Music has always been a huge part of my family ever since I was a child, whether it be my mom listening to 80s music in the kitchen or my brother playing his cello in the living room. So it was only natural in 4th grade that when given the option to join in and start playing the violin, I took the opportunity without any hesitation. Today, I don’t regret that decision in the slightest, helping me to relax and enjoy the music I create.
Can Music Affect Health?
Stress comes in many forms, whether it be a difficult class or the pressure of extracurricular activities, stress is a part of every individual’s life. If not handled properly, one’s health can rapidly decline, making stress management very important in our daily lives. Thankfully, music making is very successful in helping people like me destress. Many musicians including me find making music to be something that helps them relax, as WebMD’s article “How Making Music Reduces Stress” highlights perfectly. While it may not seem like it, music can actually improve both mental and physical health due to the casual, fun nature of being able to play what you want. The pleasure of just playing the piece you love allows for stress responses to halt, making people who play any instrument happier and healthier.
Musical Mindset
Playing instruments can also help us see the fun of life, giving those who play a positive outlook towards our experiences. Psychology Today’s article “Stress Mindset Tied to Physical and Mental Health” dives into the topic of mindset, mentioning that “cognitive reappraisal, or the ability to change one’s thoughts in the presence of emotionally-charged stimuli, can improve responses to stressful situations”. People who see stress as an impairment tend to deal with stress in a much more negative way than people who see it as a way to mature and grow.” Music gives a safe, enjoyable way to challenge ourselves without the risk of any backlash. Not only does this help us improve musically, but it also teaches us how to properly overcome challenges we may run into, whether it be a hard section of music or an audition that you may prepare for. The way one deals with stress in music correlates to how one deals with stress outside of music too, and just adapting your mindset on how to tackle the challenge in front you can make the difference between overcoming it or falling behind.
The Power of Listening
Not only can playing music lessen our stress, it can also lessen the stress of others listening to us. Psych Central’s article “The Power of Music to Reduce Stress” focuses on how listening to music can cause a significant drop in depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Many people even use it for meditation and therapy.
But why is this the case? Just like with playing music, listening to music also lowers cortisol, the main stress hormone. The brain releases pleasure hormones like dopamine instead, allowing the individual to relax. No matter what genre of music, every song has the power to improve people’s lives, and I am delighted to be able to provide that to people through my violin.
Music in any shape, form, or sound, helps the people it comes across destress and enjoy life to the fullest. I am and will forever be grateful for choosing to play the violin and being able to bring happiness to myself and others who chose to listen to the music I create.
As a fellow musician, there is nothing more satisfying and serotonin-boosting than finally getting through the rough patch of sheet music you’ve been working on. I’ve been playing the piano since I was 6 but it wasn’t until I stopped taking lessons that I truly exceled with the instrument. When I stopped seeing it as a chore, something I had to sit down for 30 minutes a day and work on, and instead as a stress reliever, I can no longer limit my time on the piano. Personally, I use it as a break in between studying. When using the Pomodoro method, its easier to do short breaks with something your brain genuinely enjoys. For me, this is making music. I loved this post and can’t wait for the next.
I had known music is a good stress relief from what my music teachers told me in the past. Also from my own experience of just laying in bed at midnight listening to some of my favorite tracks; it was always so soothing.
I relate to your post so much. I started playing music a little later, having played the clarinet from 5th to 7th grade and switching over to the oboe since then. From my personal experience, what I find most relaxing about it is that while you’re practicing, you don’t have to worry about anything else except the music that you’re playing. That break from real life is often what I need when I feel overwhelmed. Not only that, but I get to make work with my hands while making reeds, which also helps calm me down. I think an important aspect of music as a stress reliever that was missed was the connections you form from playing in an ensemble. I’ve played music together with several of my closest friends for years, and that can bring so much joy as well. I think this post was well-written, conveying the argument in a way that makes sense and flows nicely, allowing the reader to connect with various points because music is such an integral part of our lives.