How Classical Music Can Improve Your Health

As a music therapist, people often ask what music I recommend for wellness. My answer is always, music that you enjoy and songs that are familiar to you. The songs we grow up listening to will often have the biggest impact on our health and wellbeing. Therefore, this will be different for everyone. However, classical music has more universal health benefits. Keep reading to find out how classical music can improve your health.

Reducing Stress

Classical music much like any music we enjoy listening to, has a significant impact on the chemicals in our brain. One of these chemicals is cortisol. Studies show that listening to preferred music will reduce cortisol. This is the chemical that makes us feel stressed. Reducing stress lowers the risk for other health conditions like heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure and depression. Additionally, lowering stress can have a positive impact on relationships with friends and family members and even boost immunity. 

Non Medicinal Mood Booster

In addition to lowering our stress, music increases the brain chemicals that make us feel good. Studies show that listening to preferred and familiar music will boost dopamine levels. Dopamine is the “feel-good” chemical that gives a sense of pleasure. In fact, when you get chills listening to really good music, this is believe to be a sudden rush of dopamine. Having optimal dopamine levels has many positive impacts one of which is reducing the symptoms of depression.

Improved Brain Function

Classical music, over other genres, has a positive impact on our brain function. Listening to music activates both sides of the brain at the same time which has been shown to maximize learning and improve memory. Classical music is can also have a positive impact on concentration. Instrumental pieces don’t have lyrics that can tempt us to sing along and compete for our attention. Classical music can even improve neural plasticity which slows the natural cognitive decline that occurs as we age. Interestingly, this is related to the brain chemicals cortisol and dopamine.

Better Sleep

In addition to impacting our brain chemicals, music can change our brain in other ways that can improve sleep. Firstly, music impacts our autonomic nervous system. Our autonomic nervous system is what regulates body processes like blood pressure, and the rate of breathing. Certain songs can lower your blood pressure and your heart and breath rate can even sync with the beat of the music. Additionally, some music can promote alpha brainwaves which are associated with relaxation and sleepiness. Alpha waves are present as we transition from quiet wakefulness to sleep. But, the trick is to choose the right songs. Calm soothing songs with a tempo of around 60 beats per minute like Debussy’s Clair de Lune are the ideal choice. Listening to this type of music can decrease the time it takes to fall asleep and improve the quality of sleep.

Despite all the possible ways classical music can improve your health, it is important to listen to songs that you enjoy. Forcing yourself to listen to music that you don’t like will cancel out any potential benefit. It can be fun to explore classical music to find the songs you like the most. Classical music is often highlighted in movies and TV commercials making many songs familiar to the general public. So if you haven’t explored the genre of classical music, perhaps there are good reasons to give it a try. Alternatively, reach out to a music therapist who can curate a classical playlist designed to meet your individual health needs.

By Heidi Flynn, RP, MTA – Registered Psychotherapist & Certified Music Therapist