Music Research Paper
Music Affects Mood
Mary Beth Kelly
Music 110
Professor Cloer
April , 2012
Music is any form of sound in a synchronized pattern that affects the brainwaves. Together with many instruments, an emotional harmony is created that can single-handedly manipulate human emotion. When music manipulates emotion to an extreme degree, the practice can become an addiction. There are many causes for being a music addict. It provides an artificial sanctuary, bringing out the emotion that a person is feeling. Music is limitless; there is no end to its boundaries. Music affects how you feel, react, and learn. I can be in the best of moods, then listen to a sad song and start to feel depressed. You listen to something more upbeat your mood will lighten, and you become happier. Music's ability to "heal the soul" is the stuff of legend in every culture. Many people find that music lifts their spirits. Modern research tends to confirm music's psychotherapeutic benefits. Bright, cheerful music (e.g. Mozart, Vivaldi, bluegrass, Klezmer, Salsa, reggae) is the most obvious prescription for the blues. Animals are similar. You play rock and roll and they usually run out of the room, at least mine do. But if you put on some jazz or especially classical, they lie down and close their eyes. It is soothing and calming. Jazz, blues, soul or calypso music can uplift and inspire us, releasing deep joy or even deep sadness, conveying wit and affirming our common humanity. People will also recognize happy faces if they are feeling happy themselves. A new study by researcher Jacob Jolij and student Maaike Meurs of the Psychology Department of the University of Groningen shows that music has an even more dramatic effect on perception: even if there is nothing to see, people sometimes still see happy faces when they are listening to happy music and sad faces when they are listening to sad music. Pretty interesting, but this notion really makes sense. The power
Mary Beth Kelly
Music 110
Professor Cloer
April , 2012
Music is any form of sound in a synchronized pattern that affects the brainwaves. Together with many instruments, an emotional harmony is created that can single-handedly manipulate human emotion. When music manipulates emotion to an extreme degree, the practice can become an addiction. There are many causes for being a music addict. It provides an artificial sanctuary, bringing out the emotion that a person is feeling. Music is limitless; there is no end to its boundaries. Music affects how you feel, react, and learn. I can be in the best of moods, then listen to a sad song and start to feel depressed. You listen to something more upbeat your mood will lighten, and you become happier. Music's ability to "heal the soul" is the stuff of legend in every culture. Many people find that music lifts their spirits. Modern research tends to confirm music's psychotherapeutic benefits. Bright, cheerful music (e.g. Mozart, Vivaldi, bluegrass, Klezmer, Salsa, reggae) is the most obvious prescription for the blues. Animals are similar. You play rock and roll and they usually run out of the room, at least mine do. But if you put on some jazz or especially classical, they lie down and close their eyes. It is soothing and calming. Jazz, blues, soul or calypso music can uplift and inspire us, releasing deep joy or even deep sadness, conveying wit and affirming our common humanity. People will also recognize happy faces if they are feeling happy themselves. A new study by researcher Jacob Jolij and student Maaike Meurs of the Psychology Department of the University of Groningen shows that music has an even more dramatic effect on perception: even if there is nothing to see, people sometimes still see happy faces when they are listening to happy music and sad faces when they are listening to sad music. Pretty interesting, but this notion really makes sense. The power