It has been said that music is the expression of the soul. Music has the ability to make us feel and express certain emotions that words often can’t describe. Furthermore, by listening to music, we can let our emotions be guided towards a desired state. Different moods can be created by listening to different types of music.
A study at a Baltimore hospital discovered that heart patients who listened to thirty minutes of classical music reported effects similar to patients receiving 10 milligrams of Valium. Examples of calming classical music include Beethoven’s Piano Concerto #3 in C minor, Mozart’s Symphony #35 in D Major, and Pachelbel’s Canon. Other studies have shown that music can have a positive effect on intelligence, productivity, reduce migraines, and influence your heartbeat and breathing patterns depending on the rhythm being played.
Musical preferences are a subjective experience therefore one particular type of music can affect different people in different ways. If you do not particularly enjoy classical music, listening to it might not have a calming effect on you. In fact, if it suits your musical taste, listening to hard rock (with rhythms that are soothing to you) can have a calming effect on you.
When I drive to and from work every day, I ritually listen to a mix of Faith No More (FNM) songs from a CD in my car that can both motivate and energize me while driving to work and calm me down as I drive home. It is hard for me not to feel energized and ready to go after listening to such songs as We Care A Lot and Introduce Yourself from FNM. After giving a violence prevention program to inmates on parole, I often unwind and relax by listening to Evidence, Last Cup of Sorrow and Just a Man. On other occasions, I might be listening to Andrea Bocelli or Tori Amos. It all depends on what mood I am in and how I want to enhance or alter it. Obviously, my particular choice of music might not be everyone’s cup of tea but it seems to be very effective for me. The important thing is to identify your favourite music and choose the songs that provoke the feeling or emotion you are trying to attain.
Listening to soft relaxing music can also enhance meditation practices and is a perfect prelude to a good night’s sleep. The next time you are feeling restless and need to calm down, try listening to your favourite soothing music. It just might do the trick.