Music is the key to the soul. It expresses all emotions and encases someone’s unique thought process into words for anyone to hear. In my life, I’ve listened to all kinds of genres of music. The following is what I believe music can teach us and how well it can capture someone’s story in just a rhythm.

While writing this even, I’m listening to music. It’s a constant flow to my life; I certainly cannot live without it. A nice thing to mention is the fact that I have almost 2,000 songs on my Spotify playlist. It is a pretty packed playlist, from things I grew up listening to and things I came across on my own – not to mention I haven’t even grown out of my ‘emo’ phase.

Now, time for facts and some science. Neuromusicology. Basically, it’s the relation to how nerves and the brain get affected by music. Music has the capability to help people with some medical issues. Rhythmic sounds have been known to help people who’ve dealt with the following:

• a stroke
• Parkinson’s
• major brain injury

Music helps to rehabilitate, to get moving again. Musical rhythms can ‘click’ with certain brain functions like controlling time, sequencing, and coordination of movement.

Music has also been known to increase brain activity! If you can memorize song lyrics better than vocabulary words, no worries because that memorization skill can cross over to help.

Remembering and studying. Songs without lyrics tend to help more than songs that do because the latter can lead to distraction. Songs that are positive and liked by someone people with musical backgrounds are also more likely to over-analyze the songs they like, picking them apart and enjoying each song piece by piece.

I bet you’ve felt strong emotions when listening to a song you’re interested in, whether it’s good or bad depending on the memory that song triggers. With my wide variety of music exposure, I know that I have songs for almost every emotion. There are even songs that come up randomly on my playlist and have the power to change my mood instantly, depressing or exciting.

We have the ability to use all parts of the brain when singing or creating music. All parts work together because you’re using your senses, your art side of your brain and your side of the brain that uses and retains knowledge.

One of my favorites is Two Steps From Hell – Flight of the Silverbird; Composer: Thomas J. Bergersen.

Check out the YouTube video here. 

How about you suggest songs for me and everyone that reads the HOWL? Hopefully, I can write more on my passion for art types like poetry and music!