Harris Academy of the Arts Blog ♫: The Health Benefits of Music

In today's market, one thing that many consumers wish to benefit is wellness, be it physical, mental, or emotional.

Music is one activity that can benefit your overall wellness.

Listening to music has proven to aid in emotional wellness by lowering anxiety levels faster and more efficiently than prescription medications. And the happier you are, the better off your overall wellness will be. Music also assists in keeping one focused on certain tasks.

Music also aids in physical well-being. Almost anyone who exercises regularly is listening to music, whether it's to pass the time or to keep their pace. Also, research has shown that listening to music increases an antibody immunoglobulin A.

Long medical terms aside, this antibody plays a huge role in the immunity of the mucous system, and also cells that attack invading germs.

So listening to music can help keep you healthy, too! :)

But what about playing music? Other than a fun, productive activity, what are the benefits of that?

In most professional performances, a musician is required to memorize their piece regardless of their instrument. Memorizing anything is a mental process that takes time and focus. It's been shown in research that some people memorize items of speech better when they imagine a rhythm with what they are saying, similar to memorizing a pattern in a piece of music. This helps strengthen muscle memory along with mental memory.

Playing music is also great for breathing. Even percussionists, who are allowed to breathe at all times of playing, need to learn how to breathe with their ensemble in order to effectively hit on proper beats of measures of music. And the healthier you breathe, the healthier you are.

And it all loops together -- the healthier you are, the happier you are. And the happier you are, the healthier you are and so on and so forth. :)

So by taking lessons at Harris Academy of the Arts, you are not only guaranteed to have a fantastic time with your instructor, but you are also benefiting your overall health and well-being -- which is never a bad thing!