Take Note: Why Music Is Good For Your Health

My father had a very successful jazz band in college, played the saxophone and had a wonderful baritone voice.  My mother played the piano by ear and could magically harmonize almost any song, but, the musical gene sorta skipped me.

I did sing soprano in a pretty popular singing group way back when, but when I tried to learn to read music, the nuns told me it was hopeless. I dreaded my weekly piano lesson when I was 8.  But, I figured out if I just watched Sister Frances play the songs on the piano and listen to the tune she was assigning me during my weekly lesson, then I could go back and not have to practice at all and just play the tune by ear at my next lesson.  It worked for a while, but, Sister Frances wised up. She caught on when she kept pointing to notes and I could not recall them. Busted!

But, whether you are a musician, singer or a listener, you probably feel how powerful music can be. It has the ability to set the mood instantly, does it not? It can bring up emotions and intensity the moment.  Yes, it is a real game changer!

Music and Its Powerful Effects On Your Health

I am rather sure you have felt how music can change your mood, but did you know it actually can affect your body in other ways as well? Here are some other fascinating effects it may have on your health:

Play tunes an hour day to keep that doctor away.  Listening to music that pleases you may increase your immunity, which in turn helps fight disease. It lowers stress hormones that harm our body. What a deal!

Pounding headache? Music may help.  And, I have the playlist right here for you! There may be a tendency to search for quiet when your head is pounding, but this says otherwise.  Next time, I feel a migraine coming on, should I reach for that playlist rather than the aspirin? Apparently! Studies say music can help sufferers reduce the intensity, frequency, and duration of headaches.

Music makes for a great entrance.  Incorporating music therapy during childbirth decreases post-natal anxiety and pain, increases the satisfaction with childbirth and reduces the likelihood of postpartum depression.  I'd day that's a great way to bring a child into the world!


Sleep easy with the right notes.  I have lots of ideas on how to create a bedtime routine for better sleep here, but relaxing music is another great tool to beat insomnia. Many people find just 45 minutes of relaxing music before bedtime can make for a better night's sleep. Researchers discovered that music can decrease the amount of cortisol, a hormone produced by the body in response to stress, which aids in sleep.

Those with high blood pressure should choose their music wisely.  Depending on the type of music, researchers in Italy and the United Kingdom found playing recordings of relaxing music could reduce blood pressure, but hold on! Music with a faster tempo increased it.

Music can be a great study partner.  Studying with music may help you retain the information. Here's how: the information being studied activates the left brain while the music activates the right brain. Further,  activities which engage both sides of the brain at the same time, such as playing an instrument or singing, cause the brain to be more capable of processing information as a whole.

Listening to music can reduce physical or emotional pain.  Studies performed in Denmark show that music may help us focus our attention on the music rather than the pain or it may actually help our brain release chemicals that reduce pain.  Either way, it's great to have a vehicle to lessen pain without painkiller drugs.

Music takes you down memory lane.  Ever notice how listening to an old song takes you to that time in your life front and center? I think you can agree that is pretty powerful memory recall.

Music can make for a fitter bod.  Anyone that has taken a spin class or goes to a gym or dance class knows first hand how music can clearly motivate you to exercise harder.

Heard the song deemed the most relaxing ever?  Not I . . .  until I came upon this! This has been “scientifically proven” to be the most relaxing song ever produced. The song has the ability to slow heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and decreases cortisol stress levels at unprecedented rates. It has spa day written all over it.

Were you listening to music when you were reading this? Hope so! And, if not, I may have some ideas on that next time!

Need a bit more?

• Music is a great mood elevator. But, here is another great way to bring a smile on as well. 

• Tunes you play certainly affect your health, but TV programming does too. Find out if your choices are affecting you.

Make sure you don't miss a healthy thing!

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piano: photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/34316967@N04/7137607625/">jDevaun.Photography</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">cc</a>
sheet music: photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/clintw/8127550613/">minnepixel</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>
saxophone: photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/thelotuscarroll/9578267904/">Lotus Carroll</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>