PSA: Music is More Than Just Instrumental

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

In this post, we’ll be talking about the different aspects of music and how they can affect your life in a positive way.

Music’s Various Types

There are various types of music. There’s the music we listen to on the radio, the music we listen to when we’re working out, the music we listen to when we’re driving, and more. Music can be classified into different genres, and each genre has its own subgenres.

Classical

Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western culture, including both liturgical (religious) and secular music. While a more precise term is also used to refer to the period from 1750 to 1820 (the Classical period), this article is about the broad span of time from before the 6th century AD to the present day, which includes the Classical period and various other periods. The central norms of this tradition became codified between 1550 and 1900, which is known as the common-practice period.

Jazz

Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States. It emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and developed from roots in blues and ragtime. Jazz uses improvisation, harmonic structure, and rhythmic elements. Jazz has been called “the purest expression of American democracy”.

Jazz is characterized by swing and blue notes, complex chords, call and response vocals, Polyrhythms and improvisation. The roots of jazz are in the blues, ragtime and African-American folk music. Jazz is seen by many as “America’s classical music”. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, jazz has become recognized as a major form of musical expression following George Gershwin and other notable composers who contributed to its development.

Rock

Rock music is a genre of popular music that originated as “rock and roll” in the United States in the early 1950s, and developed into a range of different styles in the 1960s and later. It has its roots in 1940s’ and 1950s’ rhythm and blues, country music, and gospel music. Rock music also drew strongly on a number of other genres such as electric blues and folk. Musically, rock has centered on the electric guitar, usually as part of a rock group with electric bass, drums, and one or more singers. Usually, rock is song-based music with a 4/4 time signature using a verse–chorus form, but the genre has become extremely diverse. Like pop music, lyrics often stress romantic love but also address a wide variety of other themes that are frequently social or political.

The dominant genres of rock music are History: Origins of rock and roll 50s & 60s (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_music).

Music’s Various Functions

Since the beginning of time, music has been an integral part of human society. It is believed that the first music was created to help boost the moral of early human tribes. War chants, love songs, and spiritual hymns were some of the first examples of music. Today, music still serves various functions in society.

Art

We often think of music as just sound waves instrumentally pieced together, but it can be much more than that. It can be used for art, leisure, relaxation, holidays and even for political means.

Since the beginning of time, mankind has used music as a form of expression and emotional release. Some cultures believe that music is a way to connect with the gods or the universe. For example, ancient Chinese mythology states that Fuxi and Nüwa created music to help soothe the animals they created. In ancient Greece, Pythagoras believed thatmath and music were interconnected, and he theorized that the mathematical ratios he discovered in musical intervals could also be found throughout nature.

Music can also be used for more practical purposes, such as keeping time while working or helping people concentrate. In the 18th century, hospitals began using music to soothe patients who were undergoing surgery without anesthesia. And in the early 20th century, workers in factories all over the world were required to listen to music while they worked to help them stay focused and maintain a steady pace.

Nowadays, we continue to use music for both artistic and practical purposes. We listen to it when we’re driving or working out, when we need to relax or when we want to celebrate something special. And thanks to technology, we now have more ways than ever before to access the tunes we love.

Emotion

Music’s Various Functions
Music is an integral part of our lives, and its various functions often go unnoticed. We may not be aware of it, but music serves many purposes in our lives.

One of the most important functions of music is emotion. Music can help us to feel happy, sad, nostalgic, or even stimulate our sense of anger or fear. In some cases, we may not even be consciously aware of the emotional effect that music has on us. For example, you may find yourself feeling more alert and energized after listening to upbeat music, or feeling calmer and more relaxed after listening to soothing music.

Music can also play a role in memory and learning. Many people can recall certain songs or pieces of music that are associated with certain memories or events in their lives. This is because the brain processes music and language in similar ways, and the rhythm and melody of a song can help to encode information in our memories. Studies have also shown that music can help to improve cognitive performance and memory recall in both children and adults.

Apart from its emotional and cognitive functions,music also has a number of physical and social benefits. Listening to music can lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce stress and anxiety levels, boost immunity, and even improve sleep quality. It can also promote positive social behaviors such as cooperation, empathy, and altruism.

So next time you listen to music, take a moment to think about all the different ways in which it contributes to your life!

Communication

Since the dawn of time, music has been used as a form of communication. Cavemen communicated through music, as did the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. In fact, some historians believe that music may have developed before language.

Today, music is still used as a form of communication. It is a way to share our feelings and emotions with others, even if we don’t share the same language. Music can also be used to communicate messages that words alone cannot express.

Music’s Various Benefits

Listening to music can have a profound effect on the brain and body. It can boost memory, lower stress levels, and improve cardiovascular health, just to name a few benefits. In this article, we’ll explore some of music’s various benefits in more detail.

Relaxation

Music has been shown to be an effective form of stress relief. In one study, patients who listened to music for 30 minutes before surgery had lower levels of stress and anxiety than those who did not listen to music. Listening to music can also help you relax and fall asleep more easily.

In another study, people with insomnia who listened to 45 minutes of relaxing music before bed fell asleep more quickly and had a better quality of sleep than those who did not listen to music. And, they continued to sleep better for the next two nights!

So if you’re feeling stressed or having trouble sleeping, try putting on some soothing tunes. It just might help you relax and get a better night’s rest.

Boosts Creativity

According to a study done by the University of Wisconsin, listening to music can actually boost your creativity. The participants of the study were asked to come up with new uses for common household objects. The results showed that those who listened to music while they worked were more creative than those who didn’t.

So, if you’re feeling stuck on a project, try putting on your favorite tunes and see where it takes you!

Improved Memory

It’s no secret that music boosts memory, but how does it do it? A recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that people who engaged in music activities, such as singing, playing an instrument or moving to music, had increased memory abilities. The study’s authors believe this is due to the fact that music activates more parts of the brain than just the language centers, which are responsible for most verbal tasks.

In addition to improving memory, music has also been shown to improve focus and attention span. A study published in the journal PLOS One found that people who listened to music while working on a task were able to focus for longer periods of time and made fewer errors than those who didn’t listen to music.

So if you’re looking for a way to boost your memory and focus, put on some tunes!

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