0856399 - How Music Can Be Used to Adjust One’s Mood My presentation will be about how music is used to change people’s mood. Music plays many roles in people’s lives: From being simple entertainment to being a therapeutic approach to emotional healing .

Music is used as entertainment mostly to pass time while traveling, completing chores, reading, surfing the web or before going out. It can provide a strong adrenaline rush as well, especially while performing or dancing 1 . Music can also refresh the mind in the morning and soothe it back during the evening or nighttime 2 . Music is used in many ways, most often to either control or improve mood. The simplest form is pure entertainment, when the mind is stimulated by the rhythm and the melody.

Music is used as entertainment mostly to pass time while traveling, completing chores, reading, surfing the web or before going out. It can provide a strong adrenaline rush as well, especially while performing or dancing 1 . Music can also refresh the mind in the morning and soothe it back during the evening or nighttime 2 .

Music can have a strong connection to ones emotions and memories as well. It may be used to remember someone lost, or remember an experience or emotion 3 . For example: one may listen to a deceased loved one’s favourite song to bring back memories of him/her. This connection may be strong enough to allow someone to cry.

Music can have a strong connection to ones emotions and memories as well. It may be used to remember someone lost, or remember an experience or emotion 3 . For example: one may listen to a deceased loved one’s favourite song to bring back memories of him/her. This connection may be strong enough to allow someone to cry.

Music can also be used to do just the opposite of that: Distract 4 . It may be used to avert the attention from negative feelings or emotions. It can also be used to promote daydreaming 5 . Such strong feelings emerging from listening to music helps to understand and evaluate strange or unknown feelings (i.e. to finally understand the lyrics of love songs, means you are in love.) 6

Music can also be used to

do just the opposite of that:

Distract 4 . It may be used

to avert the attention from

negative feelings or emotions.

It can also be used to promote daydreaming 5 .

Such strong feelings emerging from listening to

music helps to understand and evaluate strange or

unknown feelings (i.e. to finally understand the lyrics

of love songs, means you are in love.) 6

Personal Music Usage Percentage (%)

Music helps to turn “negative attitudes to a more positive mood” that is, if “positive music” is played. “Positive music” is a melody that is played in a major key, has an upbeat tempo, and is harmonious 7 . This then “stimulates the release of brain and body chemicals such as serotin, dopamine, and endorphins” allowing the person to have an optimistic attitude 8 . Music is the best possible way to cleanse one’s mind, and its usage can result in a more beautiful perspective of the world.

Music helps to turn “negative attitudes to a more positive mood” that is, if “positive music” is played. “Positive music” is a melody that is played in a major key, has an upbeat tempo, and is harmonious 7 . This then “stimulates the release of brain and body chemicals such as serotin, dopamine, and endorphins” allowing the person to have an optimistic attitude 8 . Music is the best possible way to cleanse one’s mind, and its usage can result in a more beautiful perspective of the world.

Music and Fashion – Justin Timberlake performing at the 2006 Victoria’s Secret Fashion show.

Music and Technology

Music – Live Performances

References PICTURE WEBSITES http://www. karenaddiemusic .com/images/ViolinMine2. jpg http://www. imaginemusiclive .com/images/shots/music1_350. jpg http://www2. bcinternet .net/~ newman /images/classical-music. jpg http://www. djjdee - mobiledisco .co. uk /images/disco. jpg http://www. phonesreview .co. uk / wp -content/ phoneimages /2008/10/ nokia _comes_with_music_2. jpg http://music. vassar . edu /assets/images/orchestra. jpg http://img2. timeinc .net/people/i/2006/ startracks /061127/ justin _ timberlake . jpg ENDNOTES 1 “Seven Ways Music Influences Mood,” http://www.spring.org. uk /2007/03/seven-ways-music-influences-mood. php (20 September 2008) 2 Ibid., 3 Ibid., 4 Ibid., 5 Ibid., 6 Ibid., 7 Chris Boyd Brewer, “Music And Positive Mood Management,” http:// musicalinspirations .com/data/html/music-and-learning/80. cgi , (20 September 2008) 8 Ibid.,

PICTURE WEBSITES

http://www. karenaddiemusic .com/images/ViolinMine2. jpg

http://www. imaginemusiclive .com/images/shots/music1_350. jpg

http://www2. bcinternet .net/~ newman /images/classical-music. jpg

http://www. djjdee - mobiledisco .co. uk /images/disco. jpg

http://www. phonesreview .co. uk / wp -content/ phoneimages /2008/10/ nokia _comes_with_music_2. jpg

http://music. vassar . edu /assets/images/orchestra. jpg

http://img2. timeinc .net/people/i/2006/ startracks /061127/ justin _ timberlake . jpg

ENDNOTES

1 “Seven Ways Music Influences Mood,” http://www.spring.org. uk /2007/03/seven-ways-music-influences-mood. php (20 September 2008)

2 Ibid.,

3 Ibid.,

4 Ibid.,

5 Ibid.,

6 Ibid.,

7 Chris Boyd Brewer, “Music And Positive Mood Management,” http:// musicalinspirations .com/data/html/music-and-learning/80. cgi , (20 September 2008)

8 Ibid.,