Like cars whining, doors slamming and cups and plates jiggling in the cupboard. The sound of breath exhaling softly, a butterfly fluttering close to one’s ear, rain falling on leaves, the communal chatter of people bartering at a market. These sounds are all music to some ears.
Music and Movement
According to Philip Ball, author of The Music Instinct: How Music Works and How We Can’t Do Without It, certain music lights up different parts of the brain. Different music has the power to influence the way people move. Ball says that rhythm-processing circuits trigger motor functions in the brain which makes it difficult to sit still to upbeat, rhythmic music such as James Brown. This kind of upbeat, bright, energetic music can motivate and influence animated activity. Whereas soft, light, ambient background music, can be used to enhance learning through activities such as journal writing and brainstorming.
Just think of moments spent trying to read a book or memorise some text. If there is a cacophony of sound from a building site outside, or loud rock music from next door, it can be hard to concentrate. But change the background sound to some ambient, gentle music and the reading suddenly becomes so much easier.
The Physical, Psychological and Emotional Effects of Music
Whether people are aware of it or not, they respond and interact with sound and music daily. Music has a direct physical, emotional and psychological effect on people. Music can be powerful and has the capacity to move people emotionally to their core. It has the power to affect feelings and energy levels and can be used to create desired moods. It can calm agitation, energise, relax or focus attention. Music can make people happy, bring back memories and induce the desire to move and dance. But it’s also a tool for creative expression. Whether through song writing, putting together recorded sounds from nature, singing or writing bass lines.
Music as Therapy
Studies and research in the field of sound and music as therapy date back to the 1930s. However, music has been used as a tool for healing since ancient times. Ancient civilisations in Egypt, India, Greece, China and Rome left evidence of this in biblical scriptures and historical writings. Music is still used as a form of therapy today and is a well known tool to enhance experiences of learning and daily living.
Philip Ball takes a somewhat analytical approach in his book, based in cognitive science. He explains in detail that complex mental activity is required by the brain to listen to the simplest of tunes. His approach does dissect the nuances of musical notation, rhythm, tone and harmony to see the complexities that many composers deal with, primarily on an intuitive level.
Ancient civilisations could never have imagined that their natural and instinctual methods of music making for healing, would be dissected centuries later in a science lab. Nor that the power of sound would continue to so deeply affect humans and enhance the ability to learn in the 21st century.
Sources:
Ball, Philip, The Music Instinct: How Music Works and How We Can’t Do Without It, The Bodley Head Ltd, 2010.
Jane Alexandra Cormack - Jane currently works as a director and facilitator of her own company, Rhythm In Colour. These workshops connect women through creativity ...
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