People use music all the time, but never seem to realize the role it plays in their lives. “Use” might seem like a strange word to describe music. After all, we just listen to it, how can one use something that they merely listens to?
The truth is, no one just listens to it.
Even in the simplest of applications, listening to music always does more for one than they think. Everyone engages with music to varying degrees, and how one engages with it is how he/she uses it. Some listen to it in the background of daily chores and responsibilities, making those chores more fun. Others create it by playing an instrument or singing, using music as a hobby, or perhaps even a career path. Others dance to it or sing along with it, making music a fun pastime or a stress reliever. Some people work out to it, using it as a motivator. People often use music to communicate, especially when they don’t share a spoken language. Music becomes a universal bridge, expressing emotions and ideas words can’t always capture. Learning music also builds essential communication skills, helping people connect more deeply. Through this shared expression of heart and mind, music brings people closer together.
Research shows that music can directly influence mood. Putting on an upbeat song can boost motivation and make even unwanted tasks feel more manageable. Listening to a song on the edgier side can make one feel tense, and listening to a nice slow ballad can relax them. Therefore, not only does listening to music affect one’s life, but the type of music listened to has an effect, too! Think about how you use music in your daily life; now imagine not having it there at all.
Music adds a certain level of enjoyment, or even tolerability, to our daily tasks that might otherwise seem a drudgery. Imagine spending a whole day without music, no songs in the car, nothing playing while you cook, clean, or work out. No instrument to pick up when boredom hits, no beat to energize you for the day, no tune to sing or dance to on a whim, and nothing to soothe you when you’re feeling down. This day would be a lackluster one, to say the least. There is much research that shows the importance of music and how it affects our brains, growth and learning habits; and while this is all true and very good to know, it is also just as important to notice and appreciate how much of a role music plays in our daily lives in smaller ways. It’s simple and the difference may be slight, but it’s important.
Sources:
http://edinburgh-lothian-mobile-speech-therapy.co.uk/news/music-and-communication-development/%E2%80%9D
https://theconversation.com/music-is-the-soundtrack-to-your-life-whats-on-your-playlist-26893.
