By Jasper Lim and Brasen Tham (Y13)
Have you ever noticed how a song can instantly change your mood, help you focus or bring back vivid memories? Music isn’t just entertainment; it’s a full brain experience. Scientists have found that listening to and playing music activates multiple regions of the brain at once, making it a very powerful tool for learning, emotion, and even physical coordination.
How listening to music helps the brain:
Listening to music can:
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Improve concentration and memory
- Boost mood and motivation
- Help with relaxation and sleep
When you listen to music, your brain releases dopamine, the same “feel-good” chemical involved in rewards and motivation. That’s why your favorite songs can feel so satisfying.
Different Genres, Different Brain Effects:
Not all music affects your brain in the same way. Different genres can activate different mental processes:
- Classical music: Often linked to improved focus and problem-solving
- Pop music: Engages emotional and reward systems
- Jazz: encourages creativity and improvisation
- Electronic music: Stimulates rhythm and timing centres
- Rock or hip-hop: Boost energy and motivation
Your brain responds to tempo, rhythm, and complexity so switching genres can actually “exercise” different parts of your mind.
How playing music might help the brain
Playing music could help executive function, which is related to task management. The more executive function you have, the increased probability of having better decision making. On another note, people enroll their kids in music classes to try to improve their fine motor skills, e.g string instruments.
The sense of learning a piece is tied to muscle memory which means automatic movements without thought (like a reflex).
Hand-eye coordination, defined by Merriam-Webster as, “: the way that one’s hands and sight work together to be able to do things that require speed and accuracy (such as catching or hitting a ball)” could be extended to instruments that require you to have sheet music and use your hands. On the violin, the bow has to work with the notations written on your music, such as the position of your bow or the pressure that you have to place. The same goes for the piano, with looking between the score and your hands – there’s the ability to learn by heart and to have the muscle interactions in place after enough practice. It’s also nice to have a sense of positive achievement like being able to perform a song (with gradual efforts) – this compounds with the ability to both hear and feel nice emotions.
Medical Microscope Hypothesis (not checked): The recurring motifs throughout some music, such as pop or classical, helps the listener identify techniques that help enrich the music.
A Sense of Pitch and Traits
We’ve talked now about the benefits of both listening and learning music. Here, let’s explore the phenomena that seem to bless or bother people in terms of the musical world.
First, let’s talk about perfect pitch. The term of perfect pitch can also be called “absolute pitch”. While it seems that many depend on how a tone is in regards to other tones, people with perfect pitch can just say the pitch of a string being played, or the coffee maker saying that your brew is ready. Perfect pitch is dependent on how much musical background and immersion you have – however, it’s not ultimately the most important quality to have when learning an instrument. Some classical household name composers, like Beethoven or Mozart, had this ability.
Creativity is prevalent in music – especially with composition. It takes work to make a song that you feel proud of! Resilience as well. The ability to keep on consistently working towards something is important, creating links between familiarity and giving your brain the right script for ability.
Earworms and more conditions
Putting it simply, an earworm is a song that keeps on being stuck in your head without you wanting it to be there. It can get there unexpectedly – like the hiccups, and it can take a while to shake off.
You may have also heard on social media about the term synesthesia, which is when people can associate elements like color to ideas (like the days of the week), and even songs. It’s a pretty rare condition – linking to the idea of musicality, some people can hear textures during a song.
Shuffle it up
Music is best heard when it’s enjoyable to you. Whether you like pop, classical, or metal, there’s something that responds chemically to what you hear. The same song, however nice to you though, can be grating after ceaseless repetition. It might take a while before you can tolerate it again.
If you picture yourself just being able to listen without any worry about that song, or if it helps you during focus or even being able to do tasks like cleaning the table or studying, then go for it!
Some people say that studying with music on can be distracting. Others say that it helps. Choose whichever one helps your progress, while not drifting yourself from your main objective.
Wherever you are in the realm of music, whether it be as a listener or a creator, make sure that the steps you take to find your style are you. Although music can be rewarding in the benefits that you gain out of it, being able to take a pause from the usual shuffle and laugh for a while can be the greatest enjoyment of them all.