By Sheahan Gray ’27
Have you ever felt goosebumps or a shiver down your spine when listening to music? Most people have, and this is due to the “Pleasurable body reactions commonly called ‘chills’ or ‘frissons’ most people experience while listening to certain musical passages” (Heshmat). According to Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health, “The power of music comes from four different elements of human musicality: tonality, rhythm, reward, and pro-social affiliation” (Appello). These can all impact one’s mental health by encouraging them and lifting their mood. For example, hospitals have been urged to hire music therapists to incorporate the positive effects of music on patients with certain conditions ranging from smaller things like an injury to larger things like mental illnesses which can have a big impact on someone.
Recently, there has been a growing trend of hospitals incorporating music therapy into their patient care programs, as “it was originally used to distract patients from the boredom or repetitive routine of a hospital stay” (Heshmat). Now, it’s not only used as a coping mechanism for patients, but also a treatment. For example, a study conducted from an elderly nursing home in Yilan, Taiwan “evaluated eighty-seven elderly, institutionalized persons with cerebrovascular disease” (Heshmat). The study’s results demonstrated the impact the music had on the patients’ health. “At the conclusion of the study, persons in the music-therapy group demonstrated statistically significant decreases in acute chronic heart failure and in plasma levels of cytokines, adrenaline, and noradrenaline” (Heshmat). These significant health improvements aren’t just coincidental; they’re due to the reduction of specific physiological indicators of stress which improves the patients’ overall well-being.
Music therapy “not only has a big impact on health, but also emotions. Music therapists use innovation, receptive listening, lyric discussion, imagery, performance, and learning through music to assess numerous areas of a person’s emotional well-being” (Peralta). These specific studies and tests that music therapists conduct help find the right types of music to use for different patients during their therapy. The mood of a certain song can greatly impact the way a patient feels. For example, “Escalation and de-escalation in improvisation can correlate to the highs and lows in their emotions” (Warren). Triggering these types of emotions from the music can be beneficial since “music can help people dive deep into their consciousness to process a wide range of emotions” (Peralta). Some specific effects of music therapy on the brain include increasing alpha wave activity (which usually occurs when someone is involved in an activity like meditating or daydreaming), stimulating neural pathways (routes of communication between neurons in the brain), and activating parts of the brain that have to do with social interaction. These benefits are all associated with relaxation, focus, and attention.
Regardless of the condition, music therapy can be helpful due to its evidence-based approach. Some of the most traumatic conditions being, for example, traumatic brain injuries or cases of post-traumatic stress disorder. Music therapy benefits patients with these conditions because provides the patient relief without having to rely on using their words, since “music therapy is especially effective for clients who are less comfortable with traditional talk therapy” (Snyder). For more physical and less traumatic conditions like muscle tension and pain management, music therapy can be beneficial because the music promotes relaxation of the mind and body.
Some might argue that this treatment has risks like sad music making the patients’ mental state worse and certain songs sparking unwanted memories, and it is also doing damage to the therapist providing the music to the patients, due to the stress of making the treatment work. Although these factors are possible, it has been shown that, music therapy is an evidence-based treatment and music therapists would be sure to avoid songs that could possibly depress their mental state more or bring up disturbing memories. Furthermore, musicians do face a high risk of mental health issues, but “many artists are helping to validate mental illness by publicly sharing their experiences, encouraging open dialogue and support” (Reynolds). So, this treatment is both beneficial for the patients and the providers.
In all, music therapy has many favorable aspects for health, but it is also a huge part of people’s lives and it’s a way for people to connect with each other. “Music shapes our personal and cultural identities which can create inclusive spaces where people from diverse background can come together, collaborate, and build relationships based on shared musical interests” (Reynolds). Music is more than just sounds.
Works Cited
Appello, Deborah A. “Music Therapy.” 2024. EBSCO, https://research.ebsco.com/c/55jvny/viewer/html/ahj3px3fyz?auth-callid=07ac4721-db54-4ed2-822d-c969024f3ee9. Accessed 30 April 2025.
Heshmat, Shahram. “How Music Affects Health.” Psychology Today, Psychology Today, 19 September 2024, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-of-choice/202409/how-music-affects-health#:~:text=This%20desire%20is%20driven%20by,improves%20mood%2C%20and%20reduces%20anxiety. Accessed 29 April 2025.
Peralta, Lia. “Understanding the Psychology and Benefits of Music Therapy.” Save The Music Foundation, 3 May 2022, https://www.savethemusic.org/blog/music-therapy-and-mental-health/. Accessed 13 May 2025.
Reynolds, Fátima. “The Transformative Power of Music in Mental Well-Being.” American Psychiatric Association, 1 August 2023, https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/power-of-music-in-mental-well-being. Accessed 13 May 2025.
Snyder, Emma. “What makes music therapy effective?” Ohio University, 2 July 2024, https://www.ohio.edu/news/2024/07/what-makes-music-therapy-effective. Accessed 13 May 2025.
Warren, Molly. “The Impact of Music Therapy on Mental Health.” NAMI, 19 December 2016, https://www.nami.org/education-professional/the-impact-of-music-therapy-on-mental-health/. Accessed 13 May 2025.
The Raider Press 