Music Psychology

Whether you are listening to the melancholic ballads of Radiohead, the powerful poetry of Tupac, or the meticulous lyrics of Taylor Swift, music provides catharsis. Putting in headphones to your favorite song can feel as if you are being taken to another world—without the stress, worries and expectations of real life. It just becomes you and the music. 

Music has a significant positive impact on students' mental health. According to a study done by researchers from McGill University, it gives a rush of dopamine to the brain, acting as a mood booster. The neurological reactions of subjects were tested when listening to music, showing a release of dopamine when listening to music they enjoyed. 

Samo musician Theo Tobel (’23), has music to thank for finding himself and a great deal of his happiness–whether it be through his passion for playing the bass or by tightening bonds with his family through music. 

“I think of my bass as an extension of my body and it makes me so happy to play at the end of a long day. [...] I cannot fathom a life without music,” Tobel said. 

It has also been found that music can lower stress and anxiety levels, proving beneficial to students. According to a study done by Stanford University, the rhythm of the music closely correlates with its effects on the brain, due to the changing in brainwave frequencies. For example, slower songs have a meditative effect, while faster songs can actually lead to higher concentration. Kevin McKeown, the Director of Bands at Samo and conductor of Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble, touched on the effect of music on students.

“[Music is] a way to kind of get lost. Music is a place where you can lose yourself and where you can find yourself,” McKeown said. 

Music can also unlock memories and past emotions associated with certain songs. Think of a song you played during a late night drive or at summer camp that just takes you back to that moment. With a single song can come life and love.

 “We relate music that we connect with those times. So it's kind of a way to memorialize our present,” Mckeown said.

For many, music is an escape. Like a soundtrack that we determine for our own lives, it lets us remember the past and influence the future. Music is a universal language used to communicate with others, beyond language and social barriers.