Having been immersed within all forms of music for the past few years, I am personally familiar with the multitude of mental health benefits that arise from both listening and composing music.
Playing piano has been one of my most intensive hobbies. Additionally, I participated in the Young Composer Society at my high school, a club where me and my peers composed music together. Recently, I have begun composing my own music with the Arturia MiniLab 3 on my computer.
Listening to music is a fun and surprisingly effective way to reduce negative emotions. As mentioned in my recent blog post about art, there is an emotional connection between the viewer and artist when the viewer feels like they can understand the artist. In emotional moments, music can be a way to gain emotional foundation, helping one navigate through hardship. Physiologically, heart rate and breathing tend to synchronize to the speed of music. By listening to slow and smooth music, one’s heart rate will decrease, in turn leading to mitigation of anxiety symptoms. Music can also mitigate anxiety by existing as a secondary, positive stimulus to distract the HPA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal) axis, which is responsible for cortisol release.
Composing music, similar to other processes of art creation, can also provide important mental-health benefits. Composing facilitates the flow state, an extended period of deep work during which one is solely focused on the task at hand. This is due to the nature of the task. Composing provides complexity through the numerous factors that must be accounted for, including harmony, pitch, and rhythm and the feedback that is provided immediately when changing parameters are conducive to entering the flow state. By definition, during this period, there is no time for rumination over anxieties about the past or future, or self-criticism, both being causes of poor mental health. Additionally, the process of improving can raise self-esteem.
If you are interested in music therapy to improve your mental health, start by creating playlists for different moods (soothing, uplifting or reflective). You can also engage in singing, playing an instrument or composing music for a deeper connection with music. Lastly, consult a certified music therapist if you are looking for professional guidance.
Inside the Mind 