The Impact of Music: Why It Should Be a Non-Negotiable

We have so many things to be done in our day-to-day life. Some are non-negotiable and others could be left behind. Should listening to music be one of the non-negotiable things to include in your daily routine? Together we will try to answer this question by exploring, learning, forming an opinion—and possibly gaining a positive habit out of this read! So let’s PLAY IN…

BACKGROUND: Understanding the Impact of Music on Mood and Mind

We all know the word “MUSIC,” but let’s briefly explore the type of music and its impact on us. When it comes to soothing music like Jazz, it helps us de-stress and has healing powers. Upbeat music releases endorphins, making us happy and boosting immunity. Pop music elevates energy and enhances workouts. Rhythmic drumming aids in meditation. Classical music improves memory and even deters crime. Metal music strengthens our sense of self and identity. Rap can combat depression. Country music evokes joy.

WOW! Quite a Play! This perfectly aligns with the idea: Our Mood is What We Hear. Give your next play a mindful thought as we go deeper into the impact of music.

IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS: What Experts Say About the Impact of Music on the Brain

Let’s PLAY it from the experts.

Here are some top institutions offering courses related to music and the brain:

Berklee College of Music – Music and the Brain
Harvard University – The Neuroscience of Music
Stanford University – Music and Neuroscience
Juilliard School – Music and Neuroscience
University of Edinburgh – Music and the Mind
Royal College of Music, London – Music and Brain

A wide range of research showcases the impact of music on the human brain.

Harvard’s Patrick Whelan suggests that our emotional connection to music stems from evolutionary biology. In performance settings, our brain interprets complex soundscapes, triggering responses from the temporal lobe and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Depending on the music’s tone or valence, our heart rate and breathing adjust accordingly.

Moreover, music activates the hippocampus, amygdala, limbic system, and motor cortex—all crucial in emotional processing, memory recall, and physical responses. As Dr. Andrew Budson notes, this is why we instinctively tap our feet or clap to rhythms.

Real-Life Examples of the Therapeutic Impact of Music

In cases like Alzheimer’s, neuroscientist Kiminobu Sugaya observed that patients who don’t respond to people or stimuli light up when exposed to familiar music. Their movement, singing, and emotional engagement visibly improve—even for a short while. MRIs confirm brain activation in multiple regions, underlining the impact of music in clinical settings.

Music also helped many during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Berklee study revealed that 88.9% of participants felt less lonely due to musical engagement. Music became a valuable emotional coping mechanism during times of social isolation.

There’s even promising evidence that listening to Mozart may reduce seizures in epilepsy patients. Parkinson’s, depression, and other conditions might benefit from music-based therapies in the future, especially with deeper insight into brain-music interactions.

CONCLUSION: Making the Impact of Music a Daily Habit

In today’s world where regular is luxury, and social media creates more isolation than connection, music emerges as a vital lifeline. If music can help during illness, imagine the impact of music on a healthy mind and body.

Science backs it: pleasurable music triggers dopamine release via the dorsal and ventral striatum, reinforcing the brain’s reward system. Music also boosts blood flow to emotion-processing areas like the limbic system.

If a single habit can elevate your mood, enhance productivity, and increase well-being—why not make it non-negotiable?

Inspiring Quotes to Embrace the Impact of Music

“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life” – Berthold Auerbach
“Music is the soundtrack of your life.” – Dick Clark
“Music is the poetry of the air.” – Richter
“Without music, life would be a mistake.” – Friedrich Nietzsche