Expert: Pat G - 3/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: how can classical music affect your physical or mental ability.

ANSWER: Hi, Vincent,

Classical music has been shown to be beneficial through numerous studies. I can't point you right at such a study, but you might want to do a search on the internet. Partly, I will express my own opinion here.

When I say, "classical music", I'm not including the raucous, dissonant music that is common in the 20th century. I mean any music which is harmonious and beautiful. Some of this has been composed in the 20th century, too.

It is also known that music with a heavy beat is detrimental. It can harm a person's hearing if he listens to it at the customary volume. I once went to a concert by a fellow who didn't even do the extreme styles; his music was actually rather pleasant. I sat through about four songs, and got damage to my ribs, just from the heavy beat! Then I had to sit outside the theater, just outside the door where I could still hear the music. I still have occasional twinges of pain as a result, more than a year later. The beat also affects a person physiologically in other ways, and encourages destructive behavior.

Classical music is formed around harmonies that are multiples or fractions of each other in frequency, and this leads to a physiological response of harmony. It is beneficial for the tissues and the mind. This is one reason why there is such commonality throughout the world; you will find the same frequencies being used in most of the world's historic and traditional music. These harmonies actually seem to enhance the well being of bodily tissues, and it has been shown that playing classical music during surgery is helpful. Classical music is also helpful to children, and can lead to better behavior.

Classical music has been shown to enhance the growth of plants. It can also help relieve stress. I usually listen to http://theclassicalstation.org , and they actually advertise that classical music is soothing. They talk about how it is good for you while you are driving during rush hour. The nice thing about that station is that they don't EVER play something truly ugly!

Other forms of music have varying levels of benefit. Personally, I like some jazz. But it can lead to dark moods at times. And country music often talks about topics of despair. I have been describing different kinds of rock music above, and these are definitely harmful. Rap music is also frenetic, and often has detrimental ideas. Some folk music (the real stuff) is also very good.

There are two kinds of opera: comedy and tragedy. Tragedy involves a bad ending, such as one or both of the people you have come to love being killed. However, there are two things about it that I think are especially good. One is that the music is usually lovely. The other is that most tragic opera is really a morality play, and we really need morality plays in this day and age!

I use my brain constantly, and I find classical music helpful. I listen to it 24/7 if I can.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask additional questions.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi i have to do a independent study project that worth a lot of my grade and i would like to ask about 15 questions about my topic....can you make about 20 facts about classical music

ANSWER: We're not supposed to answer homework questions. So here's what I suggest.

Go to Wikipedia and look up "classical music". I will be shocked if they don't have an excellent article (in which case you can let me know). Also do some searches based on what I told you earlier. What I will do at this point is point you in the direction of information. But a lot of this you can get by searching. I like Google. If you can't think of good search terms, let me know.

Take care.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: how can music make you run farhter
how can music change your everyday life
how does it affect you
can music make you temproarily smarter
can music make you concentrate more
can music intensify emotions
can playing music help you
can music affect how you behave toward others

Answer
Vincent,

It sounds like you are still trying to get me to do your homework! I won't continue to respond.

"how can music make you run farhter"

I have no idea!

"how can music change your everyday life"

It depends on the kind of music. For me, classical music makes life a lot more pleasant.

"how does it affect you"

I miss it when I don't have it. It makes me feel peaceful.

"can music make you concentrate more"

I can't speak for anyone else, but sometimes for me, music is a distraction, because I start really listening to it. It also helps keep me awake when I am driving long distances.

"can music intensify emotions"

Definitely. Music has a message, and people respond to it. That's one reason rap music is bad for a person, because the message is usually one of violence and lack of respect for women. I know a man who actually became suicidal after constant exposure to heavy metal. Music affects things like heartbeat, and other bodily processes. It can soothe or make a person nervous and irritable. You should do a search on "music" and "physiology". Also, here is a web site that may give some useful information:

http://birthpsychology.com/

"can playing music help you"

It definitely did. Thanks to my early piano lessons, I am largely ambidextrous, and I type very, very fast. It also taught me many skills of thinking and memory, made me sensitive to pitch, and helped me develop ability in foreign languages. I currently read 15. I credit classical music and training in phonics for this ability. Because of constant exposure to classical music, I can usually listen to a new piece I've never heard, five times, and then I can recreate it in my head. This includes very complex symphonic music. Words in tonal languages are also easy for me to pronounce, and in fact, my musical background makes it possible for me to develop a native accent so quickly it leads to embarrassing situations!

"can music affect how you behave toward others"

See above. Music is consciously used to help in marketing, too. It helps shape a person's mood. That's why romantic music is considered romantic, for instance. The beat of rock encourages sleeping around. Each kind of music has an emotional message.