Pradhi, Week 11 - The Power of A Common Tune

As I sat in Flex staring at the clock —10:45 AM, deciding if I should be productive today or not, I scrolled through Google Classroom to see if there was any work to get started with. Realizing I had a blog due this week, I immediately opened Blogger, creating a blank sheet as I stared at it, unsure of what to write about. To acquire some sort of motivation, I pulled out my headphones and opened my Spotify app, clicking on my playlist and choosing a song to listen to. 

Then it hit me. 

Music is something that has always played a big role in my life, and I think I can pretty much say it's quite a big deal in many other's lives, too. Any time I sit down to study or clean my room, or even go on a run, I always feel the need to have music playing in my ears.

And it's not even limited to when I am performing a certain task or activity. Even when I'm simply feeling under the weather, I turn on one of my favorite songs and it can almost immediately help me regain some sort of contentment or cheerfulness. 


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 While exploring this, I came across a 2020 Harvard Health Blog, titled "Why is Music Good for the Brain"? It detailed a 20-minute online survey by the AARP that included about 3,000 U.S adults aged 18 and older, where "of those who reported often being exposed to music as a child, 68% rated their ability to learn new things as 'excellent' or 'very good'". Additionally, "active musical engagement, including those over 50, was associated with higher rates of happiness and good cognitive function. 

The Harvard Blog analyzes these results by explaining music's potential to "activate almost all brain regions and networks." What exactly does this mean? Well, these  "regions and networks" of the brain can be strengthened when in use, and vice versa. So for instance, if you haven't spoken a language in years, it will be harder to pick up because you haven't stimulated that aspect of your brain recently, and "the neurons are being used for other purposes". By keeping these pathways strong, music can help keep networks "involved in well-being, learning, cognitive function, quality of life, and happiness" strong as well.  

With this information, I know that I will certainly continue to only develop my music taste. As someone who has been learning Indian Classical Music for years, music is something that comes to me very easily, and this explains exactly why it's so powerful. So the next time I sit down to do work, or simply relax in my room, I know the first thing I'm going to do. 



Comments

  1. Jessica HungFebruary 19, 2024 at 3:42 PM

    Hi Pradhi! The dilemma that you introduce at the beginning of your blog is so relatable. Everyday, I have trouble to find the motivation to do anything. Music, as you mention, does play a big role in my life. It helps me calm down after a stressful day and sparks a sense of motivation in me. Often times, my mother does not understand why I listen to music while I do homework, as she thinks that music will distract me. However, the study that you describe shows that music can indeed benefit us and keep our brain “pathways strong.” It is an interesting fact to know that children who are exposed to music can learn new things better. I am not sure if learning violin as a child has helped me pick up new skills better, but it has certainly made me a happier person. Music is a powerful tool that has been proven to help us relax and clear our minds.

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  2. Prathithi NellaiappanFebruary 21, 2024 at 9:50 PM

    Hey Pradhi! You started your blog with a situation that I am all too familiar with. Flex time is also when I get the majority of my blog ideas, so it's nice to see that you do the same. Similar to you, I also put in my airpods and pick a study playlist when I do my work. It helps me tune out the rest of my thoughts and focus on the work at hand. I always need some sort of noise in the background to help me focus. I think that's why I prefer working at coffee shops over working in the library or at my desk. The sounds help me focus and an environment where other people are also doing work (like Suju’s) motivates me to do work as well.
    I have always heard people say that quiet environments are better and people often argue that I should stop multitasking when I listen to music while doing work so your blog is extremely reassuring to me.
    The statistics you included from the Harvard Health Blog further affirms the argument that music is essential to brain growth and can be extremely beneficial. It is interesting to know that listening to music activates your brain and exercises its neurons. I was also surprised to know that music leads to “higher rates of happiness.” This information makes me extremely happy because it shows that music and background noise is actually extremely beneficial. Next time someone tells me to stop multitasking and take out my airpods, I will pull up your blog and read the statistics you listed. Thanks for the interesting blog and the helpful information!

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