The Power of Music!

Have you ever felt the tingling sensation that grabs you after listening to a beautiful music? Or have you tried singing along with a song, with your friends shouting behind you, “Stop singing; let’s listen to the song!”? Ever wondered what is in that disco music that leaves you with an urge to start tapping your feet… and dancing on the floor… and shaking your body in sync with the drum beats?

I’m like that too! Many times I wonder what is in music that makes us do all that. Maybe we would never know. Or maybe we already do…

On this Sunday I was alone for in my room – with a lot of pending work to do. I had to arrange my whole room, pack my bags for a long trip, read some important stuff that my boss wanted me to, work on an upcoming presentation I had to give somewhere, and I also had some work of my friends.

But I’m rather moody. In spite of knowing that there is a lot of work to be done, I simply didn’t budge. I just couldn’t get up. I didn’t feel like working until I tried something: Music! J

And it worked miracles! I managed to do everything that I had to do, all because beautiful songs were playing on my laptop as I was working. And as I was roaming around the room, I realised it was something in this music that was working for me. What was it? I started thinking about how music could make a person more productive?

And this is what I realised from my experience:

Music helps us to focus

My mother would probably be the first person to object to this, since she doesn’t like me listening to music when I am working. Nevertheless, I have a firm belief in this. We have all read articles about how our thoughts change in fractions of a second. I have felt that when I listen to music, I have fewer thoughts at a time. So I can actually focus on those thoughts.

When the computer is working slowly, we remove temporary and other useless files from the RAM, so the processor can focus on the most important files and work on them. Music does the same thing for our mind. It removes useless and unnecessary thoughts that just come and go for most of the time. We would be thinking about few things, but thinking deeply about them. It improves our efficiency.

Music can manipulate feelings and emotions

Now I just said that when listening to music, we think about few things. The interest thing is, what we think about, also depends on the music. There are some songs that bring back old memories, so we think about them. Some songs that make us happy, some make us sad. How does this happen particularly when we listen to music?

Reason is the same as above. When we listen to music, our brain focuses on a particular mood or emotion that the song stands for. Therefore, while the emotion is already in our heart, it is highlighted when we listen to music. But the good news is, we can decide what type of music we listen to. Therefore, we can manipulate our thoughts.

(Ludwig Beethoven, one of the most celebrated composers, was almost deaf when he composed many symphonies, including the famous fur elise. He reminds me that music affects feelings, but feelings affect the music too!)

This is how I use this power. I have tried to identify a pattern in how I feel when I listen to some particular songs. Therefore, by this time, I know mostly what would be going on in my mind when I listen to these songs. So I could use music to control my feelings and thoughts. We can listen to happy songs when we’re not feeling good. Trust me, it works like magic.

Not just feelings, music affects our actions too

It is not co-incidence that we want to dance when we listen to jolly songs. Our body responds to music in very funny ways. Sometimes we start tapping our feet or snapping our fingers etc. Also, in case you’re walking when you are listening to songs, the walking pace will be in sync with the pace of the song. You cannot walk extremely slowly when you’re listening to rock music. And it is equally tough to walk fast while listening to good RD Burman songs! This is the reason why many people say that music is never truly complete without dance.

Although it’s possible to control our walking with a deliberate effort, but my point is that music affects our actions subconsciously. And this is where it can help us. Music gives continuity. So when you’re listening to rhythmic drum beats, your hands move and your legs walk and you work! This is the power of music. It acts like a fuel for us.

(Tansen in the Royal Court of Akbar, one of the greatest musicians in India. It is said that Tansen could make clouds burst and flames merely by his music. When powerful music can do that, then it can definitely affect our actions.)

Music only harnesses the power we already have

Music affects all people, but the extent to which it affects may vary. Therefore, while one person may love listening to it, another may not enjoy. So we need to realise how we can tap the power of music. For me, music works wonders to help me rid of unnecessary and disturbing thoughts, and putting me to action. It works like a cleanser and a fuel…!

But in the end, I would only say that the power does not lie in music as much as it does within the person. Music by itself is of little value, what it actually does is: it helps us to harness and use the power within!

So… share the power of music with all your friends who say that don’t really enjoy music as much as you do. Reason: maybe they never really tried!

Cheers!

Palkesh