When we say classical music, we usually think of calming instrumental music with slower tempos. Classical music is a broad term that describes a wide range of Western musical styles from the ninth century to the present day.
While most of us typically encounter classical music in music classes or during critical moments in movies, the benefits of listening to the music of 18th-century artists such as Johann Sebastian Bach or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to the human body and mind are widely documented. Here are three benefits of listening to classical music.
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Classical Music Helps You Sleep
A 2015 study from Critical Care revealed that a combination of classical music, earplugs and eye masks could help patients recovering from heart surgery fall asleep. The study found that this combination of treatments was more effective than using earplugs and eye masks alone.
Meanwhile, an earlier 2008 study from the Journal of Advanced Nursing demonstrated that people with sleep issues experienced better quality sleep when they went to bed with classical music playing. The study concluded that classical music helps reduce stress and improve relaxation, leading to improved sleep.
Theories that attempt to explain this phenomenon point to most classical music having a slower tempo and calming melodies, making it ideal for preparing the mind and body for sleep. Its regular rhythm and lower-pitched notes help the brain relax and focus, allowing for a more restful sleep. If you consistently feel tired after a night of rest, it could indicate that you are not getting a deep enough sleep. Listening to calming violin music and cello instrumentals can help your mind and body reach a more relaxed state and ultimately provide better sleep quality.
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Classical Music Boosts Cognition
In recent years, there has been some disagreement about the claim that music increases IQ. Although classical music alone may not increase your intelligence, research has indicated a relationship between music and cognitive performance. Music can positively affect cognition because it can put us in a more positive mental state. Listening to music we like can bring joy, which in turn can help us do better on cognitive tasks.
Music is also associated with increased dopamine levels and enhanced neural connections, which can help maintain the brain’s health, especially for older adults. As scientists do more research, we can better understand the connection between music and cognitive abilities, which may be different from what was thought before.
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Classical Music Can Lower Your Blood Pressure
Listening to classical music can be beneficial for your heart. A study in the journal Deutsches Aerzteblatt International in 2016 compared the effects of Mozart and Strauss music with ABBA on heart health. The result showed that those who listened to Mozart and Strauss had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure and slower heart rates. Conversely, ABBA’s tunes didn’t have the same effects.
To explain this, Michal Schneck, MD of Loyola Medicine, points to classical or jazz music’s melodic and rhythmic patterns that may be soothing to some people. In contrast, the upbeat tunes of popular music such as ABBA encourage dancing, which raises blood pressure.
Conclusion
You don’t have to spend much on expensive spa treatments or massages to get relaxation and stress relief. Classical music can provide more positive effects than just reducing stress hormones and lowering blood pressure. The next time you feel stressed, sit back, relax, and listen to calming instrumental music from the classical period.
Prayer Pray provides various selections of calming instrumental music you can listen to while studying and doing homework. Our music is designed to help relax your body and mind and provide a peaceful atmosphere for focus and memorization. Download from our links today!
