For example, the tempo (speed) of music activates several parts of a person’s brain! This article describes several hidden ways our favorite songs and symphonies influence our mind and intrinsic abilities. Hopefully, these tidbits will add some intention to classroom lessons and service preparation:
 

1. Different genres of music uniquely impact brain function. Classical music is a great stress reliever, enhances memory, and can improve sleep. Some researchers also discovered that listening to classical music like opera made people more emotionally available with a greater capacity for empathy. Curiously, heavy metal music also can be beneficial for cognitive health as it may help people process anger and other impulses.[1]

 

1. Beats matter! The brain distinguishes a range of tempos from 40 to 300 bpm or beats per minute. Anything above or below that range can sound chaotic. The ideal bpm that harmonizes with our bodies is actually 120 bpm. At 120 bpm, a piece of music synchronizes to the body and aligns with physical movements and expands the ability to speak, read, and concentrate.

 

1. Tone is tops. While interpreting a musical piece as happy or sad seems subjective, the brain actually responds to tonal varieties. During one study, participants analyzed a neutral facial expression differently based on the music they listened to throughout the exercise—those that heard “happy” music believed the pictured face also reflected joy.

 

1. Ambient noises can improve creativity. This moderate noise level promotes “abstract processing”, which then helps people with problem solving and taking innovative approaches to work.

 

1. Personality plays a role, too. In some cases, our music choices may help people predict our personalities. Researchers found that subjects could deduce traits like openness to experience, extraversion, and emotional stability based on another participant’s go-to playlist. 

 

1. Instrumental impact. Playing an instrument over three years often correlates with stronger motor and reasoning skills, vocabulary, and visual acuity. This potential benefit results from students reading music theory, training their body and embouchure, and collaborating with other instrumentalists on ensemble melodies.

 

1. Move to the music. Finally, music can help us through our physical workouts. As they listen to tunes, people build up a greater endurance through fatigue, productively use energy, and attune to their internal bpm for a comfortable groove.[2]

 
The link between music and the mind is a science every classroom can explore. Playing a song during an art project, when students walk in, or even when a class is getting rowdy all establish a soundtrack for success.
 

[1] <https://www.thehealthy.com/mental-health/classical-music-effects/>; <https://www.solidwheel.com/how-different-music-genres-affect-the-brain/>.

[2] <https://www.fastcompany.com/3022942/the-surprising-science-behind-what-music-does-to-our-brains>.