Music has a powerful effect on a person’s emotional state. What kind of music is most beneficial for maintaining mental well-being?
The emotional power of music was recognised even in ancient times. Saul, the first king of Israel, experienced severe emotional turmoil, and his servants lived in fear of his unpredictable behaviour. They found someone who could play music to calm him. That person was David, who played the harp to help Saul recover his emotional balance.¹ The ancient Greeks also recognised music’s power. Writers like Homer and philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle discussed its effects, with Aristotle noting that music influences a person’s character.² It is widely believed that music has the power to calm and soothe. Still, not every type of music has that effect.
Positive and negative influence
Like many aspects of life, music can influence us in both positive and negative ways. Music itself, even without lyrics, is a type of emotional language. Songs with a cheerful tone, usually based on major chords, tend to make us feel happy. In contrast, songs with a sad tone, often built on minor chords, can make us feel melancholic. The pieces we enjoy most will usually lift our mood at least to some degree.
Music, however, does not influence only our emotions. It is also governed by the principles of mathematics and physics. As a result, it affects the physical state of the body, particularly the central nervous system, including the brain. This influence occurs regardless of whether we enjoy the specific musical style or piece in question. In this respect, music that is appropriate supports both body and mind, while inappropriate music can be detrimental. Numerous scientific studies confirm this to be the case.
The impact of music on the body – scientific studies
For example, studies conducted by Schreckenberg, a neurologist, and Bird, a physicist, demonstrated that rock music impaired mice in their ability to find the correct path to a reward in a maze. It was also observed that mice exposed to rock music during the experiment continued to struggle with navigation even after the music had been stopped. Examination of their brains revealed permanent damage, particularly in the hippocampus and frontal lobe. It is hardly surprising, then, that these mice had great difficulty in completing the maze.³
Other research focused on unborn children. A study conducted in Florida involved 52 fetuses, half of whom were exposed to children’s music and lullabies three times a day, while the other half formed a control group. The findings showed that the babies who had been exposed to music gained more weight, had better appetites, spent less time in hospital, and exhibited lower levels of stress compared to those who had not been exposed to music.⁴
Melody, harmony, rhythm… and syncopation
The studies mentioned above demonstrate that music affects us regardless of personal taste. Much depends on the way a particular piece is composed. Music is made up of three main elements: melody, harmony, and rhythm. As Yehudi Menuhin, the American violinist and conductor, observed, ‘Music creates order out of chaos; rhythm gives unity to diversity, melody gives continuity to chaos, and harmony gives compatibility to the incompatible’.⁵
A clear hierarchy among these elements is essential. When rhythm dominates in music, it primarily stimulates the body. Unfortunately, rhythm that is not synchronised with the natural rhythms of the human body can be harmful. This is particularly true of music in which syncopation is dominant. While syncopation can be used effectively as an occasional embellishment, a piece based entirely on it may have a hypnotic effect and weaken the function of the brain’s frontal lobe. The body attempts to adjust to such music, which can result in harm.⁶
Regrettably, the vast majority of popular music relies on unsynchronised, syncopated rhythms at the expense of harmony and melody. This causes the body, and especially the nervous system, to be stimulated in an unnatural way. It is therefore not surprising that such music is associated with promiscuity on the one hand, and with increased aggression and depressive moods on the other. Its detrimental effects on the human mind are particularly evident during concerts, at discos, and in nightclubs.⁷
Choose the best music!
How can we care most effectively for both body and mind? Researchers studying the impact of music on human health have found that classical music, especially from the Baroque and Classical periods, is particularly beneficial for mental well-being. There is evidence, for instance, that listening to Mozart can slightly enhance mental productivity.⁸ Other composers often recommended include Vivaldi, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Haydn. Pachelbel, especially his well-known Canon in D Major, also deserves special mention. Classical music is even recommended by music therapists as an effective method for treating neurosis and depression.⁹
It is important to choose music that uplifts and encourages us towards what is good. A basic understanding of musical structure can help us distinguish between different styles and select music that is both beneficial and enjoyable. This is particularly relevant when music is intended not only to improve our mood but also to express praise to God. As Johann Sebastian Bach, the German organist and composer, stated, ‘The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul’.¹⁰ We should therefore use good music to honour God and take delight in its effects.
By the way, we recommend reading the articles:
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- The Power of Spoken Words
Footnotes
- The Bible, New King James Version, 1982, 1 Samuel 16:14–23.
- Nedley, N. (2013) The Lost Art of Thinking. Ardmore: LifeSource Publishers, p. 279.
- Schreckenberg, G. M. and Bird, H. H. (1987) ‘Neural plasticity of Mus musculus in response to disharmonic sound’, Bulletin of the New Jersey Academy of Science, 32, pp. 77–86.
- Caine, J. (1991) ‘The effects of music on the selected stress behaviors, weight, caloric and formula intake, and length of hospital stay of premature and low birth weight neonates in a newborn intensive care unit’, Journal of Music Therapy, 28(4), pp. 180–192.
- Quoted in Nedley, N. (2013) The Lost Art of Thinking. Ardmore: LifeSource Publishers, p. 289.
- Wigram, T. et al. (1995) The Art and Science of Music Therapy: A Handbook. London: Harwood Academic, p. 65.
- Nedley, N. (2013) The Lost Art of Thinking. Ardmore: LifeSource Publishers, pp. 290–295.
- Nelson, C. (2003) ‘Mozart and the miracles’, The Guardian, 10 January. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2003/jan/10/artsfeatures.shopping
- BetterSleep (2021) ‘How Classical and Instrumental Music Affect Mental Health’, 11 October. Available at: https://www.bettersleep.com/blog/how-classical-and-instrumental-music-affect-mental-health/
- Quoted in Nedley, N. (2013) The Lost Art of Thinking. Ardmore: LifeSource Publishers, p. 287.
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