Regardless of your preferred genre, you’ll have listened to and presumably enjoyed various forms music at some point in your life. Music has the the ability to evoke particularly strong emotions within us, from excitement to sorrow, simply through the weaved patterns of sound. But what is it about music that enables it to have such a profound effect on us?
1. Music is universal
Music is universal, and its potency ubiquitous. Musical notes can be understood and interpreted by anyone. There is no right or wrong way to listen to a composition, nor is there a set way to define what it’s about. For that reason, music can be considered one of the most engaging and unifying art forms available to us.
Whilst the lyrics of songs may require some translation, you don’t need to know a specific language to understand musical notes. Several scientists have even suggested that our human ancestors communicated in a song-like manner; a musical protolanguage which would later develop into language as we know it.
2. Music can help us concentrate
Whether it’s turning on some loud, dissonant music to drown out background noise, or listening to the more traditional classical music to compose your thoughts, music has been proven to increase productivity levels through helping us to concentrate on the task at hand. In recent polls, classical music was particularly favoured among students who were studying.
There are several companies who also produce music for business. Companies such as http://moodmedia.co.uk/in-store-music-for-business/ provide services in designing playlists and composing original tracks for businesses.
3. Music helps us get in touch with our emotions
Whilst there’s an ongoing debate as to whether we experience ‘real’ emotions, music certainly toys with us. Fast paced music can increase our heart rate, evoking feelings of anger, excitement or joy.
On the flip side, slower paced music can be interpreted as serene, calm, and even sad to an extent. But tempo isn’t the only factor in how we interpret songs – a huge variety of factors including volume, the type of instruments used, and even similarities to other songs which might already hold meaning for the listener. In short, there are a number of contributing factors which influence how music affects us and music in itself is a phenomenon which is unique to every listener.
