Why is Music Important

"I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs, and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music."

Mary Anne Evans or George Eliot as she is more popularly known, was a creative person who believed in the power of music and how it affects us as individuals. But sure you can attribute it to her love of the artistic. But Pythagoras, who was a more mathematically inclined man famously said, "There is geometry in the humming of the strings. There is music in the spacing of the spheres." How can you trace the history of music? It has been around since the first rhythmic thumping of feet that was recognized by human beings. May be that is the reason why it is such an integral part of our life. In this article we try to understand why music is important and what are the various benefits of music that helps enhance our life.

Importance of Music

Why is music important to our culture? There is no objective answer to this question. The importance of music is different in every individual's life. It inspires people and allows us to get in touch with our emotions in a way that is unique. For those amongst us who find it difficult to express ourselves, music can evoke reactions. Your mood can change from dark and depressed to elated and delirious happiness with just the selection of the right track and a hit of the play button. Music works wonders on creating a certain atmosphere. You can use music to liven up a boring party or to create a romantic ambiance.

Several people proclaim the benefits of music to heighten their spirituality. Every religion on the planet uses music in some form or the other to enhance the soul, whether it is the rhythmic chants from Buddhism or the devotional songs in Hinduism. Music is recreational, listening to soothing songs can be a way of relaxing and allowing your body and mind to take break from the monotony of life. Studies have proven that music can be a good way of helping your imagination go to new heights. The effects of music on the mind and brain are manifold, some of which have been proven by scientific research, have been discussed in this article.

How does music affect the brain? Music uses both sides of the brain, thus resulting in the overall development of the brain. In fact there was a research conducted at the University of Montreal that proved that the all four of the cortex's lobes are activated when the brain is involved in musical activity. In fact during these musical tasks, even the cerebellum of the brain is activated. A musician has to constantly make decisions about the elements of music, like form, timbre, melody, etc and also tempo, tone, rhythm etc. This helps in enhancing the ability of the brain to become very good at multitasking and organizational abilities. It improves abilities of expression and also enhances intelligence of a person.

Music therapy has been widely heralded. In fact it has also been found that people who take lessons in keyboards experience a significant depreciation in depression and stress. It allowed them to cope with anxiety and loneliness better and resulted in improved health. Music is important to society because it increases the attraction that tourists have to a place. This in turn results in creation of jobs, boosts local tax base, increases growth of related businesses. The arts in all forms, including music have been responsible for the creation of income and wealth.

Several studies have shown how music enhances life. According to the Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Report, released in 1999, students in secondary schools who had participated in some form of band or orchestra were less prone to indulge in substance abuse. Also more students who performed music or took classes in music appreciation and related subjects scored high marks on SAT as compared to their other classmates. In fact many colleges believe that an active interest in the arts and music broadens a student's mind and allows him or her to appreciate the world more. It contributes heavily to the social and intellectual growth of student.

A study on the enhanced learning of proportional math through music training and spatial-temporal training conducted by Neurological Research 21 in the year 1999 showed that almost 27% of 237 students who used piano keyboard training, displayed better skills in using mathematical software. Studies have also shown that students who had an interest in music tend to do better academically receiving honors.

Forget the scientific studies and cognitive research that has been done on the numerous benefits of music or how the different music types affects us. Take our own example. We have music that we relate to for every occasion. From the sound that wakes us up in the morning to the song we listen to when our heart breaks or we are in the doldrums. We have exercise music and on-our-way-to-work music.

Life without this music would leave us kind of lost, unsure, and probably incapable of venting our emotions. Music touches our soul, and allows us to express different moods and emotions. And seriously, life without music would be, well, boring.

So, whether you listen to Beethoven or Marilyn Manson, Louis Armstrong or Arctic Monkeys, your daily dose of music is what keeps you going. There can be as many answers to the question, why music is important, as there are people on the planet, as the answer will always be personal and subjective.