Classical music is an acquired taste for most. A lot of people consider it ‘Old person music’ and find it a chore to listen to, without any lyrics to sing.
Classical music is very soothing and calming, and surprisingly has many other benefits for the listener. It can improve creativity, productivity, even help you sleep better. Those are just to name a few. However, we need to understand what is meant by classical music.
What is Classical Music?
According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, classical music is defined as “music written in a Western musical tradition, usually using an established form.” Classic FM defines it as “powerful combinations of instruments, melody, and harmony that make up canon of Western music history.
Composers like Bach, Beethoven, Mozart are hailed as great classical composers. When we talk about classical music, these are the composers you have most likely been exposed to and this is the style of music that is meant by listening to classical music.
Below are 5 reasons that listening to classical music is great for your physical and mental health.
1. Classical music can help you relax and unwind
In our busy, rush around lives, it’s hard to find time to relax properly and unwind from the day’s stresses. Enter classical music. Listening to the complex, yet easy, melodies in classical music can help you reach a state of relaxation.
“In 1993, a group of students was asked to listen to Mozart before an upcoming exam. The students who listened to Mozart before the test outperformed their peers who did not listen to Mozart. It was originally thought that listening to classical music made you smarter,” says Tim Katson, a music blogger at Best essay writing service UK. However, it was later revealed that listening to classical music before a test caused the mind to relax, allowing someone to meet a challenge with a greater sense of confidence. A classical piece of music or several pieces takes away any nervousness and allows you to reach a state of inner peace.
2. Classical music can reduce your depression symptoms.
Many adults today suffer from depression. The symptoms can be crippling. However, it has been shown that listening to classical music can help alleviate depressive symptoms.
A 2010 study conducted in Mexico looked at 79 patients between the ages of 25-60 years old with mild to moderate depression. Team A listened to classical and baroque music for 50 minutes a day for eight weeks. Team B went through psychotherapy. Researchers found that team A had fewer depressive symptoms than the latter.
So, if you suffer from depression, it might be worth taking time to listen to some Vivaldi or Beethoven.
3. Classical music can improve your sleep.
Sleep is an integral part of maintaining good physical and mental well-being. So, when you are not getting enough it can be a nightmare. There have been many studies done on how listening to classical music before bed helps improve your ability to fall asleep as well as improving the overall quality of your sleep.
One such study showed that students who listened to relaxing classical music were getting much better sleep quality as opposed to listening to an audiobook, for example. Another study showed that listening to classical music for just 45 minutes before nodding off will help you fall asleep and improve the quality of sleep you are getting.
4. Classical music may help relieve and reduce pain symptoms.
Tired of constantly using pain medication to manage your pain symptoms? Try turning on some classical tunes instead. There have been numerous studies conduct which all conclude that listening to classical music relieves pain.
According to researchers in London, patients who listen to classical music use significantly less pain medication than those who don’t.
5. Classical music decreases your blood pressure.
If you have concerns about your heart and keeping it healthy, then classical music can help. A study conducted at Oxford University found that playing classical music lowered blood pressure while playing rap, pop, and techno raised participants blood pressure.
These are the 5 reasons that we really should listen to classical music.
Madeline Miller is a contributor at EssayRoo. She writes articles about the music industry.
