Music has been around since the Stone Age, and for good reason — it's a powerful force that has reached into people's hearts since the first notes were ever played. But there are a multitude of benefits to listening to music besides the cathartic release it stirs within the spirit. Here are six positive effects that actively listening to music can have on your life.
Exploring your taste in music is like exploring yourself; the more you search, the more you learn. Actively listening to music and checking out your favorite genres and artists can lead to trying new and different kinds of music you may not have listened to otherwise. You may find some fresh tunes to enjoy or maybe even a new musician you like.
As you listen to more music, it becomes easier to refine your concept of music. Absorbing music frequently can be a great way to learn and recognize similarities between the various genres. The more music you listen to, the more your ear can distinguish different sounds and hear how each piece is influenced by other pieces. Entire classes are taught about the art of appreciating music, and one's ability to understand and appreciate music can drastically improve by listening to more than just the words but the many layers underneath.
If you're interested in online music appreciation classes, there are a myriad of places to take a class online, including Missouri State University.
Listening to a lot of music gives you a lot to talk about when you're with others. Those who listen actively find it easy to share recommendations with friends and discuss their opinions. Reach out to others in The Gardens assisted living community and greater Springfield. Maybe you have similar taste to someone else who can expose you to new material.
Find out what your kids and grandkids like to listen to. They can likely give you several hours worth of music to try out. A person's music taste is an intimate part of their identity, and sharing playlists is a great way to share yourselves and connect on a more personal level. Not only is it a great bonding experience, but you can learn a lot about each other by listening to the music that they respond to.
There is music for every situation: Music for dancing, music for relaxing, and music for driving. You can listen to music any time, including while you shop for groceries or fold your laundry. When you feel tired or stressed out, putting on some soft, calming music can help alleviate some of your weariness. Try putting it on at night to help slow your mind down before bed. Or, if you're ever bored one day, put on some tunes to listen to while you relax with your thoughts.
An analysis of five studies showed that listening to music is a therapeutic way to combat depression. Music is helpful with anxiety, attention and mood and can help bring peace to a crowded life. Put on a song while trying out these other tips to help find peace in your daily life.
Music has been proven to keep the brain active, and active listening is like a brain workout according to John Hopkins Medicine. Listening to new music boosts creativity and challenges the brain as it tries to understand what it's hearing. Music also affects memory and can summon feelings or experiences from long ago. Keeping the mind active with music is one of the best and most enjoyable kind of workouts you can do.
Anyone who enjoys playing music may want to listen to a lot of music to help inspire them. Maybe they hear a song they want to learn or a chord progression they like the sound of. For musicians, listening to music is like studying, and it can even make non-musicians want to learn an instrument. It's never too late to learn to express yourself with music.
Finding music isn't as hard as it used to be. These days, music can be found on a variety of apps and services. Once you find where to listen, whatever service you use can help you get started.
These music streaming services allow access to millions of songs for a reasonable monthly subscription fee. These apps allow you to search for songs, build playlists, share with friends easily and discover new music with built-in programming. For an easy and endless experience, consider browsing the subscription rates for these services — there are free options with ads.
YouTube allows you to subscribe to your favorite artists and play songs as many times as you like but is also full of advertisements unless you pay a $10 monthly fee for YouTube Premium.
Pandora Radio is an excellent place to listen for free. While it does offer a cheaper ad-free subscription at only $5 a month, it also offers a free version that's worth downloading just to have something in the background.
However you choose to listen, make it a habit to incorporate music into your life. Everything is more enjoyable with a soundtrack, and there is so much out there you have yet to listen to.
