What Is the Impact of Music on Our Lives?
What's something you do every time you’re going through a hard season of your life, celebrating a milestone, or want to reminisce about something in the past? Chances are, music is involved in some way, shape, or form.
Music is a universal language that has shaped cultures for centuries and will undoubtedly continue to do so. But have you ever stopped to think about just how much of an impact it has on the human experience? Or wondered what everyday life would be like without your favorite compositions — or worse, without music at all?
Here, we’ll look at the effects of music on us as individuals and on entire communities.
What is the personal impact of music on well-being?
From Mozart's compositions to the latest J. Cole rap, we all have our preferences regarding types of music. But despite our different musical tastes, one thing remains constant — the power of music in evoking emotional responses.
Every note, every beat, and every line can take us back to specific moments in time and spark emotions, setting the stage for personal reflection. So it comes as no surprise that music influences well-being, but let’s examine how.
Remembering music from significant moments
Music is a lot like scents — a single whiff (or, in this case, note) can transport you to significant moments in your past, both good and bad. This is because music often acts as an anchor, allowing for faster recall.
Think about some of the songs you associate with significant moments in your life — anything from your wedding song to the sad music you listened to during your first heartbreak.
How do the songs make you feel? Odds are, they make you experience the same emotions you felt at those specific moments. Such is the power of music!
Connecting genres with feelings
There's an undeniable connection between music and psychology. Different genres of music can affect our moods and emotional states.
For example, a smooth jazz track at the end of a long day can lower cortisol levels, the stress hormone, and enhance relaxation. Similarly, upbeat music can reduce boredom, put you in a better mood, and increase your stamina when working out.
Since music has so much power over mood and emotional states, it's important to be mindful of your music choices. Look at your current emotional state and desired outcomes to determine which types of music to listen to.
For example, if you have zero motivation but need to get some chores done, consider playing upbeat tunes, like Lindsey Stirling's songs. Energetic background music can uplift you and put you in a better mindset to tackle your to-do list.
Improving mental health
The importance of music goes beyond recalling memories and mood regulation. Music can also be a therapeutic tool for stress relief, healing, and emotional processing. In fact, some therapists use music therapy to manage conditions like anxiety, dementia, and substance use disorders, improving patients' quality of life.
There are two main types of music therapy: active and receptive. In active therapy, you take an active role in music activities. For example, you may play an instrument or sing to communicate your feelings.
In receptive therapy, you take on a more passive role, listening to recordings and discussing how they make you feel. Typically, music therapists recommend appropriate activities after assessing a patient’s unique condition and needs. If you think music therapy might be a good fit for you, please be sure to consult a licensed professional.
How does music affect our identities?
Beyond impacting our well-being, music also shapes and reflects our cultural and personal identities. Just look at the people in your immediate circle — their personality traits, behaviors, and beliefs shine through their musical preferences, right?
Discovering yourself
Ever listened to a song or playlist you felt immediately connected to? That’s the power of music. It can help you discover new layers of yourself by opening up a world of emotions.
To understand the power of music, look at how your favorite genre reflects your personality traits, values, and life experiences. Music can also help you express your identity and beliefs. If you play a musical instrument, you can create unique compositions as a means of self-expression. Don’t play an instrument? Consider taking lessons to learn how to express yourself through music and connect with like-minded individuals.
Understanding cultural identity
Music transcends the self and shapes cultural identities by influencing one's sense of pride and belonging. It also reflects the values, beliefs, and traditions of specific communities.
Look at South Korea's K-pop, Jamaica's reggae, or even Brazil's samba — each genre highlights unique aspects of its origin country. For example, samba's drumming techniques and energetic dance reflect Brazil's rich African and Portuguese heritages.
So if you're curious to learn more about your culture or another, exploring its musical creations is a great place to start.
Evolving with music over time
The beauty of music is that it's ever-changing. Your musical tastes grow and evolve as you do, often to reflect your personal growth and distinct life phases.
To get a clear picture of your growth, compare the music you listened to when you were a teenager to what you listen to now. Or look at the types of music older adults listen to versus what adolescents listen to. Quite a difference, right?
The truth is that your tastes will likely continue to evolve as you change as a person. Embrace the evolution as part of your musical journey.
How does music impact our relationships?
There are numerous social benefits of music too. It creates communal experiences and facilitates social interactions, allowing human beings to build connections with those who share the same interests.
Sharing music with others
Music can be the medium over which you make new friends and build strong connections, as it creates shared experiences. Many people have met at concerts or in music classes, bonded over their musical tastes, and developed some of the best friendships or romantic relationships.
So don't downplay the power of music. Play your favorite songs at social gatherings, enroll in music lessons to learn to play your favorite instrument, and share your playlists on music platforms to connect with more people.
Using music as language
Music is a universal language that transcends all language and cultural barriers. Just look at the popularity of K-pop. The U.S. registered 9.2 billion on-demand streams for top K-pop artists in 2023, showing that you don't need to share the same language to enjoy the same musical tastes.
Music can foster understanding and empathy between people from different backgrounds. So it can be the perfect tool for expanding your social circle beyond those you've grown up with or who share the same cultural beliefs.
Expressing yourself
Music can help resolve conflicts and communicate emotions without the need for words. Just observe how children react when their favorite songs start to play. Some may be in the middle of full-on tantrums but stop to enjoy their favorite tunes.
You can use music in various ways to communicate with your loved ones and mend or reflect on relationships. Create playlists that best describe your relationships with friends to convey your feelings or attend the live performances of artists that hold significant places in your relationships.
You can even create new music and dedicate it to your loved ones to show appreciation or apologize.
Tips for expanding your musical horizons
Sure, having your favorite song on repeat is a great way to elevate your mood and promote overall well-being. But by confining yourself to a single type of music, you could be missing out on a world of opportunities to meet and interact with different people, as well as engage different parts of your brain.
Diversify your playlists to enjoy even more benefits of listening to and playing music. Incorporate classical music into your collection to lower your blood pressure, hip-hop to increase your self-esteem, and pop to improve your dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin levels. Here are some tips to help you diversify your musical tastes:
Step outside of your comfort zone
Be open-minded and curious when it comes to your music. Find out what your friends are listening to, check out popular songs across different genres, and attend live shows that are outside your normal tastes. These are some of the best ways to identify new music and experience its drastic impact on everyday life.
If you want to enjoy the benefits of learning music, consider enrolling in Trala’s music lessons to explore a diverse repertoire.
The Trala Method is a technology-forward and completely customizable approach to learning that exposes students to an extensive library of music. Trala encourages students to experience all of the different music the world has to offer, and provides you with the teachers to guide you through it!
Integrate music into your daily life
Make listening to or playing music a natural part of daily life by integrating music into everyday activities. Create themed playlists with different music genres and listen to them as you do everyday tasks like reading, cooking, cleaning, or simply relaxing.
Alternatively, you can create a schedule that sets time aside to explore new genres each week. For inspiration, use music streaming platforms like Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Spotify to discover what other music enthusiasts are listening to.
Find opportunities to connect with others through music
New music can lead to new opportunities for social bonding and vice versa. So challenge yourself to meet new people and build connections by attending local concerts, joining music groups, or participating in music-centered online communities.
When you join Trala, you get to do more than just learn to play a new instrument. Through the platform, you can explore student stories and join the Trala Discord family to make new friends, get music recommendations, ask questions, and more. The Trala community helps inspire students throughout their musical journeys.
Explore deeper connections with music through Trala
Music is a powerful medium that can help you understand yourself, explore your cultural identity, and create and solidify new relationships. In addition to listening to your favorite artists and playlists, take time to explore what others are listening to. You never know what you could be missing out on by confining yourself to a single genre.
If you're interested in exploring your musical tastes and broadening your repertoire, while also learning to play an instrument, Trala is the perfect solution for you. You get access to world-class teachers ready to guide you on your musical exploration journey, helping you discover yourself and build connections through music.
Ready to learn a new instrument and foster deeper connections with music? Sign up for Trala today to get started!
