Classical music for health you ask?
Yes, that’s what science has proven: a natural dose of wellness.
We’re all familiar with the way our favorite lyrics can motivate us or help us pass the time. It’s why we have playlists and spend time searching for the right music for the right task or activity.
Music can amp us up, relax us, get us out of a funk, set the right ambiance and it can wake us up.
A little Motley Crue to run your last 5 minutes to?
A little Beyonce to keep you squatting, lunging and kicking?
A little 80s music to cheer you up and set the tone for fun?
All different types of music help- it’s not a one size fits all.
Or…..is it ?
We’ve all heard the saying “music soothes the savage beast.” Well, it turns out there are scientific studies proving this belief with classical music.
I wrote this article because I was facing writer’s block and I couldn’t move forward with my writing.
I remembered how classical music helped me focus on my studies in college- so I thought why not-it can’t hurt.
So I pulled up YouTube and after a little Mozart, words were flowing out of my fingers-just like the music.
That spurred me to look into it more- to see if it was just a coincidence or if there really is more to it.
Classical music lets your mind focus and stop multitasking
If you play classical music like it’s background music (not blaringly loud), your mind can focus on the words you are studying or writing, rather than the lyrics in regular music. This is how you will dive into a deep focus without realizing it.
With classical music, there are no words or catchy choruses to distract you.
There’s no rewinding or turning up the volume to hear the chorus or that particular line of your favorite pop song. Songs with actual lyrics can spur you to sing along, or you may have an emotional attachment to particular words that you just have to stop and “feel” while you listen.
A little Gaga anyone? How can you resist- and then you’re off focus again.
“I want your love, and all your lover’s revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Caught in a bad romance”
You’re welcome 😉
Don’t make your brain multitask – let it focus on what it needs to.
Classical music increases your brain activity but doesn’t distract it. It’s a perfect storm for creativity.
A study by Stanford University used fMRI’s to capture brain activity while listening to classical music. Their research found “that music engages the areas of the brain involved with paying attention, making predictions and updating the event in memory.”
Thank you to takelessons for allowing me to include their infographic- they freely share it so others can learn.
Three health benefits from listening to classical music- backed by science
While searching for information about productivity for my own personal interest, I came across several actual health benefits that I wanted to share with you.
Lowers blood pressure
Studies show that classical music has such benefits as lowering blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) and heart rate.
Systolic blood pressure when listening to Mozart, was reduced by an average of 4.7-8.8 mm HG and diastolic by 2.1-6.5 mm HG. When listening to Mozart, the heart rate was reduced by an average of 5.6-9.8 beats per minute!
Mozart and Strauss seem to be the winners in the blood pressure arena.
Improves Mood/Reduces Stress
Studies also find that the rhythm of classical music results in the brain releasing dopamine– which is a feel-good chemical. That puts one in a pleasant mood and they can then focus or be more relaxed from stress.
It is also found to reduce cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone and its reduction lowers inflammation in the body as well as overall stress.
Reduces the perception of pain
In an article from the NY Times, they interviewed Claudius Conrad; a surgeon who incorporates Mozart in the post-op healing of his patients.
He found that when he played classical music during surgery, his postop patients required less pain medication. He also found that their “brains released 50% more pituitary growth hormone, which reduces inflammation and promotes healing.”
Another study, published in Harvard Men’s Health Watch, backs up his claims, where they found that after cataracts and urologic surgery, patients needed less sedating medication.
The study also found that their blood pressure and heart rates were lower than those that didn’t listen to classical music.
The power of the mind is truly amazing.
Classical music as therapy for health
In my readings, I came across the practice of music therapy. Did you know that it has been around since ancient Greek times?
They found that music helped them wind down at the end of the day and they would even play certain musical tones (usually with a flute) over areas of the body that were experiencing pain.
It’s theorized that music’s vibrations have a healing affect when felt throughout our body and mind. In fact, they treated gout with “the alternating sound of the flute and harp.”
Today, therapy incorporates classical music to help those with autism, epilepsy, Parkinson’s or recovering from a stroke.
That’s powerful stuff!
There’s truth in the tempo
There’s a controversial study called “The Mozart Effect” that claims listening to Mozart increases your IQ.
While that has pretty much been proven false, what studies do show is that it temporarily increases your focus and productivity.
Scientists think it’s because listening to music activates the right side of your brain, which also handles higher functions.
These findings specifically focus on one specific work by Mozart- Sonata for Two Pianos.
The sonata is roughly 25 minutes long, so if you use the Pomodoro method to work on tasks, this will cover one of them. Give it a try!
So if you need to relax, focus, wind down for bed- give classical music a try. Studies used Mozart and Strauss the most often for their benefits.
Online listening options
The type of classical music matters. A slow tempo is beneficial for reducing pain, blood pressure and stress. Notes that inch up like a journey of sound are better for focus and productivity.
The music I find that helps me write and be more productive are on these YouTube videos: Mozart Classical Music for Studying and Beethoven’s Fur Elise
While skimming through the comments on YouTube, I came across a helpful suggestion to open a second tab to listen to a crackling fireplace at the same time.
I tried it, and it really does add to the impact and gives you “the feels” of being in your own study/library on a stormy, cold night.
The mind is very powerful, and classical music has been proven by science to help in several beneficial ways. Any time we can share natural methods that can offer up wellness benefits- we surely will!
Do you have any favorite YouTube videos of classical that you enjoy? If so, please share so others can give them a try.
You may also enjoy: Adult Coloring Books: What Wellness Benefits Can We Gain From Using Them?
