Music is one of the most universal ways of expression in human life. It is present in everyday lives of people of all ages and from all cultures around the world. Music represents an enjoyable activity in itself, but its influence goes beyond mere amusement. Listening to music, singing, playing instruments, composing songs, and improvising are quite common activities for many people. This not only allows one to express inner states and feelings, but also brings many positive effects to people engaged in these activities. Various benefits of music have been recognized in recent times: research in music sciences has identified several dimensions of human life (cognitive, psychological, social, and emotional) which seem to be positively affected by music.
There have been many studies attempting to figure out what impact music has on the human mind. For example, why do different people like different kinds of music, what parts of the brain are activated while listening to music, and if particular parts of the brain are affected more or less by different kinds of music, and others. Some of these questions have remained unanswered, and might stay that way for a while. One thing, however, is for certain: music does affect our daily lives. It affects our emotions. When we listen to sad songs, we tend to feel a decline in our mood. When we listen to happy songs, we feel cheerful. Upbeat songs with energetic riffs and fast-paced rhythms in parties or events tend to make us excited and pumped up. It seems that music helps us concentrate and study as well. Out of those studied, 88.5 percent of people said that they listen to music when they study, work on homework, and perform other activities.
The impact that musical activity has on human life can be found in different processes:
• Music Stimulates more activity- Listening to music has a positive impact on learning outcomes. Doctors at Johns Hopkins opine that listening to music stimulates our brains. Scientists have proved that listening to music engages one’s brain and they can actually see the active areas light up in MRI scans. Researchers now know that just the promise of listening to music can make us want to learn more. In a 2019 study, people were more motivated to learn when they expected to listen to a song as their reward.
• Music enhances overall learning- The transfer of learning from the musical to other cognitive domains. The transfer of learning implies that skills acquired in a specific cognitive domain can be transferred and also used in other domains of human activity. Abilities that have been developed through musical training may also be effectively used in other cognitive tasks.
• Memorization- Music also has a positive effect on your ability to memorize. In a study, researchers gave people tasks that required them to read and then recall short lists of words. Those who were listening to classical music outperformed those who worked in silence or with white noise. Music also helped these people complete the task faster and more accurately. While music does not reverse the memory loss experienced by people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, music has been found to slow cognitive decline. Music memory is one of the brain functions most resistant to dementia. That is why many caregivers have had success using music to calm dementia in patients and build trusting connections with them.
• Mental Fatique and Stress- Music decreases fatigue, boosts exercise performance, and can help manage pain. Anyone who has ever rolled down car windows and turned up the radio knows that music can be energizing. In 2015, researchers at Shanghai University found that relaxing music helped reduce fatigue and maintain muscle endurance when people were engaged in a repetitive task. Music therapy sessions also lessened fatigue in people receiving cancer treatments. Exercise enthusiasts have long known that music enhances their physical performance. A 2020 research review confirms that working out with music improves your mood, helps your body exercise more efficiently, and cuts down on your awareness of exertion. Working out with music also leads to longer workouts. Moreover, specially trained music therapists use music to help alleviate pain in inpatient and outpatient settings. A 2016, a meta-analysis of over 90 studies reported that music helps people manage both acute and chronic pain better than medication alone.
• Emotional Quotient- Music helps human beings to connect and strengthen the bonds of their relationships. For example, national anthems connect crowds at sporting events, protest songs stir a sense of shared purpose during marches, hymns build group identity in houses of worship, love songs help prospective partners bond during courtship, lullabies enable parents and infants to develop secure attachments, and what not. Considering the social component of musical activity, music may also have an impact on social skills and social inclusion, supporting the participation of individuals in collective and collaborative musical events. The promotion of social participation through music can foster many kinds of inclusion, in a wide perspective including intercultural, intergenerational, and disability issues.
All of these aspects seem to confirm the relevant impact and the educational implications that music may have on human development in all ages, and also for people with special needs. Music exerts a powerful influence on human beings. It can boost memory, build task endurance, lighten your mood, reduce anxiety and depression, stave off fatigue, improve your response to pain, and helps you work out more effectively. The cognitive, psychological, behavioural, social, and educational benefits of music highlight the crucial role of musical activity in human development and well-being.