The STEAM Blog

What is music?

As written in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, music is defined as “vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony.” Music involves putting together a group of sounds and tones in order to form something enjoyable. This can be produced by our voices through singing or using our hands. For example, music can be created by pressing the keys on a piano. To put it into context, music is a form of art that can be seen anywhere, whether that’s Cruel Summer by Taylor Swift blasting from a car’s radio or chopsticks hitting the dinner table to create a beat.

Where did music originate?

Researchers are still unsure of where music comes from, but they know it has roots dating back millennia. According to Greek mythology, man believed music to be a gift from heavenly principles, and only the chosen were gifted with music. Changes in music were also seen throughout the decades during the Renaissance, Classical, Baroque, and Middle Ages–all which reframed the types of styles and melodies we hear today.

How does music affect mood?

Many music listeners enjoy listening to music simply because of the pleasure it brings to the ears, but there is scientific evidence which demonstrates that music is shown to boost moods. How does music act as a mood booster? In simple terms, music increases the blood flow to brain regions which control emotions. Music is heard through the ear through vibrations: the vibrations enter the eardrum and are then transferred to the brain stem. Finally, dopamine, a neurotransmitter is released. Dopamine plays a role in giving humans feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation. Dopamine activates the limbic system which is used to process emotions.

Consequently, different genres of music have different effects on moods. In an experiment conducted by researchers at the University of Groningen, researchers had forty-three students listen to happy or sad music. Next, the participants identified their moods based on the music genre. As a result, the participants who listened to happy music chose the happy faces, and those who listened to sad music chose the sad faces.

How does technology affect music?

Nowadays, modern technology is pushing music to new expectations: artists can now experiment with new sounds and beats from home and while music is being released every day, there are now new music types for nearly every mood. Technology has made it easier for artists to collaborate, thus allowing music production to become more accessible; artists no longer have to drive to a studio to record their music since they have the choice to compose, record, and arrange their music at home or almost anywhere.

How does music influence art?

Believe it or not, music also plays an important role in artwork. Music has the ability to both influence mood and create the mood! Therefore, many artists often use music to inspire their artwork. While listening to certain types of music, artists can then paint the mood that the music is setting. An example can be seen through the work of Keith Haring. Keith Haring was an American pop-art artist who often had music playing while painting his pop art.

Music is all around us and can be seen through several forms whether that be audibly or visually! It’s an easily accessible tool that is capable of boosting one’s mood so no wonder the average person listens to an average of 961 hours and 10 minutes of music a year!

Sources

• Dallman, Laura. “Who Invented Music? The Search for Stone Flutes, Clay Whistles and the Dawn of Song.” The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2022, theconversation.com/who-invented-music-the-search-for-stone-flutes-clay-whistles-and-the-dawn-of-song-185285. Accessed 24 Dec. 2023.
• “History of Music | Origin & Timeline | Study.com.” Study.com, 2018, study.com/academy/lesson/history-of-music-origin-timeline.html#:~:text=Music%20history%20includes%20many%20important,store%20and%20listen%20to%20music. Accessed 24 Dec. 2023.
• “Why — and How — Music Moves Us | Pfizer.” Pfizer.com, 2020, http://www.pfizer.com/news/articles/why_and_how_music_moves_us#:~:text=Music%20and%20Mood&text=The%20limbic%20system%2C%20which%20is,when%20our%20ears%20perceive%20music.&text=The%20chills%20you%20feel%20when,of%20pleasure%20and%20well%2Dbeing. Accessed 24 Dec. 2023.
• Avramova, Nina. “How Music Can Change the Way You Feel and Act.” CNN, CNN, 8 Feb. 2019, http://www.cnn.com/2019/02/08/health/music-brain-behavior-intl/index.html. Accessed 24 Dec. 2023.
• Victrola. “How Technology Has Changed Music over the Years.” Victrola, Victrola, 10 Nov. 2020, victrola.com/blogs/articles/how-technology-has-changed-music-over-the-years#:~:text=Modern%20technology%20is%20continuously%20moving,and%20appeal%20of%20a%20musician. Accessed 24 Dec. 2023.
• The, Long. “This Is How Long the Average Person Listens to Music Every Year! | on Air with Ryan Seacrest | Sisanie.” Sisanie, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, 9 June 2023, onairwithryan.iheart.com/featured/sisanie/content/2023-06-09-this-is-how-long-the-average-person-listens-to-music-every-year/#:~:text=I%20bet%20it’s%20also%20more,days%20of%20just%20nonstop%20music. Accessed 24 Dec. 2023.