By Lisa Cyr,

Perhaps you recognize that music affects your emotions. When you listen to upbeat songs, you feel good, and listening to sad songs can lower your mood. If you think about it, the notion that tunes impact feelings shouldn’t come as a surprise. The word tune, after all, as well as referring to music, relates to frequency adjustment. Here’s how to use tunes to modify your mood.

Music can make you see things that aren’t there

A 2011 study shows that music influences you in more ways than you may imagine. In the study, researchers showed people smileys and asked them to identify sad or happy faces while music played. Sad songs made them see the smileys as unhappy, while cheerful songs had the opposite effect. The subjects saw merry faces when they heard upbeat music. It was astonishing they saw things that weren’t there. It means music changed what they perceived in the environment.

So, what are the implications of this study for you?

You might want to think about the results and how the findings play out in your life. You can use them to your advantage. If you are in a negative mood but want to improve your outlook, you can play joyful songs. When you want a balanced mindset, though, background tunes might skew your perception. Turning them off during a difficult conversation, for example, may boost clarity.

How long you listen to music matters

Another study shows it takes thirteen minutes of slow tempo, classical music to aid focus, and nine minutes of uplifting music to increase happiness. Relaxing music eases stress, improves sleep, and boosts peacefulness in thirteen minutes. It seems that how long you listen to music matters if you want to change your state of mind and adopt its emotional frequency. So, persevere for more than a few minutes when you hope to change your mood.

Your heart follows the beats

The number of beats in a rhythm makes all the difference. According to Lyz Cooper, who collaborated with Marconi Union to create ‘Weightless,’ a soothing track, listeners’ heartbeats fall into rhythm with the music they hear. The BPM, or beats per minute, affects you on a physical and emotional level.

To change your mood, choose music with a tempo to match the energy you want to feel. Note whether it lifts, relaxes, or saddens you. Don’t discount sad music, though. Many people swear it helps them release heartache. It’s possible unhappy music resonates with despairing individuals and helps them let go of emotions.

Another theory suggests it might support the production of prolactin, a hormone that aids consolation and calm. So, when you’re sad, listening to music that pulls on the heartstrings may help. If it doesn’t, switch to tunes with different tempos and find one that does.

Music is a powerful tool when used with care. It can alter your perception of life, making it sunnier, or help you release sadness. Notice how tunes affect you, and you can employ them to improve your wellbeing.

Studio 237 Music Lessons is in Santa Rosa Beach. Our teachers are ready to teach guitar, piano, drums, voice, ukulele and more. Call 850.231.3199 to schedule a visit or lessons. www.Studio237Music.com

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